How to Draw Steampunk

fantasy underground

by Joey Marsocci, Michael Butkus (Illustrations)

Featuring tools, professional guidance, and a history of Steampunk, including gadgetry, iconic characters and Victorian styles, a soldier, a Steam Lady, a Steam City, and many more!

Genres: Art, Steampunk, Nonfiction, Reference

127 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Dr. Grymm's alter ego, Joey Marsocci, proprietor of Dr. Grymm Laboratories, has been a freelance designer of theme park attractions, toys, puppets, graphic marketing, film props, and private consignments for over 18 years. His custom contraptions and sculptures have been seen in Steampunk exhibits and publications around the world, including the Steampunk Exhibit held at the Oxford University History of Science Museum in 2010 and The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas, NV. He also hosts an annual Steampunk art show, Steampunk Bizarre, which takes place in Hartford, CT and is the feature artist of the 2010 documentary entitled I Am Steampunk.

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are like me you may have wondered just what on earth this Steampunk is? Fortunately for me, I learned this while reading a neat little booklet titled HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK. The first part of the word, 'steam' actually refers to the Victorian era when steam technology was in use. 'Punk' invokes the idea of rebellion against the modern manufacturing aesthetic, at least that is what the book says. Understand that this is a fantasy world where gentlemen wear Victorian-era outfits, complete with top hats or bowler hats, but wear steampunk goggles and may carry electric pistols that fire lightning. A well dressed lady might wear a skirt, tight leather corset, knee-high boots and carry a ray gun. Steam produced electricity is in use, but it requires a coal burning furnace to make that steam. Steam also powers huge zeppelins, and flying galleons, or submersibles like Jule Verne's Nautilus. Most everything in the Steampunk world is made of brass, copper, wood, and leather. In our world Steampunk is most often found in art or role-playing communities. My granddaughter and her husband sent me a cool photo of them dressed and armed in Steampunk outfits.

The Steampunk movement gets their inspiration from such literary innovators as Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, Jules Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and H.G. Wells' THE TIME MACHINE.

Besides learning about the culture, this book explains a lot about artwork. Tools are mentioned, such as the different artist's pencils. They are graded by hardness. "Pencil grade is not standardized, so your first set should be from the same brand for consistency." Erasers come in different types for various uses, and not just for mistakes. Erasing an area could give the appearance of a shine. Ellipses guides are useful templates. Different types of brushes are explained and when to use them. Drawing techniques are explained. What looks like scribbling creates the picture when they are intertwined on the paper. Who knew that drawing a picture could be so much work?

You know that little board with the paint on it that the artist holds and dips his paintbrush in. That is called a palette. Instead of doing as I do and lining up jars of different colors and shades, or comparing paint chips when my wife wants to paint some walls, an artist mixes different colors on his palette to produce colors and shades. According to the author, there are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. When you mix yellow and blue you get green, and so on.

Besides explaining the actual steps to drawing one of the cool pictures listed here, and how to color them, instructions are given for making digital illustrations and using image-editing software. Like most instructions for computer usage, it is all word salad to me, but my grandson would understand it. There is so much covered here that I will limit my artwork to drawing stick men.

This is a great book for anyone interested in learning about or creating artwork.

[WendyMcP · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully laid out book with steampunk-themed page borders throughout to carry the feel of the topic. The author straight-away defines steam punk as 1) embodying a "time that never happened," and 2) created with materials that are characteristic of the 19th century. It goes beyond the title to include painting and digital art. After covering the history and origins of the SP concept and movement, it moves progressively through drawing techniques (how to draw various textures, such as wood, metal, feathers, scales), color wheel concepts and applications (what colors to use to create the feel of a steampunk world), painting, watercolor washes, and then digital art with Photoshop. Loaded with examples, color illustrations, and step-by-step instruction. Pluses: browse-friendly, table of contents, and large format. Minuses: no index, no bibliography nor list for further reading. Overall, I give this one an A- .

[Lisa Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful diagrams and easy-to-follow steps inspire the reader to want to draw steampunk immediately.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool ideas to sketch. Great beginner tips. Very nice

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and informative. Good read.

[Helsean K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drawings are not well executed. The perspective is quite off in many of the drawings even though there’s a section about it.

Good book for beginners though.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This how-to book is not for the beginning artist! While there is some basic rudimentary instruction/reminders at the beginning, as well as a brief history and definition of steampunk, it rapidly advances to quite a high artistic level. I only wish I could accomplish what this book depicts. Avid and/or highly motivated artists will do well with this guide. It is quite beautiful and includes some instruction on doing digital illustration as well. There are techniques for adding both action and color to your images.

*Note: the cover says the authors are Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio, illustrated by Bob Berry, however, the ISBN brought me to this version.
(Crazypants!)

[Marta.Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jag tyckte väldigt mycket om den här boken. Som konstintresserad och ett riktigt Steampunk-fan fångade den genast mitt intresse. En behöver inte enbart vara intresserad av Steampunk för att tycka om den här boken; den tar upp ämnen som teknik, material, färglära, och bygger upp upplaget så att den mest oerfarne känner sig manad att greppa pennan och börja rita! Bilderna är tydligt och vackert illustrerade och materialen så varierade att alla kan finna sin stil, oavsett om en föredrar att arbeta med färg, pennor eller digitalt. Tummen upp!

[J.M. Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Grymm is just plain awesome. This book has been so helpful in developing my skills as an artist. As a steampunk maker, it has provided a great deal of insight on how I make things as his logic of how to draw translates directly to "how to make".
Great book!

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art, and good advice on drawing steampunk. It is geared towards artists who are already fairly confident in their skills.
I do wish it had been a bit longer, particularly with more general information on steampunk, for those of us who are new to the subject

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book of steampunk items & how to draw them!

[Aynge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great-looking book, but it's geared toward advanced artists.