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Imaginative Realism

gurney

I’ve spent the last several days devouring James Gurney’s new book Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist.

It’s a treasure. Using samples from his illustrious career, he takes the reader through his thought process and explains principles both basic (setting up an efficient studio, thumbnail sketches) and advanced (shapewelding, counterchange, flagging the head).

Read it once and flip back through to see where he’s applied these principles. You’ll also start seeing your work with new eyes, which is the mark of a great teacher.

  • http://www.supersiblingscomics.com/ supersiblings

    This book is wonderful. I too can’t put it down. Believe it or not I actually picked it up today at a lecture given by Gurney himself. He came to Cal State Fullerton to give a guest lecture. He is a wonderful illustrator and had amazing insights. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in improving their craft.

  • http://www.supersiblingscomics.com supersiblings

    This book is wonderful. I too can’t put it down. Believe it or not I actually picked it up today at a lecture given by Gurney himself. He came to Cal State Fullerton to give a guest lecture. He is a wonderful illustrator and had amazing insights. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in improving their craft.

  • http://www.susanadsett.com/ Susan

    Don’t forget to check our his blog: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/ – there’s lots of great illustration advice, as well as stuff you’ll never see in a book (the extreme unicycle painting video kills me).

  • http://www.susanadsett.com Susan

    Don’t forget to check our his blog: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/ – there’s lots of great illustration advice, as well as stuff you’ll never see in a book (the extreme unicycle painting video kills me).