Environment/landscape 2D books/resources help
Ok, so if you want to be a character artist and you need to work on your 2d skills everybody says Bridgman/Loomis books as well as life drawing. These are pretty much the "standard issue" recommendations, although everybody also has their personal additions too.
What I tried and failed miserably at was trying to find something like this for environment/landscape artwork. I'm really trying hard to improve my 2d artwork, and while I've been seeing steady improvement I feel like I'm having a hard time to find the equivalent of bridgman/loomis for environments.
I don't have much knowledge of old artists and paintings, I feel like I could learn a lot from studying them but I have no idea where to start and there are so many. I guess this is a call out to any environment artists or concept artists who can give me some direction. Any books/resources/tips that would really help. I'm less interested in reading online tutorials and would much rather invest the money and time in a few good books that I can really learn from.
If you got to the end thanks for reading such a long post!
What I tried and failed miserably at was trying to find something like this for environment/landscape artwork. I'm really trying hard to improve my 2d artwork, and while I've been seeing steady improvement I feel like I'm having a hard time to find the equivalent of bridgman/loomis for environments.
I don't have much knowledge of old artists and paintings, I feel like I could learn a lot from studying them but I have no idea where to start and there are so many. I guess this is a call out to any environment artists or concept artists who can give me some direction. Any books/resources/tips that would really help. I'm less interested in reading online tutorials and would much rather invest the money and time in a few good books that I can really learn from.
If you got to the end thanks for reading such a long post!
Replies
Loomis does go though quite a bit of perspective, composition, and color theory all of which apply to environment art. Have you gone through all of his books? Successful Drawing, Creative illustration, and The Eye of the Painter.
Another good one on perspective drawing is Perspective Made Easy by Ernest R. Norling. [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Perspective-Made-Easy-Ernest-Norling/dp/9563100166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247716561&sr=1-1[/ame]
Color by Betty Edwards, covers color theory. [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Color-Betty-Edwards-Course-Mastering/dp/1585422193/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247716693&sr=1-5[/ame]
Maybe some of the tutorials over at Massive Black might be more like what you are looking for.
http://dvd.massiveblack.com/downloads.html
http://www.vilppustore.com/VSLM.htm
For architecture:
Famous architects. (Kevin posted most of these previously, I found them really inspirational)
- Frank Lloyd Wright: You can't walk through a book store without tripping over a book on his buildings/houses. Some really inspiring stuff, especially the interiors.
- Albert Kahn: Great stuff from the 1920's.
- Antonio Gaudi: Was insane...
- Frank O. Gehry: Crazy ass buildings.
- Lots more amazing was done by unknown and obscure architects, just gotta go diggin.
For natural landscapes:
- No one beats Bob Ross (ok a lot of artists do, but he was very inspirational).
- I really dig Arizona Highways its a small time photography magazine that focuses on the Arizona back country. So many awesome landscape shots.
- www.outdoor-photos.com A lot of outdoor landscape shots.
- A bunch of the massive black stuff has really helped a bunch of people I work with.
Unfortunately I can't really think of any instructional books for landscapes and cityscapes. There are a number of training DVDs for environment concept art, though, and I've learned quite a bit from watching a couple of them.
nothing like first hand experience and a knoledge ogf how things work for producing believable stuff
@ EmAr, thanks for the link I will see if I can find a copy locally or maybe purchase it as it seems quite informative.
@ vig: Thanks for posting all those links, there's a lot of inspiration there. Makes me wish I could take some time out to go travel, would be very inspiring.
@ zackF: I have a couple of friends who went to China, one is a 3d artist too and he said it was incredible. I have seen some training DVD's that looked good but the problem I have with them is that you can't take them around with you when you go out to places.
@ shep: I would love to travel, it's definitely one of my things I'm planning on doing but just something I'm not able to do probably for the next year so while I wait, I would like to improve my ability with drawing so I can really make the most out of it when I go
Thanks for the replies guys, you've all given me a lot to read and think about with regards to inspiration
Honestly I'd trade Seattle for London any day of the week when it comes to gathering ref. And I've gotten a lot out of Seattle.
yeah you dont need alot of time to travel, you live in london its hard but not that hard to escape, 3 hrs and you can be in the peaks, 4 and your in scottland by train, book in advance and you can get a cheap weekend away. other destinations around europe are relativly cheap and quick to go for a weekend, and even Morroco isnt that bad for a short holiday.
And seriously, i took geography to A level and half wish Id taken it further, the knowledge of how a landscape is constructed is invauable.
Syd Mead books. A lot of out of print books but you can check his enviro stuff online for technique and design ideas (especially composition of foreground to background elements and rendering light and material effects).
Storyboarding or cinematography books (check online book store reviews, there's a ton of them). Recommended to understand the theory since there is at least one camera in games and a concept artist responsiiblity is to consider what and how the player sees in the game. [e.g., you swap first person to third when the level becomes a platform jumping puzzle, or would the lighting and shadow info aid the player if he/she decides to leave character view into a free form orbit cam view, etc.)
Perspective for comics: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Perspective-Comic-Book-Artists-Professional/dp/0823005674/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247941563&sr=1-2[/ame] Loomis like in depth. Common approach nowadays is to just paintover a 3d base, but it's good to know the basics in case they test you on your trad skills as part of a job application.
If books ain't your thing then just soak up on works by elite artists like: http://www.paperblue.net/?mid=Project&page=2&document_srl=3473