Mastering Fantasy Art
John Stanko
Impact
Nonfiction, Art
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Wizards, warriors, elves, dwarves, unicorns, dragons... the best fantasy art makes us believe in the impossible. To do this, an artist has to render
the unreal as realistically as possible - a task that requires a marriage of imagination and real-life reference. Artist John Stanko demonstrates how to effectively use
reference material to render a variety of subjects.
REVIEW: This book is mostly a guide to taking and using reference photos of models (and some props, including costumes and clay sculptures) for fantasy art.
Stanko discusses lighting and equipment for photo shoots, also touching
on copyright issues, (very briefly) digital programs, and related
topics. Oddly enough, after finishing a lengthy explanation for why the memory can't be trusted and reference is absolutely essential even for the most seasoned artist, he then,
at several points, encourages improvisation and elaboration, exhorting artists not to be a slave to reality... then not offering much help in deviating from reality. I know both are essential to art, especially speculative art, but it still seems like a paradox, and may well confuse some. But, I digress...
Stanko demonstrates the use of reference photos in art creation with several step-by-step projects; artists trying to follow along may want to scan and reprint his reference photos, which may not be easy with the book's stiff spine. though the pictures themselves tend to be on the outer edges of the pages. Perspective, anatomy, and so forth are not covered in any depth here, this being geared more for intermediate artists than raw beginners. The cover mentions "creatures," but only two (a unicorn and dragon) are actually included, and those restricted to mere portraits. As for scenery, only one demonstration covers that, a wizard's tower based on a clay sculpture. To be honest, I think Stanko should've devoted this one fully to humans and humanoids, maybe using the extra space for costuming and other considerations, and reserved creatures and scenery for another book. Overall, it's a decent exploration of the subject, even if some of what was promised on the cover was not well discussed inside.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures (Finlay Cowan) - My Review
Anatomy for Fantasy Artists (Glenn Fabry) - My Review
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner) - My Review
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Frightful's Mountain (Jean Craighead George)
Frightful's Mountain
(The My Side of the Mountain trilogy, Book 3)
Jean Craighead George
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Adventure
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: When she was ten days old, Frightful the peregrine falcon was taken from her nest by a boy and raised as companion and hunter. He meant well, and loved her as dearly as she loves him, but Sam didn't understand what he'd done: not only was it illegal, but Frightful imprinted on humans, and her highly endangered species can't risk the loss of a breeding female. Reluctantly, Sam let her go... but Frightful can't forget her human or her home in the hemlock tree, even as her instincts wake with the freedom of open skies and the call of of her own kind.
REVIEW: The third in George's My Side of the Mountain trilogy strikes a different tone, putting the reader alongside - but not inside the mind of - Frightful the falcon. By not putting human thoughts into her head, the author preserves a degree of mystery and wildness in the nonhuman star. Frightful struggles to adapt to her Sam-less existence, often caught in a tug-of-war between memory and instinct. Along the way, she intersects the lives of numerous humans, some old acquaintances and some new allies (or enemies), as well as other animals and falcons. The story sometimes meanders between adventures, even as it discusses the plight of raptors, the many threats facing wildlife, and the frustration of conservation efforts thwarted and fouled by bureaucratic red tape. Not all the birds have happy endings, here, and not all problems have easy solutions. Along the way, we see enough of Sam and Alice to watch their final phase of growth, as they, too, shed their fledgling feathers and take flight in their own lives. I came close to clipping the tale for some soft spots and wandering, but ultimately granted it a full four stars. Like all of George's books in this trilogy, it's a love letter to the marvels of nature and a wake-up call to the humans on whom the wilderness now depends for survival.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Flights of Fantasy (Mercedes Lackey, editor) - My Review
Brian's Winter (Gary Paulsen) - My Review
Let Them Eat Shrimp (Kennedy Warne) - My Review
(The My Side of the Mountain trilogy, Book 3)
Jean Craighead George
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Adventure
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: When she was ten days old, Frightful the peregrine falcon was taken from her nest by a boy and raised as companion and hunter. He meant well, and loved her as dearly as she loves him, but Sam didn't understand what he'd done: not only was it illegal, but Frightful imprinted on humans, and her highly endangered species can't risk the loss of a breeding female. Reluctantly, Sam let her go... but Frightful can't forget her human or her home in the hemlock tree, even as her instincts wake with the freedom of open skies and the call of of her own kind.
REVIEW: The third in George's My Side of the Mountain trilogy strikes a different tone, putting the reader alongside - but not inside the mind of - Frightful the falcon. By not putting human thoughts into her head, the author preserves a degree of mystery and wildness in the nonhuman star. Frightful struggles to adapt to her Sam-less existence, often caught in a tug-of-war between memory and instinct. Along the way, she intersects the lives of numerous humans, some old acquaintances and some new allies (or enemies), as well as other animals and falcons. The story sometimes meanders between adventures, even as it discusses the plight of raptors, the many threats facing wildlife, and the frustration of conservation efforts thwarted and fouled by bureaucratic red tape. Not all the birds have happy endings, here, and not all problems have easy solutions. Along the way, we see enough of Sam and Alice to watch their final phase of growth, as they, too, shed their fledgling feathers and take flight in their own lives. I came close to clipping the tale for some soft spots and wandering, but ultimately granted it a full four stars. Like all of George's books in this trilogy, it's a love letter to the marvels of nature and a wake-up call to the humans on whom the wilderness now depends for survival.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Flights of Fantasy (Mercedes Lackey, editor) - My Review
Brian's Winter (Gary Paulsen) - My Review
Let Them Eat Shrimp (Kennedy Warne) - My Review
On the Far Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George)
On the Far Side of the Mountain
(The My Side of the Mountain trilogy, Book 2)
Jean Craighead George
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Adventure
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Two years ago, young Sam Gribley ran away from his New York City apartment to live in the wilderness. One year ago, his family came to live with him... but only his sister Alice remained, as his father and mother learned why their ancestors had abandoned the family farm. Alice challenges Sam with new ideas and projects, from a tree house home to a sawmill, but she's better company than he expected. Between her and his faithful falcon Frightful, not to mention visitors like the English professor Bando and his wife, he's happy with his life on the mountain, and never lonely.
Then, on the same day, both Alice and Frightful vanish, one disappearing and the other taken by a wildlife conservation officer. Peregrines are an endangered species, and owning one without a falconer's license is technically a felony. In following Alice from his familiar terrain, tracking her by woodcraft and clues she's left behind, Sam tries to forget about Frightful... until he discovers that that "officer" may not have been who he claimed, and his sister may be in far more danger than she understands.
REVIEW: This is a worthy sequel to George's classic My Side of the Mountain, with the same love of the Adirondack wilderness shining in every page and the same use of ink illustrations. Sam builds on experience and woodcraft gained in his first adventure, moving slowly (if somewhat reluctantly) away from the boyish fantasy of living alone in a tree to a somewhat more sophisticated and civilized experience - a necessary growth, as he realizes that utter loneliness is as unpleasant as it is impossible in modern times. In doing so, he tries to strike a balance between comfort (and companionship) and a connection with nature. Alice gives him motivation to change, not just in her many projects but in literally pulling him from his comfort zone in her cross-country trek... though, for all her woodcraft, she comes across as somewhat immature. Sam thought he'd learned all he needed to know about himself and the wilderness in the first book, but this volume teaches him more. It also touches on issues of conservation, endangered species protection, and the illegal animal trade. If the first volume was about Sam proving that he could survive, this is the story of Sam truly growing up and learning to see the larger world. It almost earned an extra half-star, though some of the later bits feel a little forced. It's still quite enjoyable, and holds up rather well.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Ancient One (T. A. Barron) - My Review
Eyewitness Books: Eagle and Birds of Prey (Jemima Parry-Jones) - My Review
The Forgotten Arts and Crafts (John Seymour) - My Review
(The My Side of the Mountain trilogy, Book 2)
Jean Craighead George
Scholastic
Fiction, YA Adventure
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Two years ago, young Sam Gribley ran away from his New York City apartment to live in the wilderness. One year ago, his family came to live with him... but only his sister Alice remained, as his father and mother learned why their ancestors had abandoned the family farm. Alice challenges Sam with new ideas and projects, from a tree house home to a sawmill, but she's better company than he expected. Between her and his faithful falcon Frightful, not to mention visitors like the English professor Bando and his wife, he's happy with his life on the mountain, and never lonely.
Then, on the same day, both Alice and Frightful vanish, one disappearing and the other taken by a wildlife conservation officer. Peregrines are an endangered species, and owning one without a falconer's license is technically a felony. In following Alice from his familiar terrain, tracking her by woodcraft and clues she's left behind, Sam tries to forget about Frightful... until he discovers that that "officer" may not have been who he claimed, and his sister may be in far more danger than she understands.
REVIEW: This is a worthy sequel to George's classic My Side of the Mountain, with the same love of the Adirondack wilderness shining in every page and the same use of ink illustrations. Sam builds on experience and woodcraft gained in his first adventure, moving slowly (if somewhat reluctantly) away from the boyish fantasy of living alone in a tree to a somewhat more sophisticated and civilized experience - a necessary growth, as he realizes that utter loneliness is as unpleasant as it is impossible in modern times. In doing so, he tries to strike a balance between comfort (and companionship) and a connection with nature. Alice gives him motivation to change, not just in her many projects but in literally pulling him from his comfort zone in her cross-country trek... though, for all her woodcraft, she comes across as somewhat immature. Sam thought he'd learned all he needed to know about himself and the wilderness in the first book, but this volume teaches him more. It also touches on issues of conservation, endangered species protection, and the illegal animal trade. If the first volume was about Sam proving that he could survive, this is the story of Sam truly growing up and learning to see the larger world. It almost earned an extra half-star, though some of the later bits feel a little forced. It's still quite enjoyable, and holds up rather well.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Ancient One (T. A. Barron) - My Review
Eyewitness Books: Eagle and Birds of Prey (Jemima Parry-Jones) - My Review
The Forgotten Arts and Crafts (John Seymour) - My Review
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Never Cry Wolf (Farley Mowat)
Never Cry Wolf
Farley Mowat
Back Bay Books
Nonfiction, Nature
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: In the middle of the 20th century, the Canadian wilderness faced a dire threat: wolves, numbering in the hundred thousands at least, murdering countless caribou and other valuable game animals. Even bounties failed to curb the vicious beasts from their bloodthirsty ways. To study the problem, young biologist Farley Mowat was sent into the wilderness... but what he found was a far cry from what he'd expected.
REVIEW: I wavered over how to categorize this book for a while. At the time this was published, it was among the first modern books speaking to the public on behalf of the long-maligned wolf, a creature that - like most every animal - humanity has loaded down with its own expectations, myths, and fears with little regard to facts. In pursuit of his points, Mowat evidently tweaked reality, though everything was ultimately based on his true-life observations, and the expedition it chronicles is a matter of record. The essence, though, is truthful, as is the overall theme of people condemning an entire species out of superstition, error, fear, and flat-out greed... a PR problem that continues to plague wolves and other animals as humanity places increasing pressure on our planet's last bastions of wilderness. In a political climate where the outcome was determined long before Mowat boarded a plane for the barrens, the unvarnished truth stood little chance of being heard. The result is an interesting, often amusing and at times surprising chronicle of a young man's struggle toward a truth that society at large had programmed him to resist: the primary problem facing game animals is not predation, but people. Along the way, he makes "friends" with a small wolf pack and a few locals. It's the interactions with the humans that show the most exaggeration - not surprising, as his original intent had been to write about the absurd bureaucracy and other headaches he encountered in his tenure as a government-employed biologist. Today, it reads a little dated (largely due to the somewhat comical embellishments), though it's thanks to writers like him that the notion of a less-than-savage wolf isn't so radical a notion anymore. The ending is particularly potent, and managed to lift the book back to a solid four stars.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Call of the Wild and White Fang (Jack London) - My Review
Animal Wise (Virginia Morell) - My Review
Guts (Gary Paulsen) - My Review
Farley Mowat
Back Bay Books
Nonfiction, Nature
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: In the middle of the 20th century, the Canadian wilderness faced a dire threat: wolves, numbering in the hundred thousands at least, murdering countless caribou and other valuable game animals. Even bounties failed to curb the vicious beasts from their bloodthirsty ways. To study the problem, young biologist Farley Mowat was sent into the wilderness... but what he found was a far cry from what he'd expected.
REVIEW: I wavered over how to categorize this book for a while. At the time this was published, it was among the first modern books speaking to the public on behalf of the long-maligned wolf, a creature that - like most every animal - humanity has loaded down with its own expectations, myths, and fears with little regard to facts. In pursuit of his points, Mowat evidently tweaked reality, though everything was ultimately based on his true-life observations, and the expedition it chronicles is a matter of record. The essence, though, is truthful, as is the overall theme of people condemning an entire species out of superstition, error, fear, and flat-out greed... a PR problem that continues to plague wolves and other animals as humanity places increasing pressure on our planet's last bastions of wilderness. In a political climate where the outcome was determined long before Mowat boarded a plane for the barrens, the unvarnished truth stood little chance of being heard. The result is an interesting, often amusing and at times surprising chronicle of a young man's struggle toward a truth that society at large had programmed him to resist: the primary problem facing game animals is not predation, but people. Along the way, he makes "friends" with a small wolf pack and a few locals. It's the interactions with the humans that show the most exaggeration - not surprising, as his original intent had been to write about the absurd bureaucracy and other headaches he encountered in his tenure as a government-employed biologist. Today, it reads a little dated (largely due to the somewhat comical embellishments), though it's thanks to writers like him that the notion of a less-than-savage wolf isn't so radical a notion anymore. The ending is particularly potent, and managed to lift the book back to a solid four stars.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Call of the Wild and White Fang (Jack London) - My Review
Animal Wise (Virginia Morell) - My Review
Guts (Gary Paulsen) - My Review
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Plain Kate (Erin Bow)
Plain Kate
Erin Bow
Arthur A. Levine Books
Fiction, YA Fantasy
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Daughter of a woodcarver, Kate held a knife before she could hold a spoon. By the time she was eleven, she was the equal of any master, though not old enough to be a proper apprentice. But then her father fell ill and died with the fever that ravaged the land... and the villagers, seeking a witch to blame, began looking askance at Plain Kate with her too-long nose and mismatched eyes and uncannily clever carvings. For some time, she scraped by, until then a fresh danger reawakened the old rumor. Kate becomes desperate to escape - desperate enough to sell her shadow to the strange, pale man who haunts the market square. But the bargain isn't what she thought it would be, as she's driven from town with her only friend, the gray tom Taggle. When she learns what the witch man Linay plans to do with her shadow, she realizes she must do anything to get it back before the whole countryside perishes under a terrible curse.
REVIEW: Plain Kate has the flavor of an old fairy tale, set in a world reminiscent of Eastern Europe where magic is real, songs become spells, and blood and shadows have great powers. Kate herself makes a decent heroine, not infallible but doing her best to survive and fix the mistakes she inadvertently makes. Taggle, granted speech by Linay's magic, makes a fun and clever sidekick who never quite loses his feline nature. As for Linay, he's that most dangerous and devious sort of antagonist, driven not by greed or pride but by a wounded heart. The tale takes some dark turns, bound up in themes of fear and superstition and the lengths one will go to in order to find peace after tragedy. It moves fairly fast, coming at last to an ending that feels a little drawn out and slightly off-kilter for some reason; that, and a few other minor quibbles, almost cost it half a star, but the overall originality - especially when everyone and their brother seems to be rewriting the old standards of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and so forth - managed to earn it back. If you're looking for a fast read in an original-yet-familiar world that has an old-school storytelling feel, this is a good place to start.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Casting Shadows (J. Kelley Anderson) - My Review
The Seventh Tower: The Fall (Garth Nix) - My Review
Dragon's Bait (Vivian Vande Velde) - My Review
Erin Bow
Arthur A. Levine Books
Fiction, YA Fantasy
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Daughter of a woodcarver, Kate held a knife before she could hold a spoon. By the time she was eleven, she was the equal of any master, though not old enough to be a proper apprentice. But then her father fell ill and died with the fever that ravaged the land... and the villagers, seeking a witch to blame, began looking askance at Plain Kate with her too-long nose and mismatched eyes and uncannily clever carvings. For some time, she scraped by, until then a fresh danger reawakened the old rumor. Kate becomes desperate to escape - desperate enough to sell her shadow to the strange, pale man who haunts the market square. But the bargain isn't what she thought it would be, as she's driven from town with her only friend, the gray tom Taggle. When she learns what the witch man Linay plans to do with her shadow, she realizes she must do anything to get it back before the whole countryside perishes under a terrible curse.
REVIEW: Plain Kate has the flavor of an old fairy tale, set in a world reminiscent of Eastern Europe where magic is real, songs become spells, and blood and shadows have great powers. Kate herself makes a decent heroine, not infallible but doing her best to survive and fix the mistakes she inadvertently makes. Taggle, granted speech by Linay's magic, makes a fun and clever sidekick who never quite loses his feline nature. As for Linay, he's that most dangerous and devious sort of antagonist, driven not by greed or pride but by a wounded heart. The tale takes some dark turns, bound up in themes of fear and superstition and the lengths one will go to in order to find peace after tragedy. It moves fairly fast, coming at last to an ending that feels a little drawn out and slightly off-kilter for some reason; that, and a few other minor quibbles, almost cost it half a star, but the overall originality - especially when everyone and their brother seems to be rewriting the old standards of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and so forth - managed to earn it back. If you're looking for a fast read in an original-yet-familiar world that has an old-school storytelling feel, this is a good place to start.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Casting Shadows (J. Kelley Anderson) - My Review
The Seventh Tower: The Fall (Garth Nix) - My Review
Dragon's Bait (Vivian Vande Velde) - My Review
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