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Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist Paperback – October 20, 2009

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James Gurney (Author)
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James Gurney (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars 157 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; 1 edition (October 20, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0740785508
  • ISBN-13: 978-0740785504
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.6 x 10.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFor those who want depth in your art
By Parka TOP 50 REVIEWER on October 25, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Length: 0:24 Mins
If you are a regular reader of James Gurney's blog, Gurney Journey, you would expect nothing less. This book is as good as I expected. He dispenses his knowledge as freely as he does on his blog. Here's what he says about his own book from the introduction:

"This is not a book about figure drawing, anatomy, or perspective. It's not a step-by-step guide on how to draw dinosaurs. It's also not a recipe book for a particular paint technique, although all these topics are addressed in passing. What this book contains is a distillation of the time-tested methods that I've found to be most helpful for achieving realism in imaginative pictures."

If you haven't got the hint from the title, this book is about making your art real and believable. In every chapter, James Gurney shares with us what he learned when creating his paintings. There are topics on people, dinosaurs, architecture, vehicles, composition and his step-by-steps (not techniques but process). The tips he gives can be applied on other subjects as well.

The importance of research is emphasized and the amount of research he does really shows. While creating an illustration on ship wreckage for National Geographic, he talked to survivors to get an accurate account. He found out there's a drummer boy who used his drum as a float and drew that in. He also acted out the various poses of sailors in distress, rather than drawing them from imagination. The result is a painting that tells its story convincingly. The same goes for many of his other paintings.

Another interesting read is the story of him trying to design a Dinotopian fire engine. When he presented his concept art to a professional fire engine designer, it was critiqued to have form but not function.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsDelivers!
By Reviewer on October 7, 2009
Format: Paperback
I have been a long time reader of James Gurney's blog. My interest was not in sci-fi/fantasy, but rather, his insights into painting 'what's not there'. I have studied representational painting - the training is indispensable, but (obviously) focuses on painting a model or still life. The academies do not teach the lost art of painting realistic but imagined scenes - of course you can find classes about painting 'abstractedly' or from 'imagination' but not painting, say, an historic scene or creature that no human has ever seen alive (like a dinosaur) - and that's the gap filled in by this book.

The book offers a wide range of topics - from pleasant surprises like created imaginary maps that look 'real' to extensive coverage of the forgotten use of maquettes and dioramas.

What this book is not: Though this book is fun and interesting to read for non-artists, this is not an in depth 'how to' book on technique (though he does go over some techniques) - so before you set out to paint 'what's not there' you have to have the basic drawing and painting skills to be able to successfully execute the ideas in this book.

overall, its a great overview and practical guide creating paintings from your imagination that look 'real' but it's also just fun to read. Highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAn Instant Classic
By Illustrator and Concept Artist on September 29, 2009
Format: Paperback
An instant classic that really gets into the nuts and bolts of doing professional illustration work. It is a rarity among popular art instruction books that they have both basic information and very professional level information. But this book has both. Great explanations, clear prose, and lots and lots of great pictures demonstrating the principles under discussion. And of course there's lots of amazing fantasy artwork by the author which is all reproduced excellently. In that way its also a Monograph of Jim Gurney's work, as it also includes lots of his other illustration work, besides Dinotopia, including some fantasy paperback book covers and some incredible Historical Pieces done for National Geographic. All of which is deconstructed to show us his thought process while composing and designing his pictures, the building and setting up models, the use of silhouettes, chiaroscuro, and value control, using research to assist the imagination and increase creativity, and many other facets of his workflow. There's also a nice concise history of imaginative art that starts the book off, which includes the best reproductions of a Howard Pyle and Dean Cornwell picture I've seen. I purchased this book directly from the Dinotopia Store, so I got it signed by Mr. Gurney. Well worth it, learned a lot very quickly.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt's like walking into a hobby store
By Storm TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on December 6, 2009
Format: Paperback Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
When I first opened up "Imaginative Realism," the first impression that I formed was that the book reminded me of some of the older texts from the 1970's. There was something about the style of the text and the page layout that made me think of an older text from a used bookstore; I almost felt like I was walking through a hobby store. Though it may sound it, this is not a bad thing - in an age of Photoshop and 3D rendering programs, James Gurney's approach reminds the reader of the traditional approach to illustration.

That being said, this is no novice guide. There is no "the body is made up of shapes" step-by-step guide, this is no "How to draw" book for beginners. James Gurney assumes that the reader has a moderate to high level of skill in most of the areas he addresses. What he does explain are the ideas behind how the real world can provide insight into the fantasy realm. Maquettes, models, architecture, and even workable fixative - this is a great all around book for hobbyists as well as professionals.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very interesting book on painting.

Published 6 days ago by CNMartin
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

for more advanced artists but an excellent choice.

Published 11 days ago by M. B.
5.0 out of 5 starsUnparalleled Wealth of Knowledge and Learning for Illustrators

REASON TO BUY
Gurney makes lucid every primary aspect of illustration and fantasy in this book. His descriptions are clear, beautifully illustrated by his personal works. Read more

Published 21 days ago by Zoey Schlemper
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

ty

Published 1 month ago by Paul Mendez
5.0 out of 5 starsGurney's methods are laid out clearly and concisely in a format that...

As expected, this book is a treasure trove for the fantasy painter. Gurney's methods are laid out clearly and concisely in a format that makes relevant content easy to find again. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ethan Myerson
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Gurney knows his stuff. Wish I had this book when I was in school.

Published 2 months ago by dave kottas
5.0 out of 5 starsA must have!

Will have you itching with ideas!

Published 2 months ago by Edgar A Hernandez
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great book, great price

Published 3 months ago by Patti B.
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

It was as good as new!

Published 4 months ago by Juan
5.0 out of 5 starsI like so much this book

I like so much this book. I like the style and it help me with ideas for my next paintings.

Published 4 months ago by laura

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