What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadowline: The Art of Iain McCaig
"What is Shadowline? It is the place where things meet: light and shadows, hope and despair, good and evil. It is, to me, the most interesting place to hunt for stories." So begins this stunningly realized and beautifully rendered new work from master storyteller and artist Iain McCaig. McCaig is best known for his work as a principal designer on the three Star Wars prequels, including the iconic characters Queen Amidala and Darth Maul, as well as his work on many major motion pictures, television, and video games. His work can be seen in such acclaimed films as Terminator 2, Hook, Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, Interview with a Vampire, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Shadowline presents a stunning portfolio of more than two decades of McCaig's masterful concept designs and storyboards, cover art and illustrations, as well as his private sketchbooks and personal paintings, all woven together within the confines of an engrossing, otherworldly tale.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2007
6 people are currently reading
128 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 5, 2012
(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
Iain McCaig (wikipedia link) has been in the art industry doing work for movie studios for a long time. In this book contains illustrations created for Star Wars prequel, Harry Potter and his concept art for other projects. Most of his work are belong to the fantasy genre.
In this book, a fictional interviewer called Bryon is created to introduce readers to the artwork and bring them into Iain McCaig's imaginative world. It's pretty amusing and reads like some fantasy adventure. My minor quibble would be that there isn't a biography of his illustrious career.
Insight Editions is the publisher of this thick and big book at 240 pages. It's hardcover with a beautiful matte dust jacket.
Inside are lots of glorious concept art, mainly to character designs. They are made up of paintings and sketches. Each is reproduced brilliantly on the glossy paper, showing intricate details of ink, pencil or colour strokes as well as the texture of the medium. The large pages enhance the viewing pleasure.
While there are some digital paintings, most of the illustrations featured are done using traditional medium, showing texture and grain.
This book is highly recommended to fans of Iain McCaig, fantasy artists, concept artists and character designers. It's very inspiring and overflows with creativity.
This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.
November 11, 2008
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/s...
About half-way through reading "Shadowline: The Art of Iain McCaig" you realize well-known "Star Wars" artist Iain McCaig is having too much fun.
That's because McCaig, who worked on the first three movies of the "Star Wars" saga as a conceptual artist as well as "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," treats his first book as a romp through his imagination rather than a traditional "art of" book.
(More...)
About half-way through reading "Shadowline: The Art of Iain McCaig" you realize well-known "Star Wars" artist Iain McCaig is having too much fun.
That's because McCaig, who worked on the first three movies of the "Star Wars" saga as a conceptual artist as well as "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," treats his first book as a romp through his imagination rather than a traditional "art of" book.
(More...)
August 25, 2009
jaw dropping sketches and drawings
July 21, 2024
This book has been sitting on my “To Read” shelf for over a decade, long before I discovered my name.
Unlike the other Art Books I have read in the past, this one takes us through McCaig’s artistic journey via a story of the Interviewer Byron, who gets to visit McCaig’s own magical world and have an adventure. I think this is a wonderful way to slow down the flip-though process I’m used to with most Art Books. The story itself is average, some actions are questionable (“What just happened?”), but his characters are fun.
Question: What does “velvet eyes” mean? Soft? Shiny? …
It was also fun seeing the art of John Carter as part of a project that was not made, knowing that Disney created it a few years later. (I have yet to see this film, but I think I’ll read Burroughs’ book first.)
I love McCaig’s artwork and the way he thinks makes me feel a little less insane.
I wish he would publish a collection of his storyboards, because they are absolutely stunning.
As you see the many tools he uses and the different techniques he applies, I believe you too will find inspiration and an urge to grab the nearest pencil/pen/stylus… and start playing again. Art is supposed to be fun. Let’s never forget that again.
Writing: 3 Stars;
Characters: 4 Stars;
Plot: 3 Stars;
Entertaining: 3 Stars;
Artwork: 5 Stars;
Design: 3.5 Stars; I do not like seeing upscaled, pixelated artwork — I would have preferred those sketches to have stayed small and sharp.
Total: 5 Stars for the artwork and inspiration. Thank you.
Unlike the other Art Books I have read in the past, this one takes us through McCaig’s artistic journey via a story of the Interviewer Byron, who gets to visit McCaig’s own magical world and have an adventure. I think this is a wonderful way to slow down the flip-though process I’m used to with most Art Books. The story itself is average, some actions are questionable (“What just happened?”), but his characters are fun.
Question: What does “velvet eyes” mean? Soft? Shiny? …
It was also fun seeing the art of John Carter as part of a project that was not made, knowing that Disney created it a few years later. (I have yet to see this film, but I think I’ll read Burroughs’ book first.)
I love McCaig’s artwork and the way he thinks makes me feel a little less insane.
I wish he would publish a collection of his storyboards, because they are absolutely stunning.
As you see the many tools he uses and the different techniques he applies, I believe you too will find inspiration and an urge to grab the nearest pencil/pen/stylus… and start playing again. Art is supposed to be fun. Let’s never forget that again.
Writing: 3 Stars;
Characters: 4 Stars;
Plot: 3 Stars;
Entertaining: 3 Stars;
Artwork: 5 Stars;
Design: 3.5 Stars; I do not like seeing upscaled, pixelated artwork — I would have preferred those sketches to have stayed small and sharp.
Total: 5 Stars for the artwork and inspiration. Thank you.
July 18, 2020
Stupid book, it tugs my draw draw senses and makes me want to create something to show the world.
More than just a book with pretty pictures it is a head first dive into the madness of a creator. What a story, how twisted, and how awfully beautiful. The characters are of course those which all artists can recognise.
The constantly critizicing T-Rex, who thinks he is the most important creation but mostly does nothing but sprouting shit. Something we all have to live with and learn to tame.
The Velvet Eyes, who come in many forms to encourage the author, she can take you on her back and get you to the place you need to be, save you from drowning in nightmares, or give an encouraging smile at just the right moment. But as we all know, inspiration can also be absent because she fell asleep, and then give you angry eyes for stealing her popcorn.
More than just a book with pretty pictures it is a head first dive into the madness of a creator. What a story, how twisted, and how awfully beautiful. The characters are of course those which all artists can recognise.
The constantly critizicing T-Rex, who thinks he is the most important creation but mostly does nothing but sprouting shit. Something we all have to live with and learn to tame.
The Velvet Eyes, who come in many forms to encourage the author, she can take you on her back and get you to the place you need to be, save you from drowning in nightmares, or give an encouraging smile at just the right moment. But as we all know, inspiration can also be absent because she fell asleep, and then give you angry eyes for stealing her popcorn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2018
A brilliant collection of art and commentary/narration by one of the foremost concept/production/fantasy artists in this day and age. I was breathtaking to have glimpse inside his workshop and even the headspace he dwells in when creating.
Certainly entertaining and no less than inspiring.
Certainly entertaining and no less than inspiring.
July 6, 2019
Whoa. What did I just read? Iain McCaig is a marvel in artwork and words and wild-eyed wonder. Don't miss this art book. Fairytale. Horror story. All of the above!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews