Book Review: Drawing and Painting Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes

This is more a tips book and less a practical book.

The first chapter is on basic art principles like composition, medium, color theory, etc. There are lots of tips and beautiful accompanying illustrations. Chapter two is a brief 10 page coverage on landscaping elements like skies, mountains, forests, sand and water.

The lessons are applicable not only to fantasy landscapes, but to general landscapes as well. However, the book doesn't address the differences between general and fantasy landscapes clear enough. It doesn't talk much about how you can apply it to the fantasy genre.

Chapter three is more interesting as several guest artists were invited to share their process of creating their fantasy landscape. Each painting is looked at from concept to the finalized stage. They are not step by step tutorials where you can follow along though, but you can learn from the commentary on how they tackle certain subjects.

And the last chapter is a gallery of beautiful paintings.

This book lacks practicality. While it teaches you things to note when painting, let's say mountains or clouds, it doesn't show you how you can paint them yourself.

The text for the book doesn't focus strongly on the fantasy element. While the paintings are no doubt fantasy art, the commentary fails to address why they are fantasy art. Just because they are not drawn from life? Surely there has to be a deeper story behind the world created.

General landscape artists might benefit more from this book.

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