Beautiful Creatures Vol 2: Art of James Ryman (Paperback)

~ James Ryman (Author)
Key Phrases: Beautiful Creatures, Ryman Volume Two

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

James Ryman's first collection of stunningly delightful demons and terrifyingly gorgeous women was so well received, we decided to do it again! This second volume contains all new material that delves deeply into the mind of this most talented and disturbed individual! James' ability to create all new levels of hideous beastie and sultry beauty puts him on the fast track to fantasy art supremacy. Fables, myths, legends, nightmares - it's all open for Ryman's bizarre and amazing interpretations!

About the Author

James Ryman is a computer games designer by day, but in the black of night, he throws off his mild-mannered demeanor and engages in his true love - drawing creatures of infinite delight and fright. Originally from England, he now enjoys life in the U.S., living the American dream of California sunshine and doing what makes him happiest (AND getting paid for it as well!).

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: SQP Inc. (July 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865620938
• ISBN-13: 978-0865620933
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #581,820 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIES AND BEASTS, October 6, 2005

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Beautiful Creatures: The Art of James Ryman (v. 1) (Paperback)

Sal Quartuccio Productions has released two volumes in the Beautiful Creatures series collecting the fantastic art of James Ryman. While the front and back covers to theses volumes have been produced digitally, the interiors show off Ryman's outstanding pencil work in both preliminary sketch and finished examples. Beautiful Creatures doesn't really tell the whole story however. Ryman's women are sometimes bold and ballsy, sometimes dark and seductive, and sometime playful and demure. His gorgeous women are often in contrast to the Hellish creatures that surround them.

Ryman's beasts are some of the most imaginative I've ever seen. Grotesque demons, gargantuan insectoids, and ravenous undead populate his art, sometimes serving; other times being served, by lovely women. There are several eye-popping, two-page spreads in the book. One of my favorites shows a nude captive female being led by two slug-like creatures to their immense leader...perhaps as a meal or something worse!

Another great two-page spread depicts a spider queen accompanied by a brutish half-ape, half spider beast, surrounded by a horde of smaller spiders. I also love the piece of the nude woman riding atop the back of a giant crocodile. Ryman can also do some fantastic pin-up-style art but with his own gruesome twist. One in particular shows his female subject holding a devilishly leering pumpkin. I also love the drawing showing a chaotic warrior in the foreground with the burning "wickerman" in the background. By the way, the Wicker Man is a great film!

There's a lot of work in this 64 page book. While Ryman has worked in video game development as well as for the RPG industry, many of his sketches look like the kind of production drawings used for designs in film. I would not be surprised if that is the next media format he decides to conquer. If you never seen his work before I highly recommend picking up both this and the second volume in the series.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars kind of hit and miss, March 7, 2007

By	Michael Casey "Spidermonkey" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beautiful Creatures: The Art of James Ryman (v. 1) (Paperback)

I love Ryman's style, but way too much of this book is dedicated to NOT beautiful creatures; various monsters and undead critters and the like. The women that ARE in here, though, are beautifully drawn, and very good for art reference and (ahem) other reference.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Look for both books, December 15, 2005

By	K. Reid "Grim Noire" (Eureka, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There's two books: "Beautiful Creatures" and "Beautiful Creatures 2." The first has awful binding unless you are looking for a collection of B&W pinups. No worries about torn pages there.
Beautiful Creatures 2 is better than previous, not just because of the binding, but also because there is a bit of organization to the drawings. Sketches illustrate the drawing evolution a bit more. On the other hand, the first has more pin-up quality pix. Both would be appropriate for illustrating fine points to budding adolescent artists... Does not begin with the step-by-step illustarations, nor does Mr. Ryman explain which pictures portray textures or 3-dimensional qualities better.
And I would have really appreciated a reference to where the picture was used in order to better understand the story that's represented by the picture.