Spectrum 10: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 10) [Paperback]

Arnie Fenner (Editor), Cathy Fenner (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art | Publication Date: September 12, 2003

The increasing popularity of fantasy and science fiction themes in art is visualized and celebrated in the sumptuous Spectrum series. Unique in its concept, significant in its content, breathtaking in its execution, Spectrum is designed for readers who want to satisfy their sense of wonder, and serves as an invaluable resource for art directors and illustrators. Spectrum 10 includes 300 color illustrations and features artists from Germany, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Canada, France, and the United States. The art comes from books, magazines, comics, video games, films, TV, advertising, and unpublished works from the artists' personal portfolios and gallery shows. Included are works by artists such as Peter DeSeve, Anita Kunz, John Jude Palencar, Dave McKean, and Jon Foster.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A full-color presentation of the current state of the art--charming, sublime, exotic, horrific."

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Underwood Books (September 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887424725
• ISBN-13: 978-1887424721
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drop Dead Gorgeous!, April 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Spectrum 10: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 10) (Paperback)

Sci-Fi and Fantasy artists have always seemed like illustration's poor step-children, often ignored (and sometimes sneered at) while the historical and Western painters wore the mantel of respectability. Thank goodness Spectrum came along to point out to the naysayers that Art is Art and that the practitioners of "fantastic" art are as gifted as anyone working today (if not better).

Spectrum 10 is chocked-full of beautiful and imaginative work by veterans and fresh faces alike. Personal favorites include the previously unpublished gallery paintings by jillion-times-Hugo-winner Michael Whelan, the Expressionist-flavored space ships by John Berkey, the monsterously proportioned toy robots by Eric Joyner, and the fantasy scenarios of Paul Bonner. There's art for films, paintings for books, sculptures (which I personally enjoy seeing), and work from comics; serious, mature pieces followed by wonderfully whacky and whimisical images. There's really something for everyone. It's fun to go through the book and compare the judges' selection of award-winners in each category with what *I* think should have won.

And thank goodness someone has finally acknowledged Michael Kaluta (#10's Grand Master Award recipient) as one of the most worthwhile illustrators working today. Kudos to the Spectrum Board!

About the only downsides are the occasional typos and several pages with cramped lay-outs, but all-in-all a must-have book for anyone with an imagination--and at a bargain price at that!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST have for any art fan, January 30, 2005

By 

C. Cole (Allen, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spectrum 10: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 10) (Paperback)

I recently purchased Spectrum 9, 10, and 11. These books are absolutely wonderful, and I would recommend them to any artist or fan of fantasy/sci fi art. They are extremely well put together, of high quality (reproduction wise), have a large number and variety of artists, and contain some of the most beautiful works of art I have seen. Some of the subject matter can be disturbing or somewhat sexual in nature (certainly nothing explicit, but not exactly innocent either), so I wouldn't recomend them for the very young (12 or under?) if you are a parent. These books are worth every penny and highly recommended.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet dude, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Spectrum 10: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 10) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book and I would recommend this to anyone interested in sci-fi/fantasy art. This book is even better than it's predessesors also. I think anyone who enjoyed the other spectrum books will enjoy this.