Staff Picks #2 – “Art Of” Book Recommendations

Last time we did a Staff Picks article we gave recommendations for great art tutorials.  Well, mostly art tutorials anyways.  We are continuing this series with today’s article which will look at the Syn Studio teams favourite “Art of” books.  By “Art of” books, we mean books that act as a curated collection of artwork by a particular artist or for a given intellectual property.  If you’ve ever been to our campus then you’ve already seen our main collection of books in our small library in the main lobby.  However there are even more books throughout the school.

Unlike the books we recommended in our first Staff Picks article, these books largely offer no instruction or technical training.  However they offer two aspects that every artist will appreciate: inspiration and insight into the design choices.  These kinds of books might not offer training but while looking through them it becomes easy to get lost in your own imagination, in the same way as when you get enthralled by a good novel.  Come along with us as we share the art books that bring us to distant worlds.

Clement – School Director

“Favourite “art of” book?  Would Jodorowsky’s Dune count?  There’s a great documentary about how Alejandro Jodorowsky tried to make an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune back in the mid ‘70’s but just couldn’t get it off the ground.  Despite this, Jodorowsky assembled some amazing talent to be a part of the film including Salvador Dali as The Emperor, Mick Jagger as Feyd-Rautha, and Orsen Welles as Baron Harkonnen.”  

[Editor’s note: The documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune is currently available on Amazon Prime]

“However, what I am talking about is the pitch bible that was created during pre production while trying to gather studio funding.  Much of this early concept art was done by none other than H.R. Giger and Moebius.  This stunning collection of artwork might not have been used for this film but a few copies of the bible were going around for years and inspired countless other films.  From the character and costume designs, to the vehicle and environments, the essence and influence of this unmade film live on in so many other franchises.”  

[Editor’s Note: A scan of the concept art and storyboards was available on Google for a long time but it seems to have been removed.]

Arun – Communications Director 

“Ah man not again!  I told you that I’m not an artist like you guys.  Can I just pick a movie?  How about Dune?  There’s that documentary about the weird version they were trying to make back in the 60’s or something.  What?  Clement already picked that one?  Ok well what about the new ones from Denis Villeneuve?  Do they have any concept art books for them?  Yeah?  Ok let’s go with that then.  That movie is a masterpiece.  The Art and Soul of Dune book looks good too.  Wow, yeah I am looking at it now online.  I need this.  I just ordered a copy.”

[Editor’s Note: Arun’s book was stolen by porch thieves.  He is asking for privacy during this difficult time]

Eli – Studies Assistant / Media Coordinator

“Ryoko Kui’s Delicious in Dungeon World Guide: The Adventurer’s Bible is a book I desperately want in my life. The Manga (and now anime released) series “Delicious in Dungeon” is a masterclass on Character Design, storytelling beats, and narrative-informed world-building. The author underwent deliberate practice in seeing if she can create a character that’s still recognizable even when redrawn as different fantasy races, wearing other character’s clothing, going as far as to see if a character can be recognized by the shape of their eyes alone. Even within each fantasy race, characters are still distinct and recognizable while still visibly of-that-race. The variety of body-types and the baked-in respect she has for body-diversity just radiates through her work, and is incredibly refreshing.”

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/delicious-in-dungeon-world-guide-ryoko-kui/1140948717

Mike – Communications Assistant

“Oh boy!  This is hard for me.  I have a nice little personal collection of artbooks and I could easily write this article on my own.  I’d like to give an honourable mention to Star Wars Art: Concept.  Star Wars was my first exposure to the idea of concept art and all the behind the scenes magic.  I’ve loved so much of the concept art of Star Wars, especially the concept paintings by Ralph McQuarrie.  The films and the art have had a profound impact on me.  However, everyone is familiar with Star Wars.  The book I want to give attention to is for a franchise that I have almost no attachment to but this book is just that awesome.

The book I was to share today is The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe – Limited Edition.  Believe it or not, I’m not really a He-man fan.  I was born after the decline of the franchise and was a bit older by the time the revivals came around.  It wasn’t until it was on Netflix that I ever watched the series and it was fine.  However when I came across the Art of He-man, I was blown away.  This book collects tons of art from the franchise, starting with designs from the toyline, to development of the classic cartoon, to the mess of a live action adaptation, all the way to the revival of the cartoon and toys in the early 2000’s.  If you like fantasy art of any kind then you are going to love this book.  Every era feels distinct yet cohesive.  He-Man might not be your jam either but this book is a must-have for lovers of sword and sorcery fantasy.  

The price of Limited Edition has skyrocketed as it is no longer in print.  If you can find a copy at a good price then I do recommend the deluxe version but the regular edition will still be a boon to your collection.”

Kirsty – Director of Operations

Shadowline by Iain McCaig

“Iain McCaig has been a favourite of mine for years, and is most noted for his work on Star Wars (designing Anakin, Padmé and Darth Maul), but also worked on Harry Potter, Interview with a Vampire, The Avengers, John Carter and Terminator 2 to name a few. Shadowline showcases Iain’s creative process, sketches, paintings, storyboards and commentary on his work.”

The Art of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King

“A really interesting look at the thought process and influences of various concept artists who worked on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Everything from sketches, to models to digital paintings.”

The Art of Star Wars (Episode 1 to 3)

“Similar to the Lord of the Rings art books, “The Art of Star Wars” series (with individual books dedicated to Episodes I, II, and III) showcases the stunning concept art from various artists who worked on the films. These volumes feature detailed storyboards and character designs, along with insightful commentary from the artists about their design choices and the feedback they received throughout the creative process. This collection provides an in-depth look at the visual development of iconic characters and settings in the Star Wars universe, making it a cool resource for fans and artists.”

The Art of AtomHawk (Volume 2 and 3)

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get my hands on Volume 1 :c The Art of AtomHawk is a collection of finished artwork from various artists who work for the studio, and you get a chance to see concept art from a wide range of titles of video games and films that the studio has been associated with. It’s a really great look at different styles and genres for concept art and illustration.”

Sacred Decay: The Art of Lauren Marx

“Lauren’s artwork is a really interesting blend of naturalism and surrealism, focusing on the theme of life, death, decay and rebirth. It’s beautiful, haunting and so incredibly detailed.”

Animals Real and Imagined by Terryl Whitlatch

“One of the leading creature designers in the industry (and one of the sweetest and most knowledgeable people that I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet), Terryl’s book combines zoology and imagination to help guide artists with creating creatures that are believable and engaging.  It’s an excellent reference for artists looking to enhance their creature design skills and understand animal anatomy in depth.”

More to come

We hope we have been able to pique your curiosity in at least a few of these books.  Hopefully you will be able to find a copy at your local library or find a copy for yourselves.  As with our previous Staff Picks article, we’d like to hear from you and put together a Community Picks article.  Let us know which artbooks are your favourites from our recommendations and which art books spark your imagination.