Archive for category Author: Paul Bryn Davies
Fairies (Ready to Paint) || Paul Bryn Davies
Posted by Henry in Author: Paul Bryn Davies, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Ready To Paint, Subject: Fantasy art on Jul 12, 2011
Paul Bryn Davies is one of Search Press’s most popular fantasy art authors, so he’s perfectly placed to offer this addition to the popular Ready to Paint series. The style doesn’t do anything for me, but the demonstrations are well laid-out and most are in some kind of context, rather than just being portraits in isolation. If this is your thing, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
Fantasy Art in Watercolour || Paul Bryn Davies, Rebecca Balchin & Elaine Hamer
Posted by Henry in Author: Elaine Hamer, Author: Paul Bryn Davies, Author: Rebecca Balchin, Medium: Various, Publisher: Search Press, Subject: Fantasy art on Oct 25, 2010
I don’t normally review bind-ups; after all, I’ve been there and done it already and, in theory at least, I’ve said all I have to say.
However, they’ve caught me on the hop here because, although there are four books that have appeared previously, they’ve added 8 tracings in the manner of the Ready to Paint series and that adds something. Admittedly, without that context of the step-by-step guides that go with the dedicated series, this is somewhat limited, but does mean that you get rather more than you did with the original separate titles.
As a guide to four of the main subjects of fantasy art, this sits well and covers a lot of ground. I’m sure that, without the tracings, it’d have come in at £12.99, which would be an unbeatable price. At £14.99 it’s still good value, but it’s just dipping a toe into the maybe-a-bit-pricey.
Fairies In Watercolour || Paul Bryn Davies
Posted by Henry in Author: Paul Bryn Davies, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Fantasy Art, Subject: Fantasy art on Jun 28, 2008
I have to admit to an allergy to Fantasy Art; it brings me out in spots. However, if you want a series that puts the Art into the Fantasy, this is it and if you want to see that it’s possible not to leave your creative hat at the door of the studio, Paul will give you some excellent ideas.
Search Press first published 2007, paperback 2008
£7.99
Dragons In Watercolour || Paul Bryn Davies
Posted by Henry in Author: Paul Bryn Davies, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press, Series: Fantasy Art, Subject: Fantasy art on Jun 28, 2008
I’m not really into Fantasy Art, so my comments have to be limited, but there’s genuine creativity and humour here that should appeal to anyone who’s more into the Art than the Fantasy.
Search Press first published 2007, paperback 2008
£7.99
Painting Dragons In Watercolour || Paul Bryn Davies
Posted by Henry in Author: Paul Bryn Davies, Medium: Watercolour, Publisher: Search Press on Nov 21, 2006
OK, this is a niche market I don’t even pretend to understand. I know that fantasy art is big and that there’s a branch of it that prefers fairies to Amazons, but it leaves me cold, frozen in fact.
However, if dragons float your particular boat and you fancy having a go at painting them, this is as good a place to start as anywhere – probably better than most, in fact. Paul packs a lot into 48 pages including several different types of dragons, backgrounds, some cutesy kids and a fair amount of step-by-step demonstrations. The colours he uses are about as garish as the cover illustration but, hey, dragons are fictional beasts (oh yes they are), so I guess they can be whatever colour they like.
You’ll have guessed by now that this isn’t my sort of book and I’m sorry if I’m offending anyone’s sensibilities, but I’m having to judge it from something of a disadvantage. Nevertheless, it’s well done and presented and if friendly, rather than threatening, dragons are what you want, I’m confident this is the book for you. It’s even got gold endpapers, so what more can I say? Oh, and it’s a hardback, so it’s pretty seriously good value for money.
First published 2006
£8.99
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