Customer Reviews

Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures: From the Imagination to the Page

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There aren't very many illustration books out there that deal with drawing from the imagination. Most are concerned only with drawing from nature, from a model, still life, etc. There's the Encyclopedia of Fantasy Art, of course, but that is more of a collection of examples, and not much of a learning resource. And there are a few well-known comic book titles, but they are mostly dated and directed at the pre-teen crowd.

Cowan's book, however, fills this gap nicely. It has a great look and is very informative. The only reason it doesn't get the full 5 stars is because it tries to cover too much material. Two books -- one on drawing and one on painting -- would have been much better, as it would have allowed more detailed coverage of both topics.

All in all, though, highly recommended.

I've been drawing for over seven years. This book is helping me considerably.

Cowan gives a good emphasis on the fantasy genre. Before, I knew nothing of how to draw armor or if I was drawing the female and male anatomy correctly or if my drawings even could be considered fantasy.

In the beginning of the book, he explores the different ways you can receive inspiration (scrapbooking, mementoes, museums, art books, et cetera) and different helpful tools. He also explains opportunities that fantasy artists can receive (work in film, games, et cetera).

In the drawing portion of the book, he focuses on the basics: faces, expressions, bodies/anatomy; and helpful intermediate things: archetypes, foreshortening. Throughout the book are drawings and paintings (both digital and traditional) that give both inspiration and help considerably. There is also the topic of wizards and mythical creatures (dragons, gryphons, et cetera) and non-mytical (horses and owls...).

The back of the book deals with painting and inking as well as digital art (3D and Photoshop).

This book is very helpful. The only flaw I see is that it doesn't go into too much depth. I only wish that he went into more depth with the costumes. Otherwise, everything else was fine!

This is two books for the price of one!
(When I was in the bookstore, I couldn't decide on a book on to get. I had two in my hand - together it would have been over $50.00. Then I saw this book that covered everything I wanted: dragons and fantasy themes. So, I don't agree with "A Classicist"'s review about it being two books.) I find this book perfect!

Although R. Crumb's "Want to improve your art? DRAW. Wishing won't make it happen!" is the best "How-To" advice anyone can give/get, books like this are still quite helpful and inspirational. I bought this book, ended up loaning it to a friend also interested in it during an OT period at work. Later, I just bought another copy for myself!!! It is that good.

While a few helpful tips are included, this book is concerned primarily with listing various characters and props in the fantasy genre and showcasing the artist's work. If you are looking for guidance in drawing the characters or props, this is not the book for you. If you are unaware that the fantasy genre includes warriors, elves, and wizards, then look no further.

I thought this book might give some painting tips and techniques, but it realy offers nothing of substance. just a basic overview of what tools you might use, and where you might get inspiration from. I was very disapointed. nothing of any value.

excellent book. great how to pictures that guide you step by step. gives a great deal of info regarding reference material and ideas. storyboarding, anatomy, foreshortening, costume, perspective, architecture and much more. also for each subject there is an "over to you" section. this gives great ideas on how to get started and find you own unique style. must have for anyone interested in fantasy art!

This book may be a good choice for someone who is interested in fantasy art but doesn't know how to go about starting it. Although it may be different from some generic art books, it really contains nothing that other fantasy art books do not. Rather than providing several examples from artists or trying to inspire new creations, Cowan lists props that your wizard might have and presents very generic, stereotypical heroes, heroines, and villians. One thing the book is good about is the title- it is full of random floating figures. There are a few images that Cowan tries to show step-by-step processes for, but in almost all of them, a major element has been changed without explanation. For someone with limited knowledge of design, this might be confusing; were the choices just aesthetic, was there some practical reason it was changed, or do the changes add to the composition?

I also am not a huge fan of Cowan's work, and everything in the book is done in his very distinct style. Off the top of my head, I can't recall any other artists' works being featured in the book more than a small image in a corner of a page. I guess this can be expected, but I have seen other fantasy books by one artist that feature a variety of finished works.

It's definately not worth buying at full retail price. If you can get it at a decent price (under $10), it would probably be worth it unless you already own one of Cowan's books or another moderately good fantasy art books.

This is one of the first books I bought in my quest to improve my fantasy drawing, and it has stood the test of time. It gives a remarkable introduction to the basics for aspiring artists, and encourages you to run with ideas. From figure drawing to composition, "Fantasy Figures" heightened my sensibilities about art of the fantastical and the larger-than-life. Many of the illustrations used as examples in its pages gave me ideas, little seeds that grew into parts of the world for my in-progress fantasy novels. However, the novel works best if you use it mainly as a springboard. Its point, of course, is not to take ideas from the illustrations on its page, but to look at the world - and draw it - like an artist plagued by that versatile question, "What if?" It is also a lovely book for when you need to go back to the basics and refine your craft. So whether you want to pursue fantasy art for its own sake, or use that art to supplement your writing, this is a must-have volume, and I hope you will grow to love it as much as I did.

Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures: From the Imagination to the Page

The book is amazing. It got here fast and in good condition. I enjoy it and find it extremely useful. Thank you!