Mirage

Rating:
Summary: A superb work evoking sometimes forbidden fantasies
Review: Boris Vallejo has long been recognized as one of the premier fantasy illustrators of the modern world. His figures of men and women seem drawn from real-life bodybuilders of both sexes, and he has done everything from illustrations of Conan comics to Chevy Chase movie posters.

Still, "Mirage" represents his best work to date, and is rivalled only by his "Ladies" (a retelling of ancient mythology) and the superb paintings from his 1999 Calendar.

The powerful poetry which accompanies most of the art in Mirage is marred only by the occasional modern colloquialisms which seem out of place in the fantasy worlds he is creating. Still, I derive ceaseless pleasure from these images and recommend them to anyone who finds our present urban existence drab.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST
Review: Boris Vallejo is one of the best artists who can create and depict fantasy art like no one else. I really believe that if someone is not turned on to fantasy art and they recieve a chance to look at the contents of Mirage they will be a fan at the least. This is my favorite book out of his collection and I like to look it over before I work on my drawings and paintings of women. It helps me focus on what I am trying to create and what I want to create. Buy this book you will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST
Review: Boris Vallejo is one of the best artists who can create and depict fantasy art like no one else. I really believe that if someone is not turned on to fantasy art and they recieve a chance to look at the contents of Mirage they will be a fan at the least. This is my favorite book out of his collection and I like to look it over before I work on my drawings and paintings of women. It helps me focus on what I am trying to create and what I want to create. Buy this book you will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Erotic and beautifully illustrated
Review: Boris Vallejo, to me, is an exceptional artist. He is also my first inspirational artist. At school, I had seen his images but never knew directly anything about Boris. So, I went and found some information and as soon as I discovered the many books on his art, I made it my business to try and get them all. Mirage is truely a beautiful part of my collection. The images of the women embracing demons, in seductive poses and their fleshy vibrancy really make this book attractive. At the start of the book, which I found helpful with my drawing, are graceful images drawn in pencil. Delicate particles of graphite sculpted to create beautiful images. What makes Boris a great artist is his ability to see, not just to view a body in 2D but to see all the angular parts of the body. This is best demonstrated in his shading and the way he captivates light illuminating the body. This book also contains erotic landscapes, and I say erotic because they clearly depict forms of an erotic and sexual nature. The text pieces accompanying the images are abstract but they do add to the mystery and interpretations of each and every picture. If you are a collector of art books or anything to do with the fantasy art genre, I would honestly recommend this as a book to have, simply because of the depictions, the colour and because it's Boris, Boris at his best. Look for the washing image and the soapy bubbles and the woman's rear!---Magnificent and realistic.

Rating:
Summary: Erotic and beautifully illustrated
Review: Boris Vallejo, to me, is an exceptional artist. He is also my first inspirational artist. At school, I had seen his images but never knew directly anything about Boris. So, I went and found some information and as soon as I discovered the many books on his art, I made it my business to try and get them all. Mirage is truely a beautiful part of my collection. The images of the women embracing demons, in seductive poses and their fleshy vibrancy really make this book attractive. At the start of the book, which I found helpful with my drawing, are graceful images drawn in pencil. Delicate particles of graphite sculpted to create beautiful images. What makes Boris a great artist is his ability to see, not just to view a body in 2D but to see all the angular parts of the body. This is best demonstrated in his shading and the way he captivates light illuminating the body. This book also contains erotic landscapes, and I say erotic because they clearly depict forms of an erotic and sexual nature. The text pieces accompanying the images are abstract but they do add to the mystery and interpretations of each and every picture. If you are a collector of art books or anything to do with the fantasy art genre, I would honestly recommend this as a book to have, simply because of the depictions, the colour and because it's Boris, Boris at his best. Look for the washing image and the soapy bubbles and the woman's rear!---Magnificent and realistic.

Rating:
Summary: A fantasy art collection like no other!
Review: For many years now Boris Vallejo has been at the top of my favourite artists, no other painter comes close (perhaps Michael Whelan?). A collection of erotic fantasy paintings from a time when Vallejo was at his best. A must for any budding fantasy artist (like myself!).

Rating:
Summary: His BEST Work...
Review: I have been admiring and studying the Art of Boris Valejio since 1988. This is a collection of Art (late 1970s-mid 1980s) from his career PEAK. Details and tones duplicated from a MASTER Painter. If you buy ONE collection of Boris's fantastic Art, IT MUST BE MIRAGE...

There are some beautiful pencil renderings with precision use of the eraser to bring his sketches to life. An added bonus to pages of glorious full color women and men in the god-like exploitation of the human form.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning, Gorgeous work
Review: I've been a fan of Boris' work ever since I first bought the 1978 TARZAN Calendar. I've been buying just about every calendar and book he's put out since. But THIS book-- remains my favorite. Every piece included was done specifically for this collection. A few years after it came out, one of his calendars was made up of paintings from here; I only wish ALL of them were available calendar-size! The beauty and imagination that he puts into every piece is a joy for the soul and an inspiration to fantasy artists!

Rating:
Summary: Dark, mysterious, and sensual
Review: The erotic images portrayed by Vallejo bring out the darkly sexual side of anyone who can appreciate fantasy and erotic art. The straightforward biographical synopsis is tinged with a bit of humor, and the pencil drawings capture the interest of the reader to enjoy the rest of the book. Mysteriously sensual poetry accompanies each of the color drawings, and the centerfold was a nice touch. The drawing of the nymph with the unicorn gazelle is especially nice; it may take a moment to absorb everything in the drawing, such as the stones of the background cliff forming faces of an oddly indifferent expression while the satyr skitters in the background, whether away from or toward the nymph, depends on the reader interpretation. Be forewarned that some of the drawings may evoke images of domination of females, which may not be to everyone's artistic taste. In my mind, however, a wonderful way to explore the dark side of fantasy.