Fantasy World-Building: A Guide to Developing Mythic Worlds and Legendary Creatures

by Mark A. Nelson

When artists and designers explore or create a fictional setting, the milieu must be completely fleshed out, explained, and designed. In this book, comic and gaming art veteran Mark A. Nelson explores and demonstrates his methods for fashioning visually stunning, believable environments for fantasy creatures and characters. Scores of images and step-by-step examples illustrate how variation and experimentation lead to fresh, original designs for otherworldly beings, their environments, and their stories.
Nelson discusses how to find ideas and borrow from history to add the strength of realism to a fantasy world. In describing the best ways to establish a habitat, he offers specifics about climate, terrain, flora, and wildlife. He shares insights into founding societies in terms of their means of survival, manner of warfare, spiritual practices, style of dress, and levels of technology. All visual creatives who work with imaginative material — illustrators, comic artists, and writers — will take a lively interest in this source of inspiration and practical knowledge.

Genres: Art, Writing, Fantasy, Reference, Drawing

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2019

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fantasy World Building” is a highly motivating and inspiring guide for ANY visual artist, whether the art you make falls within the "Fantasy" realm or is something entirely different. The tools to create your OWN imagery that is original, plausible and tells the story only you can share are presented with an informative and positive "anything is possible" vibe. The author outlines his own drawing process, discusses mediums, and asks questions to prompt your own line of discovery, in a spirit of adventure and playfulness. It gives you SO much to think about and explore, but is not overwhelming because the lessons are in manageable, bite-sized chunks. This book will serve as a great go-to guide to refer to again and again, and at the same time is a treasure trove of mind-blowing ART, text aside! You're left impressed, encouraged, and feeling like "I can DO this!" I recommend you have a sketchbook and pencil right alongside you as you dive into the endless possibilities within.

[Morganne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of wonderful art in it... but it feels like the concept presented in the title "Fantasy World-Building" is just a vehicle to show off the artists work. I got this book hoping it would be a guide to world building for a visual artist, but there really isn't much in the way of how to build worlds. There is usually a short blurb about the chapters subject, followed by a large batch of any artwork that might be somewhat relevant, with the occasional artistic hint and tip thrown in. I'm disappointed I don't have a good world building book but somewhat pleased I have a nice collection of art to put on my bookshelf.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for books of its kind. Gives a lot of ideas and gives ideas for how to come up with ideas. Never underestimate the power of details to spawn fascinating story depth.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a lot of really great art in it. It was also nice to see the techniques and thoughts that went into the way that this artist works and comes up with ideas. As far as instruction goes, not sure how much of that there was other than sharing technique which can be very helpful and instructive in its own right but not exactly a step by step. This is probably not great for a beginner artist but more intermediate or advanced.

Not bad, great art, not sure about the instruction. 3 stars.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written more for people thinking on the visual side of worldbuilding - artists and illustrators, mainly. Still, I found it to be creative and thought-provoking. A useful book for anyone taking their first steps into making their own worlds.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good for what it offered, but I was looking for more world-building and not necessarily drawing or creating drawings of fantasy world things. I think I bought this book by mistake. It was really good overall.

[Brendan]

Just looked at

[James M · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a pretty good book. Lots of good information and inspiration. Not really much on instruction, though. Good reference to get you started.

[Marlies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offered some great information and details. And it was interesting to see the author's own process. I found the "morgue" files a helpful idea.

[Andrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing artists' sketches and a one of the great books about imaginative drawing

[Judy Cadena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much as a how to process as it is beautiful portfolio of collected art. The art is only reason it gets any stars at all.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sourcebook for ideas and creative inspiration, Mark Nelson’s illustrated guide showcases his remarkable talent and organisational thinking, which combine to deliver some stunning artwork, mostly in a graphic novel style. Nelson links idea development with problem solving and storytelling, constantly highlighting how logical world-building is the result of exploration and the direct connection between how elements are built and how they operate, which then influences their final form and appearance.

The book features both fantasy and sci-fi illustrations, with plenty of intriguing characters, weird anthropomorphic creatures, cool vehicles, environments full of ruined structures, future technology and more filling its pages. Nelson shows off an impressive range of drawing, inking and colouring techniques, and uses process sequences and variants of line and value to show how he arranges a composition’s visual hierarchy and develops the focal point. Nelson’s sketching and rendering techniques are superb, and I’ve gained great value from observing his progress stages and the evolution of his art from concept to completion.

Most of the text is in caption form, posing questions to consider, noting aspects that are important or worthy of consideration when developing a coherent and professional result. I would've liked to have seen more detailed instructions rather than the relatively brief thoughts that accompany most images, but there’s still plenty here of value to start the reader on their own creative journeys.

Nelson’s strength in developing dynamic visual narratives brings a high level of curiosity and wonder to his work – this book should assist others to follow his example by observing life and asking questions as part of their own creative processes.

[Agnes Preszler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawing from reality is already difficult enough, so how to create an immaginary world in a credible way? This guide breaks down in manageable steps this overwhelming task. Taking the elements from the richness of the real world, mixes them all up, while answering the five ws (plus how), borrowed from journalism.
Characters, their clothing, food, habitat, transportation, buildings, weapons, spirituality and so on, are treated. Characters are build from birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and fishes. Also different media as graphite, watercolour, brown and black ink, digital are used. Minimal text, very simple and comprensible, richly illustrated with high quality drawings. Obviously the guide is a starting point and your company on the way, you have to do your own homework.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

FANTASY WORLD-BUILDING by Mark Nelson is a great book on everything fantasy. It was packed with illustrations, ideas, and the basics of creating one’s own fantasy world. Whether you are an illustrator or a writer, this book is a perfect way to inspire new ideas. Some of the topics were basic (animals, birds, wardrobe, etc.), while others were detailed (warfare, survival, etc.). I’m busy creating a fantasy world of my own and found the illustrations and topics very useful. It made me think further about how I want the world to look, feel, and sound. I definitely recommend this to any creative person who likes creating their own fantasy world and having inspiration close by.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fascinating book that combines ideas for world-building with the many thought processes of Mark Nelson. While the material itself is basic (but expansive), and it sparks a desire for exploration, the artwork is the cherry on top. You don't need to be a fan of roleplaying games (but it certainly helps!) to appreciate this small volume that helps get you out and about and thinking.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.