Fantasy Art.. what media is used?
quantum
artists use? I am interested in exploring creating erotic art like Borris
Vallejo, Julie Bell, and Luis Royo. I guess I always thought it was
airbrushed art, but I was looking at a book by Boris Vallejo today at the
bookstore and he seems to explain that he starts with a pencil sketch and
also uses models and photos, then uses acrylic and oil painting with
traditional brushes; this intrigues me more, because I have been training
for several years now with life drawing and nude paintings using oil paint.
Any suggestions how to go about training for producing such art???
Thank you in advance
Randall
Joseph Bellofatto
has a "how to" book, that should be a good starting point. Follow it
step-by-step or modify it to suit you. Most sci-fi fantasy illustrators work
using traditional techniques and some like Donato Giancola have done
tremendous research into the techniques used by the old masters and will
then use their approach to his work. Very few sci-fi/fantasy artist use
digital medium in the final image. Life drawing and nude paintings using oil
paint will certainly take you in the right direction. These artist employ
techniques that will produce a fine art or near fine art painting and a look
that's thoroughly professional due to the demands of publishers. There are
no short-cuts. To create work as good as them you must be classically
trained in art and many of the traditional tools of the trade.
www.donatoart.com
www.ricfrane.com
http://www.spellcaster.com/tomkidd/
http://www.ulster.net/~shickman/welcome.html
As an example the above artist all use the same variation of the classical
technique to create their respective imagery. Ric Frane's medium of choice
is watercolor, the rest use oils and/or acrylics.
Joseph L. Bellofatto, Jr.
www.subterraneanstudio.com
painter(at)subterraneanstudio(dot)com
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quantum
> All sorts of media are used. But acrylics and oils dominate. ...
Cool! I do not know why I thought it was done with airbrushing-- perhaps
because I briefly saw an article about Luis Royo's book EVOLUTION in an
airbrushing magazine on the newstand. I have been training in oil painting
and lots of life drawing, so I feel like maybe I stand a chance at pursuing
this art form.
I hooked up with a former art model today and am excited. She introduced
me to this art form, and enjoys posing erotically, ANY pose goes, and she
brings her own s&m gear, collar, bustier, stillettos, etc. She has a
beautiful face and body and is VERY open sexually. Seems like things are
moving forward; now I just need for my fantasy sword to arrive in the mail
and she and I can get down to some serious fantasy art posing and
photography.
:) randy
Artboy from Oz
Not really necessary.
I have a book by Boris on his art techniques (as many do) and he shows some of his early work before
he lifted his game. Fairly good, but not outstanding. You just need to do the hard yards, mate.
Joseph is giving you the good oil there as to media. There is no "fantasy" media, just different
subject treatments.
Also worth looking at is Patrick Woodroffe, who is entirely self-taught and uses a combination of
media, mainly finishing with an oil glazing technique which is amazing. His subject matter is
innocent but quirky.
I hope you do well, Randy. Good luck,
Greg
quantum
> Hi Randy. If you take a close look at Boris's work, you'll see he doesn't
> get that explicit at all. Not really necessary.
> I have a book by Boris on his art techniques (as many do) and he shows
> some of his early work before
> he lifted his game. Fairly good, but not outstanding. You just need to
> do the hard yards, mate.
> Joseph is giving you the good oil there as to media. There is no
> "fantasy" media, just different subject treatments.
> Also worth looking at is Patrick Woodroffe, who is entirely self-taught
> and uses a combination of
> media, mainly finishing with an oil glazing technique which is amazing.
> His subject matter is innocent but quirky.
> I hope you do well, Randy. Good luck,
What is the title/ISBN of the technique book of Boris? This morning I was
looking at Olivia's book 'Second Slice' and she seems to use mostly
watercolor, which I do not particularly like-- seems hard to control, but
perhaps I should learn since i have an incredible opportunity as I have
made friends with a vising chinese artist who specialises in watercolor.
Anyhow, seems confusing what media to use; sounds like it may not matter
but the subject is the important thing. I would love to try doing fantasy
art with oils and acrylics as I feel more comfortable with such media (as
well as drawing of course).
Thanks for the tips, and I will check out Woodroffe.
:) Randy
quantum
> All sorts of media are used. But acrylics and oils dominate. I believe
> www.donatoart.com
> www.ricfrane.com
> http://www.spellcaster.com/tomkidd/
> http://www.ulster.net/~shickman/welcome.html
> As an example the above artist all use the same variation of the classical
> technique to create their respective imagery. Ric Frane's medium of choice
> is watercolor, the rest use oils and/or acrylics.
I liked ricfrane's stuff the most-- then i came back here and read your
post again and noticed that he uses watercolor. I suck at watercolor, a
dilemma, maybe i should practice learning more watercolor, as i mostly have
been using oil, some acrylic. Thanks for the links!
quantum
> Hi Randy. ...
> ...
> Greg
> http://gregsart.com
Greg, I checked out your art, nice, and i notice you can draw elves/gnome
type art, which i just recently decided to explore-- have not yet had the
courage to try drawing a faery yet. Any tips on how to learn to draw
faeries, etc.? I have studied and gotten somewhat good at life drawing, so
now I hope to transition and learn to draw faeries and fantasy art.
Randy
http://artbox.stormpages.com
P.M.
'Fantasy Art Techniques' by Boris Vallejo.
( Foreword by Isaac Asimov)
My copy says this:-
Special edition published by,
Dragon's World Ltd. in assoc. with Arco Publishing Inc. New York. Copyright
1985.
Hardback- ISBN 1 85028 006 1
Limpback- ISBN 1 85028 005 3
Whether it's still out there, I don't know, but it is an excellent 'How to'
book.
It taught me a lot.
Phil.
http://www.philipmalpass.com
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Joseph Bellofatto
leather rendering with watercolor is superb. Watercolor is very unforgiving,
while oil is quite flexible. Master watercolor and acrylics will be easy,
while in oils you would have the means to use the medium in one of it's most
difficult fashions. The variety of approaches with oils is nearly endless
and I believe oils archive much better than watercolor. Certainly sunlight
will fade watercolor faster than oils. Acrylics is probably better than
either oils or watercolors. Lastly I'll add that I once read where Frank
Frazetta's stated he knew the depths of craftsmanship an artist has if that
artist could create watercolor works and create them well.
You might want to look at Mark Roger's work. He also does pin-up, but he
works in acrylics. Mark has yet to build a website, you can get a book with
a collection of his work here:
http://www.budplant.com/prod.itml/icOid/6601
So in the final analysis, what's truly best for you is to find the medium
that most often gives the look you seek in your finish pieces and then set
out to master that medium. Of course no matter the medium you choose, you
must be able to draw first and foremost.......................JB
Joseph Bellofatto
www.subterraneanstudio.com
painter(at)subterraneanstudio(dot)com
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Artboy from Oz
other types of work for long-distance clients. The gnome/elf/faery subjects are my comfort zone.
I'm self-taught and have developed my figure treatments in schoolbooks over many years when my
classmates were studying and becoming qualified for real jobs.
The only tip I can give is to get into the mindset for the picture; put yourself in the shoes of the
character, feel the picture. The rest should follow.
I always do a few pencil thumbnails first, then proceed in a number of directions.
I may scan the thumbnail and digitally finish it, I may draw an ink version and finish manually or
digitally. Mostly these days I do the whole lot from scratch digitally, using Painter or Photoshop
and a Wacom Graphire tablet. Small but effective.
I save every stage separately, then can go back if I screw up (a coomon occurrence).
There's only one secret, Randy...lots and lots of practice, lots of feedback from objective critics.
No shortage of those here, mate.
BTW, Phil has the same book I do. I've lost my Woodroffe book.
Lotsa luck,
Greg
quantum
> I think the book everyone means is,
> 'Fantasy Art Techniques' by Boris Vallejo.
> ( Foreword by Isaac Asimov)
Excellent! My copied shipped yesterday along with three books of Luis Royo
(Evolution, Prohibited, and Prohibited2). I can not wait to read what Boris
has to say on technique to get me started. I am rather bored doing
traditional life drawing and portrature and want to leave classical drawing
and apply it to fantasy art / pinups and such (Royo's art thus far seems
like what I most admire).
quantum
..
> version and finish manually or
> digitally. Mostly these days I do the whole lot from scratch digitally,
> using Painter or Photoshop
> and a Wacom Graphire tablet. Small but effective.
system I may get back into this (I love Linux, hate MS-Windows, anything
Microsoft for that matter).
I am intrigued by combining traditional painting with digital
manipulation-- I do not think I want to go total digital, I just do not
think pure digital (using Poser, Lightwave, etc.) can provide as realistic
images as painting from a live model posing, etc. But I like the idea of
using digital to perhaps create interesting backgrounds, enhance textures,
etc.
> I save every stage separately, then can go back if I screw up (a coomon
> occurrence).
> There's only one secret, Randy...lots and lots of practice, lots of
> feedback from objective critics. No shortage of those here, mate.
>...
That is the fun part... the journey. I never expect to be famous. But
the process, the quest, is what it is about for me. About the time I ever
get good I expect I will exit this plane of existence, but hopefully the
quest will keep me occupied with a good challenge!
:) Randy
Artboy from Oz
> I am intrigued by combining traditional painting with digital
>manipulation-- I do not think I want to go total digital, I just do not
>think pure digital (using Poser, Lightwave, etc.) can provide as realistic
>images as painting from a live model posing, etc. But I like the idea of
>using digital to perhaps create interesting backgrounds, enhance textures,
>etc.
Well, I use Painter, which came bundled with the tablet. In my site there are a couple of examples
of digital work. Have a peek and then tell me about realism. Poser is crap. Very artificial and
stiff. I use Bryce for some backgrounds, but the hand/eye is the main tool, anything else is just
the meduim.
>>...
> That is the fun part... the journey. I never expect to be famous. But
>the process, the quest, is what it is about for me. About the time I ever
>get good I expect I will exit this plane of existence, but hopefully the
>quest will keep me occupied with a good challenge!
I'm a bit closer to departing tis mortal coil than you, so I've no time for challenges or looking
for truth, mate. I do what pays, period. The quicker the better.
Once again, good luck.
Greg
GNZ
have some examples of poser girls that, after some airbrushing and
correction, look pretty fine
have a look