30 review for 100 Ways to Create Fantasy Figures

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Roxane Lapa – Jan 09, 2021

   GENRE: Non-fiction Art BASIC SYNOPSIS 100 pages, each with a specific tip on painting - some general, but also some specifically regarding fantasy art. Each page also has an artwork to illustrate the validity of the tip. MY THOUGHTS The title suggests the book is about 100 different ways/techniques to do the same thing. It's not that at all. It's 100 tips or things to keep in mind whilst doing that thing. Despite the dumb title, it's a great book. The actual tips are good, though some are a bit samey GENRE: Non-fiction Art BASIC SYNOPSIS 100 pages, each with a specific tip on painting - some general, but also some specifically regarding fantasy art. Each page also has an artwork to illustrate the validity of the tip. MY THOUGHTS The title suggests the book is about 100 different ways/techniques to do the same thing. It's not that at all. It's 100 tips or things to keep in mind whilst doing that thing. Despite the dumb title, it's a great book. The actual tips are good, though some are a bit samey. The real gold, however, are the images. Not all of them are amazing in every aspect - some have some questionable anatomy for example, but I found if I looked past that, and anaylsed them, each one had something to teach me. Happy to have it on my shelf.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Ben Claymier – Dec 26, 2019

   Good tips for beginning artists and people looking for a wealth of reference art. I did not rate it higher because I was looking for something a bit deeper and more theoretical, which I cannot fault the book for, but I just wish it was a bit deeper.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Zoe – Sep 21, 2021

   This book is more about handy tips and tricks. It explains it to you and is theory based, there are few step by step instructions on how to build upon a drawing. But instead displays the author awesome renderings as complete work with little rid bids about fantasy illustration.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Radiant Lotus – Jan 09, 2019

   I really like the idea of creating and exploring character archetypes for each illustration project.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Samantha – Feb 18, 2018

   Slightly misleading title, but solid advice. Highly reccommended for intermediate artists.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Parka – Nov 15, 2009

   (More pictures at parkablogs.com) First of all, let me say that this book brings back memories of me playing Magic The Gathering cards. A lot of the illustrations in the book are from Wizards of the Coast. Francis Tsai is a concept artist and you can find his work on teamgt.com. This book is not really on art techniques, there are no step-by-step tutorials to follow along. It's one that gives ideas to think about when trying to come up with a character. That being said, the writeup for the book (More pictures at parkablogs.com) First of all, let me say that this book brings back memories of me playing Magic The Gathering cards. A lot of the illustrations in the book are from Wizards of the Coast. Francis Tsai is a concept artist and you can find his work on teamgt.com. This book is not really on art techniques, there are no step-by-step tutorials to follow along. It's one that gives ideas to think about when trying to come up with a character. That being said, the writeup for the book is pretty good. It gives a lot of ideas on things that can be changed or added to enhance the characters. It can be on costume design, colour combination, using silhouettes, thinking like the character itself, etc. All come with nice illustrated paintings as examples. This book is more of a resource book that's great when brainstorming for ideas. If you're looking for techniques, check out ImagineFX's book called Fantasy Workshop: Mastering Digital Painting Techniques.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Sparrowlicious – Jun 21, 2014

   You might wonder "why only 3 stars?". I'll tell you the answer: Francis Tsai should've used his own advice and learn more about the human body. All his male characters are hulk-like in proportion when it comes to their upper and lower body. All his female characters look exactly the same, have bad poses (did this guy ever try standing the way he places his female characters? Probably not! He even has the gall to call a typical back stretching exercise (which you usually do when lying down) a 're You might wonder "why only 3 stars?". I'll tell you the answer: Francis Tsai should've used his own advice and learn more about the human body. All his male characters are hulk-like in proportion when it comes to their upper and lower body. All his female characters look exactly the same, have bad poses (did this guy ever try standing the way he places his female characters? Probably not! He even has the gall to call a typical back stretching exercise (which you usually do when lying down) a 'relaxed stance'. What the heck?), extremely bad anatomy (hip size too small in relation to shoulders), etc. Secondly: He only applied his good poses and ideas to his male characters. His female characters were all super boring or simply pin-up models. No action there. So if you follow the advices in this book - and many of the ideas really were good - you should also apply them to your female characters. Draw your female characters in amazing poses, give them amazign stories! Oh and also: breast cup armour? People who still draw that need to be hit in the sternum really hard.

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Katy – Jan 04, 2014

   A good book for someone starting out in fantasy character design I couldn't say that it's a great aid as it seems to be more advice in what could be done rather then what you should do. Which i liked, but it also feels like something is missing. It covers everything such as anatomy, painting, colour and sketches only it breezes over everything not going into great depth. The sketches for me were the most interesting, some of the art was amazing but some were quite simply less then impressive. So A good book for someone starting out in fantasy character design I couldn't say that it's a great aid as it seems to be more advice in what could be done rather then what you should do. Which i liked, but it also feels like something is missing. It covers everything such as anatomy, painting, colour and sketches only it breezes over everything not going into great depth. The sketches for me were the most interesting, some of the art was amazing but some were quite simply less then impressive. Sometimes i felt i was looking at a book for Marvel/DC character creation rather then Fantasy, I know that fantasy exists in the comic world but it felt more comic inspired in certain areas. Overall for the beginner its a very good resource and advice as it doesn't say "DO THIS" it simply suggests what you could do to improve your character work.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Brittany Kopelke – Jan 02, 2016

   Very detailed This is wonderful guide to assist with drawing fantasy because of how detailed it is and how many aspects of art are mentioned and discussed. I would highly recommend this book to both people who already draw fantasy and those interested in beginning fantasy illustrations.

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Tina – Aug 27, 2010

    Not a learning book, more of an advice book from an great artist. Some if it have helped me, mostly to take my drawing more seriously. And some tips to make it more easy. I felt my heart more set on a path of being an consept artist after I read this book. It's a great source of inspiration to your fantasy drawings. Not a learning book, more of an advice book from an great artist. Some if it have helped me, mostly to take my drawing more seriously. And some tips to make it more easy. I felt my heart more set on a path of being an consept artist after I read this book. It's a great source of inspiration to your fantasy drawings.

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Adie Bishop – Mar 05, 2016

    Inspiring Helps with the dangers of Artists block. After all, when everything is possible in a world created by you, then variations in concept become essential.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Andrzej_17 –

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

    Jordan Fleming –