Fantasy Art: Warriors & Heroes by Russ Thorne (book review).
Now this is why it pays to look at different publishers and the books they put out and check their back catalogues. If they allow us to review them, then we reveal books you might otherwise have missed. Without those other books, I wouldn’t have come across this one released in 2014, ‘Fantasy Art: Warriors & Heroes’ by Russ Thorne that is still available as a first hand copy.
There’s a whistle-stop trip through the history of fantasy art with various sample and several artists, like Alan Lathwell, Mikael Léger, Nacho Molina, Jason Juta, Rob Shields and Ming Fan amongst many others that I haven’t come across before. In many respects, many of these artists have moved from book covers to working in the role-playing game fantasies which is their natural home today.
This book covers many aspects of this style of fantasy art and appeal because it also shows how many of these artists put their paintings together which must surely widen its appeal. It’s always a good sign when artists are generous with showing their techniques. Although I suspect some neo-artists will copy, the most styles they see and learn from, the more likely you will develop your own style than rely on one favourite.
It’s hardly surprising that the history of various fantasy books, characters and series is more extensive before shifting in some discussion at the end about painting in acrylics, oils and digital. In many respects, this book compacts a lot of information into 192 page. As a primer for new readers its handy to have around. For the seasoned or at least fairly knowledgeable art lover, more than enough to satisfy and, after lockdown, leave on the coffee table for your friends to peruse and urge to buy their own copies.
If there is something to be critical about is a discussion of the significant fantasy artists but nary a sample of their art to match the text. Although I suspect this might have been a problem of cost, it is a serious omission but I hope if publisher Flame Tree see a significant mass purchasing from you folks out there, maybe they’ll consider another book with said artists in a future book. This is nothing against the fantasy artists they have here already and should potentially make stars off if they choose to make separate volumes for them.
GF Willmetts
January 2021
(pub: Flame Tree Publishing, 2014. 192 page large square hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK) $35.00 (US). ISBN: 978-0-85775-809-5)
check out website: www.flametreepublishing.com