Best Concept Art Books: The Ultimate Collection

All-time Concept Art Books: The Ultimate Collection

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It's difficult to unmarried out a specific book made for all concept artists. The field is huge and there's so much to embrace regarding fine art fundamentals, conceptual ideas, technical painting skills, and of course the career side of the concept art industry.

In this post I'll share the absolute best concept fine art books that touch upon all these areas. I've split the post into iii singled-out sections: fine art fundamentals, digital painting, and the core of concept fine art creation & business.

Each section targets artists at different skill levels so y'all tin bound around or piece of work your way through equally you lot see fit. Either way I believe all of these books can be valuable to aspiring or professional concept artists depending on your needs and current skillset.

Art Fundamentals

The raw fundamentals of art are the very first things every concept creative person should study. These fundamentals are tough to put into words, although I tried my best in a previous post.

Fundamentals are any skills you'll be using across the board for all your art. These skills include measuring, rendering, perspective, light & shadow, forms, colors, and effigy drawing(amid others).

If yous're not sure where to selection up these fundamentals then check out some of the books below.

How to Describe

Scott Robertson teaches concept artists and digital artists from Art Eye in California & he lectures all around the US. His book How to Draw is hands one of the all-time resource I've always found for understanding perspective and cartoon from imagination.

Every concept creative person needs to acquire realist life cartoon and imaginative drawing. These ii techniques merge allowing concept artists to create anything from their mind with realistic rendering.

Scott Robertson's volume is not targeted specifically at newbies, and in fact it can be rather difficult for inexperienced artists. However the lessons are plentiful and well worth the desperation if yous tin can force yourself to practice them every day.

Scott's teaching style is dense yet immaculate. You lot'll acquire a lot from this book and information technology should be one of the first books you get for learning perspective along with Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling.

Light for Visual Artists

Understanding light and shadow is another tricky subject. This relates to value and how you render values in a drawing/painting. Light for Visual Artists teaches the raw scientific points forth with the artistic techniques to give yous tips from both sides.

This volume cannot make you a main draftsman or skillful at rendering value. It can just offer tips and resources for pedagogy the concepts of light.

If you practice and put these ideas into your exercises then you lot'll become a lot more from the book.

Lighting can be constitute everywhere and it's a big role of every piece of art you create. I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with lighting who needs an artistic arroyo to the subject area.

Art Fundamentals: Color, Light, Limerick, Anatomy, Perspective, and Depth

The folks over at 3DTotal accept been publishing some neat piece of work over the past few years. Their squad knows how to teach this stuff considering many of them are professional artists. Some fifty-fifty piece of work as freelancers or in-studio concept artists for game companies.

The book Art Fundamentals covers all the primary fundamentals in a very terse publication. It'due south 272 pages long so it'due south definitely a detailed volume. Withal yous don't really go into deep details for any of the big fundamentals like form, anatomy or perspective.

Instead the goal is to introduce artists to these fundamental topics by guiding them along the style. You'll learn a lot about each skillset and why it's and so important to digital fine art.

But this is really just an intro guide for beginners and not something you can rely on for too long. I recommend this to artists every bit a primer when getting into the fundamentals, but not as a professional study guide.

Effigy Drawing for Artists: Making Every Mark Count

Studying and learning effigy cartoon from a book is very much like learning to bulldoze a car from a volume. You can read about it all you want, merely getting into the figure room volition always be the greatest teacher.

But there are many books that go into detail sharing tips and techniques for drawing the figure which apply to real globe do. Artist Steve Huston published a newer book Figure Drawing for Artists which talks about the foundational concepts of every effigy drawing.

This can human activity similar a guide to new artists who aren't sure how to analyze the figure or how to render it on the page. Steve has years of experience and he's a trusted artist in the realm of effigy cartoon. He even includes his ain figure drawings in the book to bear witness off techniques visually.

Again this volume won't help you straight improve your figure drawing. But studio fourth dimension can practice that.

All the same if y'all're looking for a identify to become started and pick up some tips I would definitely recommend a copy of this book.

Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form

Lastly we come up to 1 of the most dumbo human anatomy books to engagement. Homo Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form by Eliot Goldfinger is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants to master the human figure.

The merely way to truly draw something from imagination is to memorize the general concepts of how it looks, behaves, and operates. The human body is one of the about circuitous subjects to study and information technology'due south worth mastering every slice of anatomy to help you empathise the figure amend.

Concept artists oftentimes need to exaggerate muscles, poses, and facial features which require an understanding of human being anatomy.

If you get this volume just go along in mind it's not a fun read. It really is a technical transmission with bones, tendons, and muscles for every function of the body. Merely if you want to go a professional artist you'll need to learn all of this stuff at some point.

Digital Painting

In one case you empathize the fundamentals of drawing you'll want to move into painting. Some artists prefer oil paints but for concept fine art yous'll ever exist working digital.

There are really iii parts to digital painting. Showtime is agreement how to use a graphics tablet. Next is agreement your painting software of choice(most mutual is Photoshop). Then third is your underlying artistic skill.

The first ii tin be learned pretty quickly. Merely building your creative skill can take years or even decades to reach the level you want. But the sooner you go into digital painting the sooner you'll come across improvements.

Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop

There's no better identify to start digital painting than with the Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Photoshop. It covers all the fundamentals of a Photoshop workflow which is basically mandatory in every artistic studio.

Some artists prefer to utilize their ain software but virtually game studios and animation studios rely on Photoshop for painting. This book from 3DTotal explains the castor panel and the painting canvas so that anyone can understand.

You likewise get exercises that teach you the nuts of painting in a Photoshop surroundings.

Anyone picking up this book should already take some artistic feel. You lot can keep information technology shelved for a later engagement but y'all really won't larn much nearly painting unless yous study the fundamentals first.

Digital Painting Techniques

Beyond Photoshop basics y'all'll want to actually master the techniques and skills required to paint digitally. This is the goal of Digital Painting Techniques, a 288 page masterpiece targeting intermediate-to-advanced artists.

You lot'll learn easily-on techniques to approach painting dissimilar subjects and rendering with accuracy. This book is besides from 3DTotal and it'south volume 1 in a handful of books all roofing digital painting.

I recommend starting with this book offset so you tin see what it'south all near. Some people may not like the teaching style and wouldn't fifty-fifty bother with other books in the serial.

But if you accept the work ethic and pockets to grab the other volumes I'd highly recommend information technology. You lot tin can larn so much from the 3DTotal staff and their exercises can dramatically ameliorate your painting skills.

Digital Painting for the Consummate Beginner

I actually establish this volume a tad less useful because it focuses more on the transition from traditional to digital painting. Fine artists who already work in oils volition dear Digital Painting for the Complete Beginner.

But if you're a complete newbie who only has experience drawing in pencil this book won't exist better than the other ii I mentioned.

Still I know many artists practice start young and past the time they're ready for digital they already accept skills in other areas. If this is the case yous should definitely pick up this volume and await to larn a lot!

Painting is basically the same everywhere equally far equally methods and goals. But the actual techniques and mediums do change how you lot arroyo new projects, then this book tin can help traditional artists make that switch into the world of digital art.

Digital Painting with KRITA 2.nine

Adobe Photoshop costs a lot of coin and so not everyone can beget to kickoff there. But thankfully open source Krita offers a free culling for digital painting on whatsoever operating system.

And if you need a place to get started with this software I recommend Digital Painting with KRITA two.9. The book is written by Scott Petrovic who has years of experience working as a UI designer and digital artist. He starts the volume explaining Krita's interface and chop-chop moves into digital painting techniques.

One time you're past the basics yous'll learn about shortcuts and quick tips for advancing your knowledge. This is much less of a digital painting book and more of a Krita software book.

However Scott does share a lot of techniques for improving your digital painting workflow. This can be great for more intermediate-level artists merely it'due south not great for beginners who take no idea how to paint on a tablet.

I recommend post-obit a few tutorials online before picking up this volume. Scott does an excellent job introducing Krita but y'all should already know how to use your graphics tablet before diving into this title.

Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter X3

Some other culling for digital painting is Corel Painter. This is not free but it's a quality alternative to Photoshop if y'all want to avoid Adobe products.

If you lot're looking for an intro guide to this plan check out Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter X3. The volume spans 256 pages covering a lot of key topics like composition, color theory, balance, and mixing colors.

Yous'll larn the entire Painter interface through do projects then you should know a little about digital painting.

Only this book can be great for beginners if they're willing to put in the piece of work. Most exercises focus on techniques and shortcuts inside Painter to improve your workflow. Central concepts are driven habitation constantly which makes this a nifty volume for any artist.

Bold Visions: A Digital Painting Bible

Creative person Gary Tonge put together this short but sweet compendium on digital painting. Bold Visions: A Digital Painting Bible targets more avant-garde artists who want to learn about the "bigger picture" of digital painting.

Gary shares a lot of his ain artwork along with advanced techniques used in his work. He does comprehend topics like composition, perspective, and lighting, only not in great detail.

While there are enough of screenshots and bones tutorials in this book, they do await some level of knowledge in painting. And for such a short book with only 128 pages I'g surprised at the level of item.

You will not get a footstep-by-step instruction manual from Gary's book. All the same you will find a ton of ideas, workflows, helpful tips, and digital art inspiration from a diversity of talented artists.

Concept Art

Lastly we come up to the best books targeting concept artists. I have to acknowledge, there actually aren't also many.

If you already know your fundamentals and know how to paint then it's simply a affair of doing it over and again. With repetition comes failure, insight, and consistent growth. Concept art books tin can help y'all think most constructing ideas and breaking into the industry. Only to do that you already need serious skills as an artist.

Nonetheless if you want to read about the game art industry or acquire more than about the concept art procedure then all of these books will prove to be invaluable resources.

Big Bad Earth of Concept Art for Video Games

This volume targets students who are currently studying fine art and eventually want to go into concept art as a career. Big Bad World of Concept Art for Video Games written past professor Eliott Lilly uses student work and critiques to share his experiences teaching the world's next young artists.

Eliott offers very specific tips for picking the right school, the right classes, practice exercises, and suggestions for improving your portfolio. He also shares tips for young artists who want to land jobs in the video game industry.

Student and professional work is littered throughout the book to showcase the quality and progress of different artists. This tin can be a fun book to help you lot amend as an artist & to prepare yourself for a competitive career in concept art.

One thing I'll say about the writing is that it'due south raw and honest. You practice non get any fluff from this book. It's a truthful guide to becoming a concept artist including the potential pitfalls and failure rates of nearly who effort.

If yous're serious most a career as an amusement artist please do yourself a favor and read this volume. You'll either finish it feeling more pumped and confident about your career choice, or somewhat hesitant and second guessing if concept art is correct for yous.

Either event is valuable and it's good to know exactly what y'all're in for if y'all cull to enter this line of work.

How to Become a Video Game Artist

Game artist Sam R. Kennedy has plenty of personal feel and colleagues working in the entertainment manufacture. He puts this to good apply in his book How to Become a Video Game Artist.

Each chapter breaks down a different job in the concept art industry talking about full general concept art, environment fine art, character fine art, animators and even GUI designers. Each of these chapters include stories from professionals working in the field forth with communication to aspiring artists hoping to break in.

Y'all'll get an overview of each job including what the work entails and what sort of skills you lot'll need. In the last chapter Sam offers tips for aspiring concept artists on how to improve their portfolios and how to prepare themselves for the game art manufacture.

I actually did a total review of this volume if you want to read more.

The Skillful Huntsman: Visual Evolution of a Grimm Tale at Fine art Centre College of Blueprint

Iii artists share their experiences studying at Art Center in Pasadena, CA and getting into the entertainment industry. The three students Khang Le, Mike Yamada, and Felix Yoon share their sketches and unique journeys that lead them into the entertainment industry.

The Skillful Huntsman feels more like a periodical or student projection rather than a education book. Information technology's based on the Brothers Grimm story of The Skillful Huntsman and each concept artist follows that story past designing characters, environments, props, and other paintings for this fairy tale.

Renowned Art Centre teacher Scott Robertson leaves comments beneath the work offering critiques and insight for readers.

I practise non think this book is mandatory reading for everyone. Just it actually is fun to encounter how concept fine art students create their piece of work based on an existing storyline, plus how a teacher offers critique along the manner.

And if you're thinking of attending Art Center this would exist a fun read if you have the time.

Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

I know the Gurney books are non specifically geared towards concept artists. But Imaginative Realism is 1 book that every concept artist must read.

Information technology talks nearly painting what doesn't exist and shares techniques on how to do this consistently. Concept artists are basically paid to create things that don't be. This book may not accept been written for concept artists, simply information technology sure as hell seems like it was.

Over 224 pages James Gurney shares techniques for rendering different imaginary concepts like creatures, humans, buildings, environments, and a lot more than.

Just imagining something in your mind is merely half the battle. Knowing how to render information technology digitally is the true test of difficulty.

Simply with this volume at your side you'll have no problem moving fast and learning as you go.

Beyond Art Fundamentals

Once you move beyond traditional art fundamentals y'all'll exist left wondering how to arroyo concept fine art from a more than conceptual signal of view. This tin can be philosophical but also technically creative on how to actually design something.

Across Fine art Fundamentals is some other 3DTotal book that expands on their first Art Fundamentals book mentioned earlier in this post.

I similar Across Art Fundamentals a lot more because it covers topics that yous won't find elsewhere. Professional concept artists share their techniques for capturing mood, emotion, gesture, and how to design concepts that fit the storyline.

A professional creative person knows that every painting should say something. It should take a feeling, an emotion, and a purpose. This book talks nearly the subtle nuances of this procedure and helps you consider new means to arroyo every slice of art yous create.

Cartoon Basics and Video Game Art

Anyone looking into video game art should read this book. Drawing Basics and Video Game Art isn't as much of a drawing book as it is a cultural volume on the history of game art.

You lot will larn a lot in regards to making concept art for games. But the author delves into a more than complex and rich history of gaming about how the artistic styles take inverse over the years. A large part of the book is comparing how fine fine art can be interwoven with video game art and how this has avant-garde over the decades.

There are lots of sections talking about fundamentals like composition, lighting, effigy, and full general sketching techniques. This actually is an artist's book, but it but takes a camber on gaming.

Information technology'south the perfect book for aspiring concept artists who want to use their art for a purpose.

Every book in this post can be a valuable resource depending on your skill level. Becoming a professional concept creative person is tough. The concept art manufacture is fierce and you have to be actually damn adept to compete.

But if you put in the hours and study from the best resources I guarantee you can reach a professional level.

Note: If y'all prefer teacher-guided lessons then CG Spectrum'due south course on concept art might help you acquire faster. Information technology covers a lot of the stuff you lot'll acquire in these books, plus access to a professional artist and video lessons all streamed over the Net. Information technology'due south a great culling to books if you lot tin can spare the scratch.

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