We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Imaginative Realism

James Gurney

From the award-winning artist, learn to see and shape the world in a way you never before imagined.

An award-winning fantasy artist and the creator of Dinotopia, James Gurney instructs and inspires in Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist. Renowned for his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings, James Gurney teaches budding artists and fans of fantasy art step-by-step the techniques that won him worldwide critical acclaim. This groundbreaking work examines the practical methods for creating believable pictures of imaginary subjects, such as dinosaurs, ancient Romans, alien creatures, and distant worlds.

Beginning with a survey of imaginative paintings from the Renaissance to the golden Age of American illustration, the book then goes on to explain not just techniques like sketching and composition, but also the fundamentals of believable world building including archaeology, architecture, anatomy for creatures and aliens, and fantastic engineering. It concludes with details and valuable advice on careers in fantasy illustration, including video game and film concept art and toy design.

More than an instruction book, this is the ultimate reference for fans of science fiction and fantasy illustration.

"Gurney's Imaginative Realism is a gold mine for artists who want to create images that sing with authority and delight the viewer with rich otherworldly visuals." --Erik Tiemens, concept artist, Star Wars: Episodes II and III

"Imaginative Realism is an indispensable, flawless reference for vision makers in any discipline to create their own imaginative realms." --Frank M. Costantino, ASAI, SI, FSAI, JARA, cofounder, American Society of Architectural Illustrators

Related Courses

Save this book

Create your own learning path. Save this book to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Share

Help others find this book page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Amazon Buyer Protections & Purchase Guarantee

Protected by Amazon A-to-z Guarantee & generous return policies

Amazon A-to-z Guarantee
Buyer Protection

Amazon A-to-z Guarantee

Every book purchase is protected by the Amazon A-to-z Guarantee. This guarantee covers both the condition of your book and its timely delivery, providing full buyer protection whether you purchase directly from Amazon or from third-party marketplace sellers.

Return Policy

Generous 30-Day Returns & Free Shipping

Generous 30-day return policy on physical books. Amazon makes returns effortless with self-service return labels, drop-off at thousands of local locations (Kohl's, Whole Foods, UPS Stores), and free return shipping on eligible book purchases.

Savings & Discounts

Great Savings & Member Discounts

Maximize your savings with competitive pricing, deep discounts on new and used marketplace copies, bundled textbook rentals, and exclusive member savings through Amazon Prime with free fast delivery.

Formats & Programs

Kindle, Audible & Physical Formats

Read your way across versatile digital and physical formats: instant delivery via Kindle eBooks, unlimited reading with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, audiobook listening with Audible (often featuring a 30-day free trial), or traditional paperback and hardcover editions.

Amazon Purchase Protections & Benefits
Amazon A-to-z Guarantee covering third-party & direct purchases
Generous 30-day return policy with hassle-free drop-off options
Kindle eBook editions with instant delivery on any device
Kindle Unlimited program with access to over 4 million titles
Audible audiobooks with free trial eligibility
Competitive discounts across new, used, and rental copies
Amazon Affiliate Partner Protections Policy details last reviewed: 2026-10-22
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser