(by 4 people)
Welcome to The Beauty of Fantasy Art lens! Here, you'll find links to great fantasy art, tutorials on how to draw it, books to both help you out and inspire you, and mechandise featuring art with a fantasy flair.
Art is, by some definitions, an interpretation of reality as interpretted through the eye of the artist. And yet, it is not constrained by the restaints of reality. It can break all the rules and gives us a glimpse into worlds that exist only in the artist's heart and mind.
That is what fantasy art does. It lets us peek into a multitude of worlds hand-crafted by the imaginations of other people. Worlds where anything is possible. People fly with their own wings, merfolk swim the seas, and magic and science can exist side-by-side.
And yet, fantasy art does more than that. It allows us to see our own world through different eyes. It allows us another look at human nature. It can critique, explain, and create a sense of dread, awe, amazement, or wonder.
That is what I love about fantasy art. It can do so very much, and yet, no matter what it does, it still has imagination at its heart. And that is why I'm devoting this lens to it.
Kit's Fantasy Art: Ash - God of Oases
A Visit to Egyptian Mythology
I have a fascination with mythology (as you might have gathered from my Guide to Greek Mythology lens), and it's always fun to go through and do your own take on the old myths. The other day, I was glancing through a list of Egyptian deities and came across Ash, the god of the oases and little-known companion of Set, god of the desert and chaos. I've done a lot of work with Set, so I decided it was only right to give his companion a try!
In the mythology, Ash is typically given the head of a hawk, but he also is depicted with that of a lion or the Set Animal. I decided to do his human form (yay, artistic license!).
See more of my fantasy art at my Deviant Art Gallery!
Beautiful Fantasy Art Posters
Like Looking at Fantasy Art?
Check Out Kit's Favorite Fantasy Art Sites
- A.M. Meyer's Gallery
- This is my personal art gallery on DeviantArt. I deal primarily in art that has some sort of fantasy element, whether the subjects are centaurs, elves, ancient gods, or gods reborn into the modern world. Check it out, and be sure to stop by my Favorites section for some truly amazing artwork.
- The Artwork of Jenny Dolfen
- Jenny Dolfen is a fantastic illustrator, and her use of watercolors is masterful. Her compositions are powerful and dynamic, and you will enjoy your visit here.
- Candy Palmer's Gallery
- Candy has a more animated style that is dynamic and fun, even when the characters are just standing around. She also does furries!
- Chael's Gallery
- If you are a fan of diverse and fantastic merfolk, you will definitely want to check out Chael's gallery! He also does great fairies, using a variety of butterflies and moths as inspiration. Check it out!
- Heise's Gallery
- Are you looking for stunning digitally-rendered photo-realistic character studies? Then check out Heise's work and be amazed.
- Linda Bergkvist's Gallery
- Beautiful. *ahem* Let me rephrase that: jaw-droppingly beautiful artwork that is so skillfully executed that it rivals photographs of some sort of unseen realm. Visit here and be amazed.
- Meadowhaven
- The artwork and writings of Adele Sessler. I've watched her work evolve for years, and she is one of the artists that never ceases to inspire me to strive to draw better. Lovely scenery and composition, especially. Also contains some of her writings.
- Sandara.net
- Sandara is another artist I've been watching for years, and her amazing work still fills me with a sense of wonder. A great place to find inspiration!
- Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
- This artist shows a mastery of that tricky medium known as watercolors in her beautiful, ethereal masterpieces. Whimsical, surreal, and well worth a look for any fantasy lover.
- The Art of Todd Lockwood
- This guy is a fantastic professional artist who has done a lot of work for Magic and Dungeons & Dragons. Even better, he has a ton of his artwork online for your viewing pleasure! If you're looking for beautiful fantasy artwork, be sure to check him out.
- Ursula Vernon's Gallery
- Ursula is a fantastic illustrator who deals mostly in animal characters. She does fantastic, high-quality work, and her imaginative and quirky descriptions make her gallery a real pleasure to look through.
Inspiration: Very Cool Fantasy Art Books
When you need a kick in the muse or just something pretty to look at
Want to Learn to Draw?
Great Tutorials to Help You Improve
- The Elfwood FARP - Art
- Elfwood is well-known as a great community for fantasy artists and writers, and they work hard to help each other out. Thus, we have the FARP section, where various artists have created a collection of tutorials covering everything from the basic use of the tools of the trade to more complex issues, such as composition and perspective.
- Art Technique at Epilogue.net
- Another collection of tutorials geared specifically towards fantasy artist, mostly focusing on digital media. Covers such topics as color theory, dynamic composition, and landscape creation. The page also provides links to helpful tutorials from Epitome Ezine.
- Artgraphica.net
- A non-fantasy oriented site, but before you can do anything art-wise, you have to have the basics down. Artgraphica offers free video tutorials online aimed at helping you get those basics down pat.
- J.Dillon's Manga Tutorials
- Want to learn to draw in the anime or manga style? Then one of the best places to go is Manga University, from the folks who put out those lovely "How To Draw Manga" books. While the books themselves are great, these folks have done something else - they've managed to get the exclusive rights to J. Dillon's online tutorials! If this is the style for you, definitely check it out.
- Polykarbon Tutorials
- A pretty decent set of tutorials here, covering various parts of the body and whatnot. Definitely worth checking out.
Learning to Draw II: The Basics
What every artist needs to know
How to Draw the Human Figure (Watson-Guptill Artist's Library)
Unless you're working solely in landscapes or buildings, you're going to need some understanding of how the human body works in art. Doing this through observation is ideal, but if you can't manage to sit in a crowded place or goad one of your friends into posing for you, observing a book can be almost as good.
Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
The Figure in Action: Anatomy for Artists
Once you have that basic understanding, you'll want some sort of reference for those dynamic action poses that don't always show up too often in real life.
Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form
Like drawing those mythical beasts? They're going to look awfully silly if you don't have a good understanding of animal anatomy. Fantasy creatures may be spawned from the imagination, but the centaur's still part horse, the dragon's still reptillian, and the griffon's still part bird/part lion. Knowing your animal anatomy will help your fantasy creature look all the more real.
Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 08/07/2008)
How To Draw Manga Volume 29: Putting Things In Perspective (How to Draw Manga)
Perspective. It is the bane of my existence. All those little lines, and so much potential to mess up. But do not despair! There is help! Out of all the books on perspective I've looked through, the How To Draw Manga Vol. 29 is one of the best and clearest for explaining how to draw perspective. If you plan on drawing buildings or anything that requires perspective, check it out!
Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
How To Draw Manga: Next Generation Supersize Volume 1 (How to Draw Manga)
The How To Draw Manga books by Ben Dunn (and others associated with Antarctic Press) are a fantastic hodgepodge of tips, tricks, and tutorials by some of the great non-Japanese mangaka. You may be noticing a lot of manga books on here and wondering why. Here's the thing: all the basics crucial to great manga are crucial to great art, no matter what the style: dynamic composition, perspective, emotion... All those great things. And the Antarctic Press series offers a fantastic and refreshing approach to all these things. Check it out!
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 08/07/2008)
Learning to Draw III: Use Your Imagination
Branching out into fantasy
How to Draw Manga: Costume Encyclopedia, Vol 1, Everyday Fashion
Personally, I think one of the best things about drawing fantasy art is inventing all my characters' costumes. Just like fantasy in general, though, fantasy costumes usually have a basis in reality. The Costume Encyclopedias from How to Draw Manga offer a large variety of costumes and outfits ripe for inspiring colorful and diverse fantasy fashions. How to Draw Manga has a number of volumes devoted to clothing, so be sure to check them out!
Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
DragonArt
While your typical fantasy critters can be drawn by mixing and matching real animal bits, it certainly doesn't hurt to see how other great artists put their animals together. Neon Dragon is a well-known web artist, and this book will show you how she constructs her beautiful beasts. A great resource!
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 08/07/2008)
Drawing and Painting Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes
This is a great book. It takes you through the positives and negatives of the most common art media, then through the basics of drawing - including such necessary elements as composition, color theory, mood and drama, and distance, depth, and scale - and then moves on to creating your own fantasy realms. There's also a beautiful gallery at the back to give you a little inspiration. Definitely a must-have for any aspiring fantasy artist!
Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 08/07/2008)
Practice and Improve Online!
Where to go to show off your art and get some good Constructive Criticism
- Elfwood
- This is one of the oldest and best-known online fantasy art communities. There's a wide range of artists here, all the way from complete newbies to pros, all focused exclusively on fantasy and sci-fi art. Recieve comments on your work and visit the tutorials for great art tips! Whether you're scanning traditional art or uploading digital masterpieces, this is the place for you!
- Deviant Art
- Another great online art community in which you can post your art, receive comments, and share in that sense of community. Unlike Elfwood, Deviant Art is not exclusively focused on fantasy and sci-fi, although both sections are healthy and flourishing in this community. Also, Deviant Art offers the opportunity for a little financial gain with its Print Shop! Buy prints from other artists you love and sell your own!
- Oekaki Central
- Oekaki Central is a little different from Elfwood and Deviant Art. Instead of uploading your previously done art, you draw in their online programs with either your mouse or, preferably, your tablet. Now, there are lots of oekaki boards out there, but Oekaki Central is for people who are serious about improving their art, with different rooms for different skill levels. If you're looking for a great place with friendly people and lots of constructive criticism freely given, Oekaki Central is the place for you!
Kit's Fantasy Stuff at CafePress
Original Kitsune64 Merchandise
Black Moonlight Fairy T-Shirt
This t-shirt features a beautiful fairy sitting near a moonlit pond. Elegant with a hint of fanciful mystery, this design is perfect for the fantasy lover in your life!
Check out other merchandise featuring this design in the Moonlight Fairy section of the shop!
The Moonlight Fairy design on a black t-shirt, featuring a beautiful butterfly-winged fairy by a moonlit pond.
Price: 21.99
Satyr Song Keepsake Box
Kitsune's Closet's best-selling design is now featured on a beautiful tile box, perfect for keeping all your treasures safe! The Satyr Song design features a cute satyr playing a set of pipes in front of a peaceful pastoral scene.
Like this design? Check out other merchandise featuring it at the Satyr Song section of the shop!
A beautiful box featuring a satyr musician and pastoral scene. Perfect for keeping all your treasures safe!
Price: 23.99
Warrior Naga Fitted T-Shirt
Are you a naga lover? Or perhaps just looking for a fantasy creature that isn't quite as cliche as dragons and unicorns? Then check out this Warrior Naga fitted t-shirt! This design features a handsome Naga warrior with a geometric background.
Think that's cool? Check out other merchandise featuring this design in the Warrior Naga section of the shop!
Fierce, cool, elegant design - you can show off these qualities and look casual, too, with the Warrior Naga t-shirt. Features a blue naga weilding a double bladed staff on a geometric background.
Price: 21.99
Other Great Fantasy Stuff on CafePress
Fantastic Fantasy Stuff on eBay
There's all sorts of fantasy stuff out there, and a lot of it ends up on eBay. Check out the latest sweet fantasy swag and make your bid before it's too late!
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Leave Your Mark!
Got comments, questions, or suggestions? Or just want to let me know how much you enjoyed this lens? Well, here's a good place to do it in 300 characters or less! ^_^
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allysa
love fantasy art and anime, two of my favorites are dragon ball and samurai-x. ^_^ 5*! Posted September 07, 2007 |
