Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)

This is a very in depth book with excellent pictures and information. A brilliant read

I am afraid I judged this book by its cover and really didn't think that this was the kind of book that would be suitable for me or that I would enjoy. But having encountered James Gurney online and discovered that, rather than just painting dinosaurs, he was a far more traditional painter than I had imagined and decided to give it a try.I am delighted that I did. This is an excellent book written by a painter for other painters and full of interesting insights. It is definitely not for beginners since it assumes that you can already paint and draw well and are willing to work devotedly to conjure up a realistic depiction of an imaginary scene. He is consciously drawing on the heritage of the golden age of American illustration (which I like too) and takes you through all the steps he takes from thumbnail sketches to finished pieces, which is fascinating.There are a couple of drawbacks : his studio setup, kit and workshop facilities are way beyond what most of us can aspire to so I wish he could be a little more aware about these limitations most of us face. ( Plasticine and cardboard maquettes lit by an Anglepoise work fine for us lesser mortals.) This could be daunting or reduce one to paroxysms of envy. There is very little about any other medium except oil paint and you also have to have a high tolerance for dinosaurs .However these are minor quibbles. There is not only the enjoyment of being taken through his process of work but a lot of useful information to be gleaned en route. In fact I was so impressed that I immediately ordered his other book - "Colour and Light".So I can unhesitatingly recommend this to any other realist painter who wants some insight into Gurney's way of working and how to depict an imaginary world.

Compelling read, I wanted to learn more about painting and using some of the techniques described to improve my Warhammer painting. Very much worth a read!

This is a fantastic book and will be a wonderful addition to anyones collection who is interested in developing fantasy art, or even just improving general drawing and design skills.The information is broken down into manageable bitesized chapters, so you can read the whole book as a whole, or just dip in and out. The illustrations are lovely, and I love reading about how the artist develops ideas and gathers information.The cover of this book does not do it justice, as it could put some artists off if they are not really into fantasy work, but there are some great illustrations, and the influence of some past masters are evident in some of the work.The book is a good size and there is plenty to read and lots of information. The book is printed on good quality paper and is really good value for money. A breath of fresh air in the art book format. If you like fantasy art, or are interested in reading about how other artists work then buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

The answer seems to be to make a model for reference... not something thats always practical to do but there is also plenty of other interesting insights in the book as well and I found it an interesting read. His book on colour and light is the more useful of the two for me though.

I bought this because of a recommendation, thinking that I would not like it and send it back. After flicking through it and only reading a few bit, I decided to keep it and be more adventurous in my art. Love the book. I wish I had known about it before..I already own quite a few of Guerney's recommended book from his list and love them too.

As an artist, I am always looking for new ideas and techniques to apply in my own work.I had already purchased Jim Guerney's book "Color and Light" and read all the articles he had published in International Artist Magazine, so was already a big fan.Although entitled "Imaginative Realism" (painting what doesn't exist) it is not just for the fantasy artist; it is an indispensible tool for any realist artist.The book is packed with valuable information on a wide range of subjects and techniques. It is at the same time very entertaining and shows Jim's amazing artistic skills, creativity and passion for what he does.A must for any realist artist or anyone interested in fantasy worlds or dinosaurs.And go and buy his other book - it is just as good!Richard Harpum ([...])

One of a few books written by James Gurney and worth its weight in gold as they say. A good starting point for any artist looking for inspiration.