ART BOOK REVIEW: Angelic Visions - Angela Sasser

Release Date: 28/01/11

SYNOPSIS:

Readers learn step-by-step to create bodies, heads, limbs, wings and details, including flowing clothing and background elements. Beautiful final projects will inspire readers to push the limits of their imaginations. Step-by-step processes are the focus of the book from simple poses and views to more complex scenes. Sidebars feature tips, frequently asked questions, solutions to common mistakes, information about angels and more.


REVIEW:

Whilst I love the art titles released by Impact some of them feel like a little bit of a miss rather than a hit. Unfortunately that’s the case with this book which contains information previously released in a number of others from how to set up your work space to having the right materials and also techniques to make the most of the coloured pencil and Ink media. Whilst this isn’t a bad thing if you don’t own any other titles, when people collect a series and the same information just keeps getting repeated it can be a little disconcerting and a little disparaging for the end user. Personally I’d suggest one book that deals with the various mediums, the setting up of the workspace and various techniques for reference so that each individual title can concentrate on imparting the valuable lessons within jumping straight to the nitty-gritty.

I’m not saying that this book isn’t any good but against a number of others in the series it feels a little flat especially when the artwork doesn’t feel as rich or as luxurious as the ones that have gone before. Angels are supposed to be shining examples of the best traits and yet they feel ordinary and two dimensional especially when compared to some of the other titles art like:
Tim Flemming’s Draw and Paint Fantasy Women
Or
Finlay Cowan’s Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures.

All in the book does contain valuable lessons, the artist is respected and the overall concepts are imparted well enough to help get the end user to a new level of expertise but for me, I just didn’t feel that this title did enough or taught me much other than lessons that I’d absorbed from a number of other Impact titles which was a great shame. If you own a number of them, this might not be the best one for you, if you don’t then this could be a good starting way to get a bit more from your talent.