The Art of the Dragon
J. David Spurlock and Patrick Wilshire
Vanguard Productions
Nonfiction, Art
Themes: Dragons
****+
Description
Few images are as ubiquitous as the dragon. With variations found in most every culture dating back to prehistoric times, dragons have been a part of humanity since its inception, and continue to accompany us to this very day. This book collects images from some modern masters of dragon art, along with interviews of some top fantasy artists including Boris Vallejo, Michael Whelan, Julie Bell, and others.
Review
It's no secret than I'm a dragon nut. This collection offers a decent variety of dragons, with excellent reproductions. The interviews reveal how each artist approaches the subject of dragons, even dragons drawn for commission rather than personal pleasure. (Indeed, many of these images come from the venerated Dungeons & Dragons franchise, as the role-playing game was instrumental in creating the modern image of the beasts.) I'm still not a huge fan of Boris Vallejo, but at least I now understand some of where he's coming from. It could've used more full-page spreads to showcase the artwork, but other than that I have few complaints. An excellent book for lovers of fantasy art and dragons!