An Environment Artist reading list (actual books (made from trees))
polycounter lvl 19
I put this on my blog site. But I wanted to post it here. Since all of you have books I'm leaving off the list. I'd love to hear what other Artists read, reading, or use for inspiration. Please post any books you think are great and I'll add them to the list.
Having a vast library to get inspiration from, art theory knowledge, or technical processes is very important for any Artist. This still holds true for Environment Artists. I have a number books that I have purchased or read. Some I totally*recommend*to every Environment Artist to read and others are only a specific concern (modeling Roman columns, painting ancient cave symbols, etc). This is is covering the former, books that every Environment Artist should own. Now some of the books might be inspiration books (such as Art of books) and some maybe be theory books (Color theory books, etc).
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Maya-Studio-Projects-Environments-Props/dp/0470524030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319197957&sr=1-1]Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props[/ame]
Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props by Michael McKinley covers the basics of environment art creation using the 3d software Maya. It has a lot of great advice and walkthroughs on art creation for beginner Artists. I also have a piece of work in the gallery section with some amazing Artists, so that is pretty cool. I really recommend this book if you're starting out, fresh out of college, or trying to get back into game art creation after some time out of the loop.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Color-Treatise-Johannes-ebook/dp/B001GCUMGS/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2]Elements of Color[/ame]
Elements of Color by Johannes Itten is an amazing book (+1 for Kindle edition too) on color. Having an understanding of the different types of color contrast is very important for Environment Artists creating textures, lighting environments, and finishing scenes. This book really helped me years ago start thinking about my color usage in my work.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Wrath-Lich-King/dp/B001W9W95W/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319198725&sr=1-2]Art of World of Warcraft books[/ame]
There are many art of books. But the Art of World of Warcraft books (each expansion and the original game have art books) are the*quintessential*Art of books for video games. They have a fantastic mix of characters, props, and environment concepts. Blizzard does a fantastic job of having*phenomenal*art created for their games. Organizing that art and documenting it is very helpful for Artists to see the art and process. I find the books very inspirational. Even if you are creating art that is in a different style these books will help you think about form, value, and composition in your environments and props you create.*Unfortunately*these books are only officially available in the collectors editions of each game and expansion. So unless you bought those when they came out you'll have to scour an online auction site or reseller.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Art-Uncharted-Among-Thieves-Game/dp/1921002719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319796841&sr=1-1]The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves[/ame]
Again, another Art of book. Being able to look at what professional Artists have done and understand their workflows for your art is important. This book has a breakdown of the whole art process from character concepts to finished environments and effects. The documentation is expansive and*precise*in the book. There is also a great The Art of God of War 3 from the same publisher that is just as amazing.
[url=hhttp://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319797070&sr=1-1]Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter[/url]
Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney captures a lot of his blog in book form. It has slowly risen on the lists of books that I read and look at for reference. He has a masterful understanding of *color and how to render forms. If you are hand-painting textures this book will directly influence your work.
There are a ton of other books. Most of the books on this list are not currently available digitally as of typing this. Hopefully when you read this you'll be able to have the option to digitally purchase these books.
Having a vast library to get inspiration from, art theory knowledge, or technical processes is very important for any Artist. This still holds true for Environment Artists. I have a number books that I have purchased or read. Some I totally*recommend*to every Environment Artist to read and others are only a specific concern (modeling Roman columns, painting ancient cave symbols, etc). This is is covering the former, books that every Environment Artist should own. Now some of the books might be inspiration books (such as Art of books) and some maybe be theory books (Color theory books, etc).
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Maya-Studio-Projects-Environments-Props/dp/0470524030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319197957&sr=1-1]Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props[/ame]
Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props by Michael McKinley covers the basics of environment art creation using the 3d software Maya. It has a lot of great advice and walkthroughs on art creation for beginner Artists. I also have a piece of work in the gallery section with some amazing Artists, so that is pretty cool. I really recommend this book if you're starting out, fresh out of college, or trying to get back into game art creation after some time out of the loop.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Color-Treatise-Johannes-ebook/dp/B001GCUMGS/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2]Elements of Color[/ame]
Elements of Color by Johannes Itten is an amazing book (+1 for Kindle edition too) on color. Having an understanding of the different types of color contrast is very important for Environment Artists creating textures, lighting environments, and finishing scenes. This book really helped me years ago start thinking about my color usage in my work.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Wrath-Lich-King/dp/B001W9W95W/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319198725&sr=1-2]Art of World of Warcraft books[/ame]
There are many art of books. But the Art of World of Warcraft books (each expansion and the original game have art books) are the*quintessential*Art of books for video games. They have a fantastic mix of characters, props, and environment concepts. Blizzard does a fantastic job of having*phenomenal*art created for their games. Organizing that art and documenting it is very helpful for Artists to see the art and process. I find the books very inspirational. Even if you are creating art that is in a different style these books will help you think about form, value, and composition in your environments and props you create.*Unfortunately*these books are only officially available in the collectors editions of each game and expansion. So unless you bought those when they came out you'll have to scour an online auction site or reseller.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Art-Uncharted-Among-Thieves-Game/dp/1921002719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319796841&sr=1-1]The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves[/ame]
Again, another Art of book. Being able to look at what professional Artists have done and understand their workflows for your art is important. This book has a breakdown of the whole art process from character concepts to finished environments and effects. The documentation is expansive and*precise*in the book. There is also a great The Art of God of War 3 from the same publisher that is just as amazing.
[url=hhttp://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319797070&sr=1-1]Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter[/url]
Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney captures a lot of his blog in book form. It has slowly risen on the lists of books that I read and look at for reference. He has a masterful understanding of *color and how to render forms. If you are hand-painting textures this book will directly influence your work.
There are a ton of other books. Most of the books on this list are not currently available digitally as of typing this. Hopefully when you read this you'll be able to have the option to digitally purchase these books.
Replies
You can buy them from Animebooks.com for a fair price, I have purchased mine from Kinokunia Bookstore in San Jose, California.
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo1faa.html <-Volume 1
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo2hob.html <-Volume 2
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo3sur.html <-Volume 3
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo4sc.html <-Volume 4
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo5web.html <-Volume 5
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo6don.html <-Volume 6
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo7caa.html <-Volume 7
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo8par.html <-Volume 8
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo9goa.html <-Volume 9
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo10co.html <-Volume 10
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo11st.html <-Volume 11
http://www.animebooks.com/bavimavo12re.html <-Volume 12
Hideaki Uchiyama: Japan Underground Volumes 1-4" If you can find these they will be pretty pricey by now, probably around 75 dollars US at minimum and up. They've been out for sometime now but are definitely a great inspirational source for tech, architecture and all things underground. Didn't seem to find a source for Volume 1 when searching, but I figure you could still find it, but may be pricey.
http://www.jbox.com/product/SS095 <-Volume 2
http://www.jbox.com/product/SS096 <-Volume 3
http://www.jbox.com/product/PAB279 <-Volume 4
http://www.frameweb.com/magazines/mark <- MARK MAGAZINE WEBSITE
MARK is a wonderful magazine that documents modern architecture from around the world and is loaded with photos for inspiration. You can find this at most Barnes & Noble Bookstores.
http://www.frameweb.com/ <- FRAME MAGAZINE WEBSITE
Again FRAME is a wonderful magazine on modern architecture and design from around the world. Can find this at most Barnes & Noble Bookstores as well. FRAME & MARK are both over sized magazines printed on heavy nice paper as well.
I know this has been posted before, but http://www.thecoolhunter.net/ is a tremendous resource for architectural & design inspiration and a great source for just color in general. Not a book but definitely useful.
Havana Deco is a really great large book on Art Deco architecture and design from Cuba. If you like Bioshock series, then this is a book for you. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393732320/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7173369219&ref=pd_sl_7c1rkmjxik_b"]Amazon.com: Havana Deco (9780393732320): Alejandro G. Alonso, Pedro Contreras, Martino Fagiuoli: Books[/ame]
I'll take a look thru my shelves later tonight as I have a pretty big library. I am at work right now, but these are some that popped into my head immediately.
What is this, 2005?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_quattro_libri_dell'architettura
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vers_une_architecture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fractal_Geometry_of_Nature
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471793663/ref=oh_o04_s00_i02_details]Architectural Drawing: A Visual Compendium of Types and Methods[/ame] - Rendow Yee
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Drawings-Plans-Frank-Lloyd-Wright/dp/0486244571/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323289316&sr=1-5]Drawings and Plans of Frank Lloyd Wright: The Early Period (1893-1909) [/ame] - Frank Lloyd Wright
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Design-Revised-Updated-Briefs/dp/1616890363/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323288762&sr=8-1]Geometry of Design[/ame] - Kimberly Elam
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Designers-Alan-Pipes/dp/1856695336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323288892&sr=1-1]Drawing for Designers[/ame] - Alan Pipes
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590302591/ref=oh_o04_s00_i03_details]The Power of Limits: Proportional Harmonies in Nature, Art, and Architecture[/ame] - Gyorgy Doczi
The typologies of Bernd and Hilla Becher are a great architectural reference for the struggle between form and function: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Bernd-Hilla-Becher-Life-Work/dp/0262122863/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323289564&sr=1-1] Bernd and Hilla Becher [/ame]
Edward Tufte wrote several excellent books on the cognitive arrangment of design elements: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Envisioning-Information-Edward-R-Tufte/dp/0961392118/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323289364&sr=1-2]Edward Tufte[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Banister-Fletchers-History-Architecture-Twentieth/dp/0750622679"]Amazon.com: Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture. ( Twentieth Edition ) (9780750622677): Dan Cruickshank: Books[/ame]
Architectural Graphic Standards Student Edition: An Abridgement of the 9th Edition
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Graphic-Standards-Student-Abridgement/dp/0471348171"]Amazon.com: Architectural Graphic Standards Student Edition: An Abridgement of the 9th Edition (9780471348177): Charles George Ramsey, Harold Reeve Sleeper, John Ray Hoke Jr., Jr., John Ray Hoke: Books[/ame]
I've been checking some of these out on Amazon.com and very few are available in kindle versions. It would be great if they started to release kindle versions of these books. I'd stab for a digital copy of Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter or high five James Gurney for a digital version of that.
http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/store/specialoffer/preproductionblueprint-special12.php
This guy basically runs the world of level design website but I'm not really so sure of his qualifications or if the book would be worth the high purchase price...
"Grammar of Architecture" is an excellent reference with a lot of detailed line drawings / illustrations. You also get a good overview of floorplans, ornamental details and form. You'll still need to go image searching for color photos / photographic texture details, but this will give you the understanding of how the shapes work together. I actually have 2 copies of this...
I wouldn't count on it, can't even find his CV, doesn't seem to have any professional experience on his portfolio etc etc. :thumbdown:
oh Paul. So modest :poly124:
(and of course, bad ass book cover)
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faeries-Brian-Froud/dp/0810995867/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323616207&sr=8-1-spell"]Faeries: Amazon.co.uk: Brian Froud, Alan Lee: Books[/ame]
I have the book. John Alton was a cinematographer on some classic film noir movies (and others). The book is aimed at cinematographers of his era, but you can learn some interesting techniques that are applicable to other mediums. I'm a huge film noir nut so it was a must-buy for me. I think most other people in the games industry wouldn't find the book interesting.
One of his best films is "He Walked By Night". There are some amazing minimalist lighting setups that smack you in the eyeballs.
The look of film noir was initially a result of budget limitations. They needed to work fast and cheap, so they used fewer lights. This created the sharp contrast in lighting that defines the look. John Alton was one of the best at working with these limitations.
@RyanB thanks! Glad to hear. Might pick it up after the holidays if I have any amazon credits.
I've been getting into Light for Visual Artists lately -- anyone else have a copy and enjoy it? I find the explanations clear and concise.
It's a collection of all the background paintings from the film, so every shot has to tell a story. In a lot of the shots, there are some stand-out props that look amazing on their own, but it's how the piece comes together as a whole (composition and lighting wise) that makes them. Great case study if you've been reading up a lot on theory.
very popular choice
One of the most useful books I've ever come across, given to me by my lead at my current job.
http://www.squidoo.com/theDipBook
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329925360&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) (9781591841661): Seth Godin: Books[/ame]
It's really motivating to read and help gain a perspective on quitting, pushing through a 'dip', and focusing yourself. It's a fast read too. You can finish it in a few hours. But will want to come back to it again.
Two more great reads (one of which is also by Seth Godin);
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0714843377/"]Amazon.com: It's Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be: The World's Best Selling Book (9780714843377): Paul Arden: Books[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00509CRG6/"]Amazon.com: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?: Seth Godin: Books[/ame]
Something I'd find useful would be an inspirational book of characteristic architectural styles spanning culture and time, coffee-table style and full of pretty pictures.
Anyone know whether such a book exists?
Vertex
http://www.artbypapercut.com/downloads/
very good stuff. Cheers
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Architecture-Francis-D-K-Ching/dp/0471752169/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384639311&sr=1-1"]Architecture: Form, Space, and Order: Francis D. K. Ching: 9780471752165: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
http://thirdseventh-book.com/the-book/
worth every penny, beautifully made book, although it is currently out of stock.
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Visual-Artists-Understanding-Design/dp/185669660X/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393340868&sr=1-13&keywords=light"]Light for Visual Artists: Understanding & Using Light in Art & Design: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Yot: Books[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-Source-Book-Rosalind-Ormiston/dp/1844514005/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393341408&sr=1-1&keywords=colour+source+book"]Colour Source Book: Amazon.co.uk: Rosalind Ormiston, Michael Robinson: Books[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dieter-Rams-Little-Design-Possible/dp/0714849189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393341764&sr=8-1&keywords=Dieter+Rams:+As+LIttle+Design+as+Possible"]Dieter Rams: As Little Design as Possible: The Work of Dieter Rams: Amazon.co.uk: Jonathan Ive, Klaus Kemp, Sophie Lovell: Books[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Systems-Graphic-Systeme-Visuele-Gestaltung/dp/3721201450/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header"]Grid Systems in Graphic Design/Raster Systeme Fur Die Visuele Gestaltung (German and English Edition): Josef Muller-Brockmann: 9783721201451: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
I recommend Digital Lighting and Rendering by Jeremy Birn
http://www.amazon.in/Digital-Lighting-Rendering-Voices-Matter/dp/0321928989
What I like about books is that they go very deep into the fundamentals of creating art. Nowadays, I learn mostly from online videos because they're free; however, I found that before studying the intricacies of Hard-surface modeling, Zbrush sculpting, and Substance painting, I was severely lacking a solid grasp of the visual language of design (never taken any art subjects at university). There are lots of tutorials on how to create guns, characters, monsters, and props that it's easy to overlook the importance of the basic elements such as space, lines, shapes, color, textures, lights, patterns, symmetry, proportion, perspective, etc., and understanding how all these combine to make something appealing to the user's eyes.
Books on architecture, interior design, and photography are a great read for environment artists.