I have been anticipating this book since the start of the year - and pre-ordered it months ago. It was everything I expected/wanted, and more.
I expected a few tutorials, much like how I see online, for colouring bit by bit. The techniques, etc.
This book, much like those, takes you into the artist's perspective. And then some. They give you so many hints along the way, and explain things simply, so someone who knows only the very basics of painting programs [like me], could understand. And then comes the fun part:
Not all the tutorials were the expected 'Then you do this, and that...' screen-shot steps. Christy Lijewski takes an interesting approach to character design. Then you get Felipe Smith's hilarious 'comic-tut' on facial expression. Most artists got a tutorial in, which I was very pleased with.
There's interesting quiz-style biographies, with questions/points varying between artists, and it was very interesting reading responses.
I particularly liked two tutorials. Not because I already admired the artists, but because of the insights they gave me.
I doubt I saw two artists who had the same approach/style to art, whether it was more anime-like, or manga, and it was great seeing their works in print.
I recommend this book to both those who want to look at some beautiful artwork, and those who want an insight into how these achieve their means.
