Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art) Paperback – Illustrated, 29 Oct. 2009

Compelling read, I wanted to learn more about painting and using some of the techniques described to improve my Warhammer painting. Very much worth a read!

I am afraid I judged this book by its cover and really didn't think that this was the kind of book that would be suitable for me or that I would enjoy. But having encountered James Gurney online and discovered that, rather than just painting dinosaurs, he was a far more traditional painter than I had imagined and decided to give it a try.I am delighted that I did. This is an excellent book written by a painter for other painters and full of interesting insights. It is definitely not for beginners since it assumes that you can already paint and draw well and are willing to work devotedly to conjure up a realistic depiction of an imaginary scene. He is consciously drawing on the heritage of the golden age of American illustration (which I like too) and takes you through all the steps he takes from thumbnail sketches to finished pieces, which is fascinating.There are a couple of drawbacks : his studio setup, kit and workshop facilities are way beyond what most of us can aspire to so I wish he could be a little more aware about these limitations most of us face. ( Plasticine and cardboard maquettes lit by an Anglepoise work fine for us lesser mortals.) This could be daunting or reduce one to paroxysms of envy. There is very little about any other medium except oil paint and you also have to have a high tolerance for dinosaurs .However these are minor quibbles. There is not only the enjoyment of being taken through his process of work but a lot of useful information to be gleaned en route. In fact I was so impressed that I immediately ordered his other book - "Colour and Light".So I can unhesitatingly recommend this to any other realist painter who wants some insight into Gurney's way of working and how to depict an imaginary world.

This is a fantastic book and will be a wonderful addition to anyones collection who is interested in developing fantasy art, or even just improving general drawing and design skills.The information is broken down into manageable bitesized chapters, so you can read the whole book as a whole, or just dip in and out. The illustrations are lovely, and I love reading about how the artist develops ideas and gathers information.The cover of this book does not do it justice, as it could put some artists off if they are not really into fantasy work, but there are some great illustrations, and the influence of some past masters are evident in some of the work.The book is a good size and there is plenty to read and lots of information. The book is printed on good quality paper and is really good value for money. A breath of fresh air in the art book format. If you like fantasy art, or are interested in reading about how other artists work then buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

This is a very in depth book with excellent pictures and information. A brilliant read

I am a hobby painter, specialising in portraits at the moment.I don't see myself making a lot of maquettes, as Gurney does,but see their utility when painting non-existing subjects.This is a very generous book; the author gives a lot of his'trade secrets', making no secrets of them. I felt this was souseful a book, that I immediately bought a second copy for afriend who is a budding artist.On the whole, I liked his other book, "Color and Light" better,but it is still very much worth the low price.

This book takes you through Gurneys career and projects and explains in depth how he achieves his results with plenty of surprises along the way. I dont think studying this book will allow you to perform miracles of your own but it will usher you in the right direction and help you out of creative ruts. What surprises with this book is that it offers alot more than the title implies, exploring composition, structure, classical techniques and many more tricks of the artistic trade. A better name for this book would be Imaginative realism and an extensive guide to art concepts and more, ok its not as catchy but after finishing both of Gurneys books i just hope that in the future he publishes more work which i would order without hesitation. Geeky, extensive, informative, fun.....

As an artist, I am always looking for new ideas and techniques to apply in my own work.I had already purchased Jim Guerney's book "Color and Light" and read all the articles he had published in International Artist Magazine, so was already a big fan.Although entitled "Imaginative Realism" (painting what doesn't exist) it is not just for the fantasy artist; it is an indispensible tool for any realist artist.The book is packed with valuable information on a wide range of subjects and techniques. It is at the same time very entertaining and shows Jim's amazing artistic skills, creativity and passion for what he does.A must for any realist artist or anyone interested in fantasy worlds or dinosaurs.And go and buy his other book - it is just as good!Richard Harpum ([...])

I bought this because of a recommendation, thinking that I would not like it and send it back. After flicking through it and only reading a few bit, I decided to keep it and be more adventurous in my art. Love the book. I wish I had known about it before..I already own quite a few of Guerney's recommended book from his list and love them too.