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Although slightly damaged, all hurt copies are perfectly usable. Books may have bent or scratched covers and/or dented spines. All interior pages are 100% clean. Please note these books are only available from our website whilst stocks last!
A complete step-by-step guide to drawing characters and concept design by Meng Zi
The ultimate guide to fantasy character design from renowned illustrator, Meng Zi.
This comprehensive manual, packed with breathtaking illustrations, is your key to crafting the most extraordinary beings in the realm of fantasy: it is an essential tool for game and animation designers, hobbyists, art students and teachers alike.
Astonishing in detail and meticulously conceived, Meng Zi’s fantasy characters are a masterclass in conceptual design. Whether you're looking for an inspirational reference or an idea generator, this book will spark your creativity. Filled with artistic insights and practical exercises, this comprehensive guide will teach you basic anatomical structure, help you to finesse your own design ideas, and then improve your aesthetic prowess through observation and practice.
Inside you’ll find:
Chapter 1Introduction to concept design and drawing The world of fantasy 10 Mastering the human body 11 Concept design 11 Tools 12 Basic knowledge 15 Technical terms 15 Line weight 16 Basic elements of a picture 17 Geometric forms 18 Perspective 19 One-point perspective 19 Two-point perspective 19 Three-point perspective 20 Cavalier perspective 20 Sketching 21
Chapter 2Structure and dynamics of the human body The human skeleton 24 Main joints of the body 24 Proportion of the skeleton 28 Characteristics of the skeleton 29 Form of the skeleton 36 The human muscular system 38 Three views of muscles 38 Head 40 Facial features 42 Exercise: Drawing a complete head 51 Muscles of the neck 56 Muscles of the trunk 58 Muscles of the limbs 64 Exercise: Drawing the whole body 76 Character dynamics 79 Stick man 79 Box man 81 Example poses 83 Sketching the human body 91
Chapter 3Animal structure Animal anatomy 96 Gorilla 96 Horse 98 Antelope 100 Dog 102 Lion 104 Bat 106 Eagle 108 Fish 110 Dragon 112 Dragon hawk 114 Endosaurus 116 Anatomical details 118 Heads 118 Horns and antlers 118 Limbs 121 Wings 122 Drawing animals 123 Basic forms 123 Drawing complete animals 126 Combining different animals 128 Drawing fantasy creatures 131 Hou king of the beasts 131 Hydra multi-headed water beast 133 Bestiary 135
Chapter 4Exploring concept designs Genre and design 142 Starting points for character design 147 Exaggeration 147 Symmetry 149 Geometry combining simple shapes 150 Silhouette 151 Rhythm line length 153 Accessories enriching the character 154 Groups contrasting body shapes 156 Example character designs 157 Exercise: Designing a character 157
Chapter 5Decoration, detail and accessories Pattern design 168 Common patterns 168 Designing patterns 170 Armour design 175 Types of armour 175 Chineseinspired armour 176 Japaneseinspired armour 178 Europeaninspired armour 179 Other accessories 180 Weapons 180 Mounts and steeds 186 Jewellery and totems 190
Chapter 6Drawing complete Characters Human male - Swordsman 192 Human female - Spirit Mage 196 Elf - Night Princess 199 Mecha Warrior - E-34 Destroyer 202 Monster - Hellcaller 205 Merman - Aquatic General 210 Human male - Shaman 214 Undead - Revenant 218 Demon - Black Dragon Legionary 222 Human male Mercenary 226 More character designs 230
Chapter 7Reference material and inspiration Portraits 242 Full body line art 249 Full body tonal designs 268
Meng Zi is a freelance illustrator and art teacher, who specializes in character design and development. Renowned in the world of design for gaming and animation, he has contributed to numerous 3D animation projects; his particular eye for combining real-world figures and creatures into convincing fantasy designs mean he is in high demand.
The Art of Fantasy is his first book, providing an insight into the creative experiences and techniques of an expert practitioner within this highly competitive creative industry. A bestseller in Meng Zi's native China, the book has also enjoyed huge international success.
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