Book Review: Fantasy Workshop: Mastering Digital Painting Techniques
Here's a great tutorial style book for those interested in digital painting. Fantasy Workshop is a compilation of tutorials that have been published in monthly ImagineFX issues (Amazon link). If you are already a regular subscriber, you'll see very similar tutorials in Fantasy Workshop.
The tutorials are split into three categories, namely Characters, Scenes & Stories and Manga. At the end is a short FXpose section, which like the magazine, features illustrations from individual artists.
The tutorials are presented in a step-by-step manner with plenty of screenshots and well explained captions. Each artist will talk about their workflow, tips, techniques and shortcuts to creating digital art. More specifically for example, they will talk about how they create realism through texture, and also why they created it that way.
Since the book is about mastering digital painting, you'll see tons of examples on how to recreate paint effects using software. By examples I mean they will show the digital tools used, menus, and settings. The software used are Painter and Photoshop but the art techniques are usually easily achievable in either software.
There are also a few pages where the artists answer fans' questions relating to creating art.
This is a recommended book for anyone into digital painting. There's enough variety featured for everyone to learn a new trick or two.
Here's the list of contents (with links to the artists website):
- Mind's Eye to Digital Canvas - Jehan Choo
- Modern Classical Painting - Marta Dahlig
- Paint Realistic Ears - Katerina Sokolova
- Paint Realistic Lips - Katerina Sokolova
- Digital Hairstyling - John Kearney
- Paint Realistic Hands - Marta Dahlig
- Create a Heroic Valkryie - Lorland Chan
- Drawing and Painting Dragons - James Strehle
- Create 3D Illustrations - Loic Zimmerman
- Painting a Mythical Beast - Joel Carlo
- An Army Summoned - Mike Corriero
- Create a LOTR-Inspired Orc - Jeff Murchie
- Quick Character Design Concept - Francis Tsai
- Painting Creepy Portraits - Mike Mitchell
- Speed Painting a Zombie - Patrick Reilly
- Painting a Nightmare - Cyril Van Der Haegen
- Create a Great Background - Melanie Delon
- 25 Custom Brush Tips - Patrick Reilly
- Dramatic Concept Art - David Levy
- Create a Dark Urban Nightmare - Lee Carter
- Manga Character Illustration - Michael Chomicki
- Create Fantasy Manga - Cris De Lara
- Fiery Dragon Princess - Svetlin Velinov
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If you buy from the links, I get a little commission that helps me get more books to feature.
Places to get Fantasy Workshop: Mastering Digital Painting Techniques:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.de | Amazon.co.jp
Comments
I am very glad to see these
I am very glad to see these lovely and beautiful information in this post.
Just bought this book, but I
Just bought this book, but I forgot to buy from your link D: It Arrives tomorrow, I'll post a comment here when I'm finished with it *-*
where selling this book
where selling this book
@bimal sahoo It's selling on
In reply to where selling this book by bimal sahoo (not verified)
@bimal sahoo
It's selling on Amazon and Book Depository.
Hey! I want to pick up
Hey! I want to pick up digital painting but i dont know much abt using photoshop. Would you recommend this book? What im looking for is more of the actual software usage, less on the art direction (though it's definitely welcome). If this book is not suitable, would you happen to know anything else? I know i can just read a book specifically on how to use PS, but it's too general. I'd like something specifically meant for digital drawing. Thanks! :)
@Dennis If you're learning
In reply to Hey! I want to pick up by Dennis (not verified)
@Dennis
If you're learning the software, you should go for a dedicated Photoshop book to learn the basics. You'll learn a lot of time-saving shortcuts on the way.
You do a search on Amazon for the books - there are lots of reviews there. The Missing Manual series are quite good.
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