A Journey of the Imagination: The Art of James Christensen [Hardcover]

Renwick St. James (Author), James C. Christensen (Illustrator), James Gurney (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 1996

Enter a world just a little left of reality. More than 65,000 copies in print.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA--Christensen is an artist who presents tapestries of arabesque images to delight the eye and tease the imagination. He layers for our inspection and introspection myths, literature, poetry, nature, black-and-white checkered floors, and everyman as a ``hunchback'' with the cares of the world upon his fragile shoulders. Palpable colored plates on heavy-weight creamy paper serve as canvases for works with titles such as ``The Responsible Woman,'' ``She Would Have Been a Much More Pleasant Person If Her Nose Had Not Been On So Tight,'' and the uplifting ``College of Magical Knowledge.'' The painter writes in his opening essay that he wants people to participate in his art along with him. He discusses how symbols, designs, and metaphors convey new interpretations of reality. He facilitates an understanding of his works with insightful comments about each one. Themes such as fantasy in nature, allegory, life's voyages, the power of fairy tales as proverbs, and other diverse topics are suggested for possible exploration. This book is a rich resource tool for students of all disciplines. YAs' creativity will be stimulated by the clever complexity within its pages, and they will find themselves on a quest to decipher all of the ideas behind the images.

Arlene Hoebel, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Renwick St. James has created illustrations, poetry and stories that have delighted her growing legion of fans. Her first collaboration with James Christensen was A Journey of the Imagination.

James C. Christensen, nicknamed the "Professor of the Imagination," lectures widely on art and creativity, from MBA programs to state art education conferences. The winner of multiple awards from the World Science Fiction Convention and the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, he is the subject of five previous books including Voyage of the Basset and The Art of James C. Christensen: A Journey of the Imagination. He lives in Orem, Utah.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: The Greenwich Workshop Press; First Edition edition (January 8, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867130210
• ISBN-13: 978-0867130218
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please fasten your imagination seat belt, June 16, 2000

By 

Norman Ahumada - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Journey of the Imagination: The Art of James Christensen (Hardcover)

I teach Illustration to Graphic Design students. Part of the job is analising the work of different authors, styles, techniques, purposes, achievements. One day I saw Christensen's "A Journey of the Imagination", brought to Chile by a friend of mine. I have never seen a better book (I've seen a lot). My students were as amazed as I was. Now I bought the book and it has become one of my most valuable treasures. I urge every Graphic Design student to get this work, because it resumes a wonderful technique, a unique style, and will always be a fountain of inspiration.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let your imagination take a journey!, April 29, 2000

By 

Rosalie P. Brown "Book Lover" (Marietta, Ga) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Journey of the Imagination: The Art of James Christensen (Hardcover)

I have followed this artist for quite some time and loved his pictures. When I found out there was a book of his art I literaly ran to purchase it. You cannot go wrong with this one, every picture is surpurb, the coloring, the charecters everything. All his drawings make you think, make you smile and ooh and auh. All of them make you take a second and third look, each time seeing a little more, with your eyes,mind and heart. Get this book, leave it out for visitors to see and watch their faces a they look through it. What a joy of a book to have for everyone. Lets all hope another one is made with more of Mr Christensens work.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING, May 31, 2001

By 

Brandon Witt--redbirdboy "redbirdboy" (Denver, Co United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Journey of the Imagination: The Art of James Christensen (Hardcover)

Journey of the Imagination is a wonderful table top book. It is a beautiful discussion peice. James Christensen's art is filled with passion that is vibrant and thrilling. Every piece of art is amazingly detailed and done with brilliant colors that thrill the eye. This book has a mixture of his fantasy art and his allegorical artwork. I prefer his fantasy art, but both are great and done equally well. This book is a must have for any art lover, especaially those who love fantasy art. My only complaint about this book is that it does not include "Sisters of the Sea"--Christensen's mermaid painting. However, you can get that one in Voyage of the Basset by Christensen. While the two books do double up on a few art pieces, each stands on its own merit and anyone who loves his art must have both.