Mar 10
Its hard to know where to start when describing this book - its packed so full of tips, advice on techniques and general useful information. One of the most exciting things for me is that this is a book for those who can paint and want to take things a step further. There are many many beginner books but very few for those who've mastered the basics and want to move on. Tom's book does this -and the information he uses can be used by many artists not just fantasy ones - because he shows us how to look at nature and use what we see in paintings, to look at using a pc for assistance, how to use what skills we already have and to build on them. Tom begins with concepts of dragon anatomy and how to use basic life study shapes and elongate and transfer them to various types of dragons, how to form scales and use nature for pattens, how to create different types of claws,wings and eyes. He goes on to describe different types of dragons - Toms paintings are incredibly lifelike even though we know they are fantasy paintings and he shows us how to bring our dragon paintings to life by learning visualisation skills. This is something so important but difficult to learn but Tom has some useful advice on how to master this skill, and how to learn to visualise by observation of creatures around us, practise and by using imagination. Paintings are naturally 2D so learning to create a 3d illusion on a 2d medium is very important to give the illusion of reality. His advice doesn't stop at just dragons though - he shows us how to work on and make believable a background for them. Most artists have their favourite materials and Tom takes us through a few of his essentials but what I found fascinating is where he shows us how to use digital media. He has advice on basic software and then takes us through a few processes we can use to create drawings, onto how to use programmes to colour in and create textures. Using the pc in this way is something I've never done but I'm certainly going to try some of Toms tips and see if it adds anything to my work. An artist is always seeking new experiences ( well, I am) and its good to try everything feasible. The book ends with a superb gallery of paintings to inspire, and to show the importance of composition and setting each dragon in the right background. Tom also includes a handy section of dragon templates to scan and trace for those anxious to get on with creating these beautiful but sometimes scary creatures. Fabulous book, full of tips and advice and useful not only for any fantasy artist but for anyone looking for new ideas to add an extra dimension to their paintings.
* JeannieZelos.com *
Mar 10
How to Draw and Paint Dragons by Tom Kidd, is much more than one of those children's 'how to draw' books. I was expecting a sort of; draw an oval, a smaller oval and three triangles kind of affair but this isn't a children's book. Anyone who has even a vague interest in fantasy and dragons would, I'm sure, enjoy the book simply for the amazing examples of artists work and the almost encyclopaedic information about dragons. The author encourages the reader to build up a repertoire of studies of natural landscapes and observed animal and bird drawings and photos which might inform a fantastical dragon picture. There is huge detail about building up texture, the fall of light and compositional tricks to give perspective or dynamism. Honestly the chapters read like my 'A' level art syllabus but all with reference to dragons. There are line drawings at the back of the book which can be scanned or traced for the reader to practice their skills and would mean that even if a reader was young and perhaps unable to complete some of the more demanding artistic exercises they could still enjoy colouring in and placing their own dragons in a landscape of their own imagining.
* Jennyflowerblue.blogspot.com *
