Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist

See and shape the world in a way you never before imagined with this realistic fantasy illustration guide from award-winning artist and author James Gurney.

In Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist, Dinotopia creator James Gurney instructs and inspires beginning artists and fans of fantasy art, sharing his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings and teaching, step-by-step, the techniques that won him worldwide critical acclaim. This groundbreaking work examines the practical methods for creating believable pictures of imaginary subjects, such as dinosaurs, ancient Romans, alien creatures, and distant worlds.

Alongside a survey of imaginative paintings from the Renaissance to the golden Age of American illustration, the book explains not just techniques like sketching and composition, but the fundamentals of believable world-building, including archaeology, architecture, anatomy for creatures and aliens, and fantastic engineering. It concludes with details and valuable advice on careers in fantasy illustration, including video game and film concept art and toy design.

More than an instruction book, this is the ultimate reference for fans of science fiction and fantasy illustration.

"Gurney's Imaginative Realism is a gold mine for artists who want to create images that sing with authority and delight the viewer with rich otherworldly visuals." –Erik Tiemens, concept artist, Star Wars: Episodes II and III

"Imaginative Realism is an indispensable, flawless reference for vision-makers in any discipline to create their own imaginative realms." –Frank M. Costantino, ASAI, SI, FSAI, JARA, cofounder, American Society of Architectural Illustrators