The Future Of Fantasy Art edited by Aly Fell & Duddlebug (book review).
I must be on the upswing in my reading habits. I didn’t let “The Future Of Fantasy Art,” edited by Aly Fell & Duddlebug, sit untouched for too long. Despite its 2009 release date, I acquired it more recently. This book is neatly divided into eight chapters, each exploring different facets of fantasy art.
It features a diverse array of works from 67 artists who use various mediums, including digital. Most artists provide insightful comments about their displayed works, adding depth to the visual feast.
These compilations are a fantastic resource for discovering a range of artists. You might find yourself eager to explore more of their creations and, importantly, learn where to find them. If the artists’ work is featured in familiar places, it helps to connect names with their art. It’s particularly interesting that many artists included personal works in this book. Even if you’re familiar with some of their other pieces, there are likely some here that you haven’t seen before.
Notably, back in 2009, many of these artists were utilizing Corel Painter for their digital work. Given its effectiveness, I find it surprising that Photoshop became the standard, considering its higher cost. While some paintings in this book were created using Photoshop, at the time, it wasn’t viewed as the only option. The efficacy of digital art software ultimately depends on the skill of the artist using it. I believe that offering a variety of software choices is beneficial, as it avoids intimidating new artists with steep prices.
Amidst the plethora of fantasy paintings, there’s a sneaky science fiction image on page 112. It stands out, being more landscape-oriented than fantastical.
Although fantasy fiction isn’t my cup of tea, I hold no such reservations about fantasy art.
The mix in this book spans from comedic to serious, offering something for every taste.
GF Willmetts
December 2023
(pub: Collins Design, 2009. 191 page squarish hardback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-0-180990-3)
check out website: www.harpercollins.com
