What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Draw and Paint Fantasy Architecture byAlexander
Advice and instruction from a leading fantasy illustrator guides art students who intend to pursue careers illustrating computer games, children's books, graphic novels, and other related media. This book's opening chapter analyzes traditional architectural shapes that include arches, columns, towers, vaults, and buttresses. Chapters that follow apply principles of lighting, shadow, and perspective to the architectural forms, and discuss ways of creating surface textures and adding dramatic atmosphere to illustrations. Readers are then guided through a series of projects of increasing complexity in which they create illustrations dominated by fantasy castles, palaces, dungeons, and more. Here is comprehensive instruction in the techniques required for capturing fantastic buildings, alien architecture, and alternate realities. More than 250 enlightening color illustrations.
Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 31, 2015
The title accurately describes the contents. Mostly well-presented, clear and full of good ideas. It could have benefited from some copy-editing.
The illustrations aren't as high-quality as you would expect from a modern 'how-to' book even though it is printed on good paper.
It is not made completely clear which medium was used for the author's paintings (that serve as illustrations). The implication is that he used real oils, and he certainly discusses letting the paint dry etc, but if you look at the finished paintings there's an uncanny sense of detail that cannot be achieved by (non-digital) oil medium alone.
A bit of research on the author's website reveals that these are 'mixed-media' paintings (he does say this at one point in the book, although not very prominently), which means that he does some digital work, prints it out, then paints over it. This is an interesting approach, and I wish I could have read half a book about the technical details of how he manages to combine these methods to achieve the effects he does.
This said, given that he spends a lot of time talking about how to achieve certain textural effects using real oils, it feels like a slight of hand to then display examples of non-digital (even photographic?) artwork incorporated in the final work.
The illustrations aren't as high-quality as you would expect from a modern 'how-to' book even though it is printed on good paper.
It is not made completely clear which medium was used for the author's paintings (that serve as illustrations). The implication is that he used real oils, and he certainly discusses letting the paint dry etc, but if you look at the finished paintings there's an uncanny sense of detail that cannot be achieved by (non-digital) oil medium alone.
A bit of research on the author's website reveals that these are 'mixed-media' paintings (he does say this at one point in the book, although not very prominently), which means that he does some digital work, prints it out, then paints over it. This is an interesting approach, and I wish I could have read half a book about the technical details of how he manages to combine these methods to achieve the effects he does.
This said, given that he spends a lot of time talking about how to achieve certain textural effects using real oils, it feels like a slight of hand to then display examples of non-digital (even photographic?) artwork incorporated in the final work.
December 5, 2019
I love the beautiful artwork in this book. I think this book will help writers get some inspiration. I also recommend this book for beginner artists who are exploring layouts and in need of fantasy references as the title suggests.
Many people have said that the author uses both traditional and digital painting. So if there are people who are looking for just one way then you might find the book lacking.
Artist can still use this book as a reference and artist who are writers can use this for inspiration. I have no complaint about the beautiful artwork. They look amazing on my kindle.
Many people have said that the author uses both traditional and digital painting. So if there are people who are looking for just one way then you might find the book lacking.
Artist can still use this book as a reference and artist who are writers can use this for inspiration. I have no complaint about the beautiful artwork. They look amazing on my kindle.
December 16, 2019
This book has really cool artwork and it’s by far so much better than my history of architecture books from university 😂 because it describes each architectural style through history in a very synthesized, practical, graphic way that is very easy to learn and remember. I wouldn’t consider it a good guide to learn how to draw and paint fantasy architecture though. It is a very good reference of architecture and also a good source of inspiration, but if you are looking for a drawing course, better look somewhere else.
May 17, 2022
It’s a really good book c: it made me wanna paint again and so I did, the lessons are simple and on point.
Good book
Good book
February 27, 2021
I read this book after reading Drawing Fantasy Landscapes, which from appearance are in the same series. However, this book is far superior and gives a lot of concrete examples and source material for artists to work with.
The book is broken into four sections or chapters. The first section explores architectural styles. Obviously many are left out, but there's a nice sweep of styles from around the world and most commonly inspire fantasy artists. The author picks out key details that an artist needs to be aware of to faithfully replicate them.
The next section concerns composition theory and how to use light and tone to establish an image. I liked that the section was brief, but informative on these matters. It also had effective visuals to match.
The third discusses and demonstrates how to look at materials, so, it shows how wood and stone can be captured in the visual medium.
Finally, the fourth section provides a series of drawings artists created, how they went about it with annotations on the various drafts.
Overall I think this book does quite well to marry the content that its discussing with images. Having a strong visual basis to work off of makes it much more comprehensible overall. I appreciate the careful presentation of the information. Overall I think this is a resource I can return to.
The book is broken into four sections or chapters. The first section explores architectural styles. Obviously many are left out, but there's a nice sweep of styles from around the world and most commonly inspire fantasy artists. The author picks out key details that an artist needs to be aware of to faithfully replicate them.
The next section concerns composition theory and how to use light and tone to establish an image. I liked that the section was brief, but informative on these matters. It also had effective visuals to match.
The third discusses and demonstrates how to look at materials, so, it shows how wood and stone can be captured in the visual medium.
Finally, the fourth section provides a series of drawings artists created, how they went about it with annotations on the various drafts.
Overall I think this book does quite well to marry the content that its discussing with images. Having a strong visual basis to work off of makes it much more comprehensible overall. I appreciate the careful presentation of the information. Overall I think this is a resource I can return to.
November 4, 2020
646 - 2020
August 2, 2022
Great book to get you from sketches to colored, polished, and finished painting. I would've loved to have had more references on the architecture part, but overall great book.
March 31, 2024
Good reference book, though the how to draw section felt overwhelming the detailed breakdown of different architecture styles in a simple way was very nice.
October 21, 2014
I'm really glad I picked up this book. I work in the architecture field, but it was very refreshing to look at things from this point of view. It's easy to get caught up in minutia doing the work of creating buildings and easier yet to miss certain esthtetic points.
This is a good book for beginners. I like the examples and the full color break downs of various pieces. Well worth the cover price.
This is a good book for beginners. I like the examples and the full color break downs of various pieces. Well worth the cover price.
November 18, 2014
I love to draw different forms of architecture and the information provided in this book was fun to read and experiment with. It is not an all inclusive drawing book but for those that draw on a regular basis it is a good book. I kinda wished that I would have gotten the paper book instead of the ebook. It would have been nicer to see the drawings in that format but I managed to get full enjoyment out of it regardless.
September 24, 2014
I bought this book looking for inspiration for my Fantasy writing. I like how the cover looked too.
Inside are some additional pictures and the author describes the thought process which helped me to create my fantasy stories. Sometimes I use a picture for a writing prompt and there are many renderings that make my imagination sing.
I recommend this book for artists (which I am too) and writers looking for daydreaming material.
Inside are some additional pictures and the author describes the thought process which helped me to create my fantasy stories. Sometimes I use a picture for a writing prompt and there are many renderings that make my imagination sing.
I recommend this book for artists (which I am too) and writers looking for daydreaming material.
May 13, 2013
Initial reaction: Gorgeous pictures.
July 30, 2012
Excellent source to research all kind of architectures!
Plus, a quick explanation about drawing foundations.
Plus, a quick explanation about drawing foundations.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews