Monday 25 May 2009

ART BOOK REVIEW: Creature Features: Randy Martinez


BOOK BLURB:

This work allows you to enjoy creating monsters, aliens and supernatural beings from start to finish - including body parts and details. It is loaded with step-by-step demos, tips, techniques and great art from a professional in the entertainment field. In this work, readers are shown how to draw over 35 creatures with final images in colour, including specific attributes such as faces, hands, eyes and other body parts; as well as various types of costumes and accessories.


REVIEW:

If there’s one thing that’s as iconic as the film industry to a young mind it’s the sight of a good monster. Whether it’s the creatures from the 1950’s B Movies such as your first look at Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolfman or Dracula from behind the sofa or whether it’s the mischievous Gremlins from the 1984 film of the same name or from the Bill Shatner Twilight Zone (Season 5, Episode 123, Nightmare at 20,000 feet originally aired in October 1963.)

Every child’s book and imagination is fired by these creatures that we love to fear, so its with an interested look that we arrived at this book by Randy Martinez on how to create the creatures for the graphic novel market. He doesn’t talk down to the reader, he keeps it on an easily understood level and has practical advice backed up with demonstrations that will soon have your own little monster (or perhaps your inner monster) scribbling away adding fuel to the imagination with the wide variety of creatures out there. Its fun, it’s practical and has tips for artists of all ages. Above all it’s a book that will become your reference guide whether it’s for the creation of creature feature monsters or just for general tips on every day artistic creations such as fur. It will soon have you giggling like a mad scientist and paraphrasing Victor Frankenstein… “ITS ALIVE!”

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