Spectrum 11: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art

Spectrum #11

by Cathy Fenner (Editor), Arnie Fenner (Editor)

Now in its 11th year, and just getting bigger and better, this eagerly anticipated volume in the art and art-buying world represents the who's who in fantasy today. Spectrum is the first and only illustration annual to focus solely on fantastic art, with over 300 artists featured. Divided into seven categories, including one devoted to comics and graphic novels, Spectrum is a feast of disparate vision and artistic imagining, showcasing, among others: John Howe, fantasy illustrator and designer for Lord of the Rings; Peter deSeve, conceptual artist on Finding Nemo; Anita Kunz's work from Rolling Stone; the exquisite acrylics of Michael Whelan; the poignant work of John Jude Palancer; Doug Chiang, design director for Star Wars and creator of Robota; and Jon Foster, also of Star Wars fame. Lively, idiosyncratic, and sometimes shocking, this work continues to push against the meniscus of reality, exploring new realms of inventiveness and creativity, be it from movies, video games, ads, or art galleries.

Genres: Art, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comics, Science Fiction Fantasy

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2004

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

i remember first coming across the Spectrum art books in my twenties, when i would buy books simply for their dust jackets and hope the story inside wasn't too awful... the art in these books is amazing, creative, imaginary, dreamlike, fascinating, and ultimately full of life and the love of wonder and wondrous things... i would own them all if i could... extremely highly recommended...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring the years of 2003 to 2004 in art through this 11th volume of Spectrum here. Michael R. Whelan is the grand Master of this year and news about the industry trying to recuperate from the past couple years is detailed here. My favorite works were done by Tony DiTerlizzi, David Bowers (Quite a few by him.), Patrick Arrasmith, Todd Lockwood, Paul Bonner, Stephen Youll, Yvonne Gilbert, John Jude Palencar, Rebecca Guay, Daniel Dos Santos, Manchu, Chalres Vess, Greg Swearingen, Brad Wienman, Scott Gustafson, Duane O. Myers, Peter de Seve (It has his "Finding Nemo" artwork!), Kinuko Y. Craft, Greg Spalenka, Tristan Elwell, William Basso (His busts always have such awesome cheekbones!), Jean Marc Laroche (The best assassin kit ever made!), Ciruelo, Marc A. Fishman, Eric Boden, Christophe Vacher, Peter Meseldzija, Ezra Tucker, Charles Frizell, Jeff Spackman, Mark A. Nelson, Steven Kenny, and of course John Howe. Please don't mind my parenthesized commentaries. I have probably named off half of the artists, but the collected work is just that freaking good. A great volume with an influx of more amazing artwork included.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love fantasy and SiFi art of any type; paintings, drawings, sculpture, cartoons then this is the book for you. Fantastic selection of the years art. You can't help but find something you like inside. Highly recommended

[Jer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my own fault that I haven't flipped through this one enough!

[Carly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible compilation of fantasy artists! Produced yearly (every November).

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT compilation. I was very pleased with the various works of art. Thematically, it is more balanced than the other Spectrum book I looked at. Favorite featured artist, Kinuko Y. Craft.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another pretty good read. The art is really good