Customer Reviews

A Journey of the Imagination: The Art of James Christensen

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book causes you to see through the eyes of a child again, playing with reality and delighting in possibilities. It gets your "imaginative juices" flowing to where you won't look at ordinary, every day objects in the same way again. The artist provides the reader with insight into his whimsy, while at the same time providing a magical feast for the eye!

I have been familiar with this artists work for over 10 years and just recently purchased all of his works I found available at Amazon.com. His work is gorgeous. It is thought provoking. His inspiration seems to come from everywhere: religion, Shakespeare, fairy tales, nature, and on and on and on. These books sit on the bookshelf within easy reach of my desk, and whenever I am depressed or in need of inspiration I open them up to find exactly what I need. The artist description of each piece is a rare treat.

This artist is a master craftsman, a poet in drawing and design. He has an eye for incredible detail, a sense of humor and wit that makes you smile and laugh and say, "Ah".. See this work slowly and read with care for there is wisdom on every page and deep insight within each work of art. Discovering this book is like finding a universe filled with fun and love and laughter and great understanding of the human spirit. There is a surprise on every page and a treasure within each border. This book is truly a gift to the world of art and design, religion and philosophy, ethics and morality, literature and poetry. It is a veritable treasure!

There's really no way to tell what James Christensen's art is like. It's as unsatisfactory as trying to describe what chocolate tastes like to the person who's never tasted it. It has to be experienced to be appreciated.

This is a wonderful collection reproducing almost all of Christensen's earlier work. It includes some "serious" works of which the artist clearly is a master, but his fantasy art is unlike anyone elses. It takes flights of fancy and works of whimsy to completely new heights. The person who can go through this delightful romp among a truly creative genius' works and not find themselves smiling for most of it is suffering from an atrophied sense of humor.

If you like fantasy, get this book. If you like art, get this book. If you have a sense of humor and the willingness to use it, get this book. Warning: you may have to take this book in small doses, or your smile may suffer from overwork.

James Christensen's art can be funny on one page and thoughtful on the next. Christensen has the uncanny ability to take you into his pictures -- even when there are fish floating about. One of my favorites is "Lawrence Pretended Not to Notice That a Bear Had Become Attached to His Coattail". Yes, that's the title. There is a cute story on the same page. A grade school student attempts to find the theme in this piece - with only partial success.

This book will remind you that heartwarming is more than an adman's phrase. After all, when was the last time you actually opened one of those fancy art books you've got on your coffee table? This is one you'll _read_.

This book is awesome!!! Beautifully illustrated! After I turned the first page I never wanted to put it down! The colors and imagination make you feel like you are in another world! Every person should own this book! It not only rates as a 5 star but 10 stars in my book! Pick it up today!

Wonderful comic fantasy art with all kinds exquisite details,
great colors. All characters in Renaissance costumes often
with fish floating by. I love it and I am giving it to everyone
for Christmas. The artist explains why he painted what.
Also includes sketches in the margins