Fantasy Art Masters: The Best Fantasy and Science Fiction Artists Show How They Work

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Primer of Fantasy Artwork
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to fantasy art.

Rating:
Summary: Really Good
Review: This Book is Fantastic. I know some people may have been dissapointed that it didnt mention as many Fantasy artists, but for that, you need to buy the "Spectrum" fantasy books. This book is Fantastic BECAUSE It took a few of the many great artists, and let them tell about themselves and how they made it to where they are and what theyve done, as well as some sketches and behind the masterpiece work. There was a wide variety of both fantasy and science fiction, paint, drawing and digital. Great for detail. But if you want an overview of MANY artists, its not what youre looking for, (as I said). The color and layout of the book is done well. Great book to have, especially if you're an aspiring fantasy artist.

Rating:
Summary: Really Good
Review: This Book is Fantastic. I know some people may have been dissapointed that it didnt mention as many Fantasy artists, but for that, you need to buy the "Spectrum" fantasy books. This book is Fantastic BECAUSE It took a few of the many great artists, and let them tell about themselves and how they made it to where they are and what theyve done, as well as some sketches and behind the masterpiece work. There was a wide variety of both fantasy and science fiction, paint, drawing and digital. Great for detail. But if you want an overview of MANY artists, its not what youre looking for, (as I said). The color and layout of the book is done well. Great book to have, especially if you're an aspiring fantasy artist.

Rating:
Summary: Too little and without promise
Review: When I first recieved this book I was very disappointed. I've gone back to the book on a few occasions and I've come to the conclusion that, for me, it's decent enough. Some of the work in here doesn't come close to being considered masterpieces. While some of it is very good (Brom, Alan Lee, John Howe and Rick Berry particularly look good) some of the other work looks contrived and uninspiring.I'm not going to lambast the artists who created the work I didn't like. There's no point in being rude and I respect that these artists may very well have labored sincerely at their craft. Some of their work was even decent. On the other hand, I have to ask myself if they were the person on the street would they respond to images that look like spliced photos of leather clad fetish inspired fembots with what looks like gun barrels (?) for heads? I had to study that piece to make out that they were female even as they they had the basic scrawny model physique. While some of the work I didn't like communicated ideas I could relate to, others married the shocking with visuals in attempts to call itself art. Sensory response can be achieved by kicking a dog, however it's not likely to be considered art.Too make matters worse, while some of the work is graphic it's also over-stylized. If fantasy, as it's known to be, can be shocking (or just disturbing) as some of this work is, than once again we reduce the form to the lowest common denominator. "Wow! This is so cool." "Why?" "Cause I never saw this before." Is fantasy art be lowered to that most contrived form of visual impact that is called "conceptual art"? Please, count me out. Even worse is the fact that, for me, the unusual pieces were later viewed as just tacky and even later, boring. That's where I use the "contrived" label. Most of the other digital art was nothing short of boring even as it was unusual. What's the point of being unusual if it's still boring? Most of the traditional paintings were all right but, again, some of it was boring. What was the point the writer and editor were trying to highlight? In conclusion, there is some very good work in this book but there are also some works that left me wishing for straight up paintings and drawings again. The digital age has promised a lot and delivered very little. And none of it has inspired me to buy a print, frame it and display it. I'm still hopeful that it progresses beyond what's presented here.