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Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum (Underwood Books))
Studio : Underwood Books
by Underwood Books
Publisher : Underwood Books
Released : 2008-11-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781599290287
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 8 reviews)
List Price : $39.95
Our Price : $25.05
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Product Description |
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With art drawn from a wide variety of sources — books, graphic novels, video games, films, galleries, and advertising — Spectrum 15 reinforces both the importance and prevalence of fantasy art in today’s culture. Featuring over 300 exceptional works by artists from around the globe, this gorgeous full-color collection celebrates a cadre of creators working in every style and medium. Included are luminaries such as Brom, James Gurney, Marc Gabanna, Shaun Tan, and 2008’s Grand Master Award winner, John Jude Palencar. |
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The bar has been raised again! |
SPECTRUM 15 is not good. SPECTRUM 15 is mind blowing.
I look back at the first Spectrum, and the art seems only "good" while the art in Spectrum 15 is "awesome". I think this "contest" has become a lightning rod for talent - and now each year every artist seeks to "one up" all his competetion. The degree of craftsmenship and ability shown here is out standing. It's nearly insane. I tremble to think how good the art will be in another 15 years. I mean... can it keep getting better? Is that possible? |
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A Feast of Fantastical Art--a must for SF art lovers! |
This is the sort of compilation you really do keep on your coffee table so that you can sit on the couch and, over the course of weeks, dip into it and enjoy the offerings.
What's in there? Well, the introduction, naturally, and the Grandmaster Award for the outstanding John Jude Palencar--one of my faves! There's a review of the year in SF art (this is for 2007), which highlights, among others, a nicely urban-infrastructure-architectural work by Michael Whelan and the covers from some of the art books published last year. Artists who have died are given space in an obit list.
Ah, the art comes. First, the Best in Show award went to James Jean (and if you have been reading the terrific and engrossing FABLES series of comics by Bill Willingham, his cover art will be familiar to you). His winning entry is the cover for THE GOOD PRINCE, a wonderful piece full of understated grays (steel, water, stone) with one blazing arc of orange that is the plume of Prince Ambrose's helm. Cool.
The winner of the Gold award makes me giggle every time I look at it--a technicolor bit of zombie-alien silliness with a retro (as in 50's-60's) album cover feel. More silliness by Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo graces page 31--a full page reproduction of the artwork for AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE. As a fan of the cartoon, I got a particular little thrill seeing Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad rendered in Vallejo's trademark style--curvy women included.
One of the other reviewers called this the "all digital" issue. Well, on this spread alone--the two pages of 30-31--there is Vallejo's oil painting, one digital, one mixed media, and one acrylics/goache. Jean's best-in-show winner was a mixed media piece.
Another of my fave two-page spreads--because of the gorgeous, gorgeous works by Shaun Tan and a refreshing "blue" work by the fantasy master illustrator Charles Vess--is 56-57, which showcases two works of acrylics/oils (Tan), one in colored inks (Vess), and one goache/digital.
The previous page--55--which I was going to mention anyway, has a full-page repro of an oil on paper piece by Donato Giancola. It reminds me of Victorian works and is a masterful "bird's eye" perspective on a shoreline with dead mermen and a maiden holding one of the victims. The mermen are rendered in glowing pale greys and dark greys, their gills gaping redly. I was so moved by this work, I came online to see the book for which it served as a cover art piece (THE GOLDEN ROSE).
Just for reference, the page right after the one with the Tan/Vess pieces, has four wonderful works--two acrylics by Scott Bakal, an ink/digital by Yuko Shimizu and a really interesting oil work by Brad Holland.
So, I'd hardly say that more traditional media are not employed. However, we are in the digital age, and digital artwork will continue to gain space and popularity. As this compilation books hows, many digital works are skilled, beautiful, and effective, and should not be scoffed at.
There is so much here to enjoy, that I will let you buy it and see for yourself, rather than yammer on about the contents.The contents rock!
Mir
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Spectrum 15 |
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The book came in a timely manner and was in excellent condition. Thank You!! |
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Kaboom |
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Kaboom!! That's what I think about the book. It has the best of the imagination and artistic abilities in the genre. Bravo, you creative beasts! |
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All Digital - Where are the traditional Oil, Acrylics, Pastel, WC? |
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"The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art". No it isn't. It's little more than DIGITAL Art. Gone is the adequate representation of artists who use pigment and a handheld applicator. Digital art is an art form in its own right. However, it DOESN'T have the right to be considered exclusive against the brilliant works of traditional artists. Those of us who paint with a brush deserve an equal standing against the very youth-driven, convenience of computer product art. I returned my copy of Spectrum-15 and will not consider any future purchase of the product without first being able to open the book and look inside. How many Oils? How many Acrylics? If Spectrum continues to disrespect traditional art by exclusion, I refuse to own it. There are many other reputable books who give equal time to traditional art. I regret Spectrum has selected to become a digital coloring book for teens. Some of the digital art is simply vulgar and child-like. Spectrum 1 through 11, YES! But, it's been going down hill since 11. Maybe it's me. Maybe the series is only for those 17 and under. If so, I apologize and have learned my lesson. |
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