The Art of the Book of Life


Jorge Gutiérrez - 2014
    They tether two friends, Manolo and Joaquin, into vying for the heart of the beautiful and fiercely independent Maria, with comical and sometimes dangerous consequences. This volume is an inspirational behind-the-scenes look at the making of the animated feature film The Book of Life, from visionary producer Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and director Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera).

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2


Ben Gelinas - 2015
    This comprehensive book of lore features exclusive art and information, exploring every corner of this dark fantasy masterpiece!Newcomers will appreciate how this volume covers everything they need to know about the world and characters of these smash-hit games! Dedicated fans will revel in the abundance of never-before-revealed secrets, the perfect companion to Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1! From heroes to villains, to songs and food, and everything in between, this book puts the breath and depth of this inimitable fantasy at your fingertips.

Men's Adventure Magazines


Max Allan Collins - 2004
    Hefty comprehensive guide to postwar American men's adventure magazines; includes descriptions of history, culture and artistry of the magazines of the 1950s-1970s.

Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist


James Gurney - 2009
    Renowned for his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings, James Gurney teaches budding artists and fans of fantasy art step-by-step the techniques that won him worldwide critical acclaim. This groundbreaking work examines the practical methods for creating believable pictures of imaginary subjects, such as dinosaurs, ancient Romans, alien creatures, and distant worlds.Beginning with a survey of imaginative paintings from the Renaissance to the golden Age of American illustration, the book then goes on to explain not just techniques like sketching and composition, but also the fundamentals of believable world building including archaeology, architecture, anatomy for creatures and aliens, and fantastic engineering. It concludes with details and valuable advice on careers in fantasy illustration, including video game and film concept art and toy design.More than an instruction book, this is the ultimate reference for fans of science fiction and fantasy illustration."Gurney's Imaginative Realism is a gold mine for artists who want to create images that sing with authority and delight the viewer with rich otherworldly visuals." --Erik Tiemens, concept artist, Star Wars: Episodes II and III"Imaginative Realism is an indispensable, flawless reference for vision makers in any discipline to create their own imaginative realms." --Frank M. Costantino, ASAI, SI, FSAI, JARA, cofounder, American Society of Architectural Illustrators

The Art of Brom


Brom - 2013
    Brom has collected together the very best of his art spanning his 30 year career. Many pieces have never before been published. Brom has written an insightful autobiography sharing his artistic journey from his earliest childhood drawings, his frustrations with commercial art, challenges breaking into the industry, to his years working in games and film, and insights into his latest personal works. Brom's art is a harmony of extremes: dark and beautiful, haunting and inspiring, majestic and raw. The Art of Brom is equally diverse. Here are images made iconic through his illustrated novels and his work in film and games. Many of the book's images, including those previously published, have been rescanned from the original artwork, and color-corrected by the artist himself, ensuring meticulous reproduction quality. Furthermore, this collection is designed by Brom allowing him the opportunity to arrange his art in a personal manner, with large full-color images and details to show his brush work.

The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story


Phil Szostak - 2018
    The plot centres on the young adulthood of streetwise smuggler Han Solo and his partner in crime, Chewbacca, who were first introduced in Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (1977). Directed by Academy Award®-winner Rob Howard and featuring a screenplay by legendary Star Wars writer Lawrence Kasdan (cowriter of The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and his son Jon Kasdan (director of In the Land of Women), the film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Amelia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson. The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story chronicles the evolution of each new fantastical set, otherworldly machine, and unforgettable character in the film. From the earliest gathering of artists and production designers to post-production, this book offers unprecedented access to Lucasfilm’s creative process.Packed with hundreds of spectacular images, including production paintings, concept art and sketches, storyboards, and matte paintings, The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story will be the definitive guide to the art of the film—and a must-have keepsake for Star Wars fans and cineastes alike.

But is It Art?: An Introduction to Art Theory


Cynthia A. Freeland - 2001
    Thisoften leads exasperated viewers to exclaim--is this really art?In this invaluable primer on aesthetics, Freeland explains why innovation and controversy are so highly valued in art, weaving together philosophy and art theory with many engrossing examples. Writing clearly and perceptively, she explores the cultural meanings of art in different contexts, and highlights the continuities of tradition that stretch from modern, often sensational, works back to the ancient halls of the Parthenon, to the medieval cathedral of Chartres, and to African nkisi nkondi fetish statues. She explores the difficulties of interpretation, examines recent scientific research into the ways the brain perceives art, and looks to the still-emerging worlds of art on the web, video art, art museum CD-ROMS, and much more. In addition, Freeland guides us through the various theorists of art, from Aristotle and Kant to Baudrillard. Lastly, throughout this nuanced account of theories, artists, and works, Freeland provides us with a rich understanding of how cultural significance is captured in a physical medium, and why challenging our perceptions is, and always has been, central to the whole endeavor.It is instructive to recall that Henri Matisse himself was originally derided as a "wild beast." To horrified critics, his bold colors and distorted forms were outrageous. A century later, what was once shocking is now considered beautiful. And that, writes Freeland, is art.

The Animator's Survival Kit


Richard Williams - 2001
    During his more than forty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between Disney's golden age of animation by hand and the new computer animation exemplified by Toy Story. Perhaps even more important, though, has been his dedication in passing along his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn could push the medium in new directions. In this book, based on his sold-out master classes in the United States and across Europe, Williams provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator--from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz --needs. Urging his readers to "invent but be believable," he illustrates his points with hundreds of drawings, distilling the secrets of the masters into a working system in order to create a book that will become the standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students, and fans.

Jeff Smith: Bone and Beyond


Lucy Shelton Caswell - 2008
    In July of 1991, he launched Cartoon Books in Columbus, Ohio, to publish his black-and-white comic strip Bone. A tale of three marshmallowy creatures named Bone, adrift in a world of humans, monsters and fantasy creatures, Bone has since been translated into 15 languages and won Smith countless awards. Bone and Beyond is the first volume to offer an overview of Smith's work. Published in conjunction with the Wexner Center and Cartoon Research Library's 2008 exhibition, this catalogue presents work featured in the show, including examples of Smith's original drawings for Bone, plus the more recent Shazam and Rasl, a forthcoming time travel story. Also featured are selected works by cartoonists who have influenced Smith, such as George Herriman, Charles Schulz and Walt Kelly, and essays by comic book and fantasy author Neil Gaiman, comic book artist and scholar Scott McCloud and Wexner Center film/video curator David Filipi, the exhibition's co-curator. Cartoon Research Library curator Lucy Shelton Caswell, the exhibition's other co-curator, provides an introduction.

Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present


Virgil Elliott - 2007
    How did the Old Masters create their masterpieces? What kind of education allowed these great artists to create such beautiful work, and how can an artist learn these lessons today? Traditional Oil Painting answers those questions and many more. This comprehensive sourcebook explores the most advanced levels of oil painting, with full information on the latest scientific discoveries. Author and distinguished artist Virgil Elliott examines the many elements that let artists take the next step in their work: mental attitude, aesthetic considerations, the importance of drawing, principles of visual reality, materials, techniques, portraiture, photographic images versus visual reality, and color. Traditional Oil Painting helps artists master the secrets of realistic painting to create work that will rival that of the masters.

The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles Documents from the Batcave


Brandon T. Snider - 2012
    Here, for the first time, is an in-world exploration of Christopher Nolan's Batman: The Dark Knight Manual, the definitive guide to his tools, vehicles, and technologies. Following the destruction of Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne began to assemble key sketches, diagrams, observations, and other top-secret documents germane to becoming Batman; he then entrusted this manual to his faithful butler, Alfred. Every defining moment is detailed here, charting Wayne's collaborations with Lucius Fox at Wayne Enterprises on the latest cutting-edge technology. This package features a distressed vintage cover design and includes removable documents, including the design and capability of the famed utility belt, the hi-tech functions of Batman’s cowl, and every detail of his amazing arsenal of weapons and gadgets, The Dark Knight Manual reveals how Bruce Wayne operates as Gotham's greatest protector. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s12)

The Bird King and Other Sketches


Shaun Tan - 2010
    What do they all have in common? Nothing! Except for the fact that they all come from the sketchbooks of Shaun Tan, acclaimed creator of The Lost Thing, the Arrival and Tales from Outer Suburbia.Also selected by the artist are preliminary drawings for book, film and theatre projects, portrait and landscape studies, along with pages from travelling notebooks. All off a special insight into the daydreams of a celebrated author and illustrator.

Drawing Portraits: Faces and Figures


Giovanni Civardi - 1994
    A practical easy-to-follow guide, which shows how to observe and draw portraits of children and adults - and how to capture a likeness.

Sketch with Asia: Manga Style Art, Tips and Tutorials


Asia Ladowska - 2019
    Asia blends her experience in hyper-realism with her passion for Manga, creating a style she is well-loved and recognised for.In this book she shares more of her art and behind the scenes information, along with numerous tips and tutorials for any budding Manga artist.This is a detailed look at her processes from drawing expressions, to colouring hair.

The Complete Pin-Ups


Gil Elvgren - 1999
    His technique-which earned him a reputation as "The Norman Rockwell of cheesecake"-involved photographing models and then painting them into gorgeous hyper-reality, with longer legs, more flamboyant hair and gravity-defying busts, and in the process making them the perfect moral-boosting eye-candy for every homesick private.