Imaginative Realism

How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

By: James Gurney

Write A Review

Paperback | 20 October 2009

At a Glance

Paperback
224 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
26.67 x 22.86 x 1.52

Paperback

RRP $49.99

$38.75

22%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.69 with

or

Ships in 3 to 5 business days

How do you paint a dinosaur you've never seen, design a believable alien civilization, or create a fantasy world that feels real? Award-winning artist and author James Gurney provides artists with a practical guide for creating images that are both imaginative and convincing.

“Gurney's Imaginative Realism is a gold mine for artists who want to create images that sing with authority and delight the viewer with rich otherworldly visuals.” – Erik Tiemens, concept artist, Star Wars: Episodes II and III

“Imaginative Realism is an indispensable, flawless reference for vision-makers in any discipline to create their own imaginative realms.” – Frank M. Costantino, ASAI, SI, FSAI, JARA, cofounder, American Society of Architectural Illustrators

In Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist, Dinotopia creator James Gurney instructs and inspires beginning artists and fans of fantasy art, sharing his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings and teaching, step-by-step, the techniques that won him worldwide critical acclaim. This groundbreaking work examines the practical methods for creating believable pictures of imaginary subjects, such as dinosaurs, ancient Romans, alien creatures, and distant worlds.

Alongside a survey of imaginative paintings from the Renaissance to the golden Age of American illustration, the book explains not just techniques like sketching and composition, but the fundamentals of believable world-building, including archaeology, architecture, anatomy for creatures and aliens, and fantastic engineering. It concludes with details and valuable advice on careers in fantasy illustration, including video game and film concept art and toy design.

More than an instruction book, this is the ultimate reference for artists as well as fans of science fiction and fantasy illustration.

Helps artists move beyond copying references and develop original ideas
Features hundreds of examples, illustrations, and visual demonstrations
Written by one of the most respected artists in imaginative realism
Offers timeless principles that remain relevant across artistic disciplines

Whether you're designing dragons, inventing alien ecosystems, or building entirely new worlds, Imaginative Realism provides the tools, techniques, and creative mindset to make the impossible feel real. Discover how to bring your most imaginative ideas to life with confidence and credibility.

Industry Reviews

More than an instruction book, this is a guide for fans of science fiction and fantasy. (Sue Brettingen, Model Retailer)

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

More in General Issues in Art

Create Dangerously : Penguin Modern - Albert Camus

RRP $225.00

$197.75

12%
OFF

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence: The Definitive 4th Edition

Paperback

RRP $36.99

$29.75

20%
OFF

Philosophical Perspectives on Ruins, Monuments, and Memorials

Paperback

RRP $96.99

$86.99

10%
OFF

Artmaking as Embodied Enquiry : Entering the F/old - Susan Sentler

$144.75

Politics of Visual Arts in a Changing World : 2014-2024 - Vishakha N. Desai

$38.75

22%
OFF

Imaginative Realism

How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in General Issues in Art

Create Dangerously

Penguin Modern

Still Life

Contemporary Australian Painters

Great Art Explained

The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces

The Artist's Way

A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

How To Live An Artful Life

366 Inspirations from Artists on how to Bring Creativity to Your Everyday

Ways of Seeing

Penguin Modern Classics

Color and Light

A Guide for the Realist Painter

Interaction of Color

50th Anniversary Edition

Japan's Anime Revolution!

Twenty Animated Films That Changed the World

The Artist's Way

Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Art Is

A Journey into the Light

Neuroaesthetics and Psychoanalysis

Curiosity, Creativity, and Crisis

Art A Children's Encyclopedia

Children's Encyclopedia

Daisy Haites

Magnolia Parks: Book 2

Wagner's Tristan und Isolde in 1903 Vienna

Context, Impact, and Interpretation

The Situationist International and the Social Space of Film

With and Against Cinema

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence: The Definitive 4th Edition

Philosophical Perspectives on Ruins, Monuments, and Memorials

Artmaking as Embodied Enquiry

Entering the F/old

Free to Be More

Creative Activism in the Era of Black Lives Matter

Medium Hot

Images in the Age of Heat

Scorn, Shame, and the Simple Reader

Lay Piety and Literature in Late Medieval England

Politics of Visual Arts in a Changing World

2014-2024

Colour Theory for Artists

Everything you need to know about working with colour

This product is categorised by