Spectrum 4: The Best In Contemporary Fantastic Art (SPECTRUM (UNDERWOOD BOOKS))

Spectrum 4: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (SPECTRUM (UNDERWOOD BOOKS))

Ergodebooks.com ReviewThe Spectrum awards fill an important niche in the art world, by recognizing the often-overlooked contributions of fantasy artists. Spectrum 4: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art includes all the juried work from the Spectrum awards for 1996--and if this collection was any indication, it was a banner year. The book itself has an excellent, art-centered layout that keeps commentary to a minimum and lets the individual pieces speak for themselves.Expect to be dazzled repeatedly by the sheer variety and quality of the work anthologized here. Spectrum 4 does a fine job of demonstrating how much variety exists in fantasy art. Alongside the ever-present fantasy standards (dragons, fairies, vampires) you will find highly original, challenging works of often-extraordinary breadth. Highlights include brilliant pieces from James Gurney's Dinotopia, Rafael Olbinski's haunting Calendar, and this year's Grand Master Award winners Leo and Diane Dillion. This book is sure to satisfy art lovers craving the bizarre, the terrifying, and the spectacular. --Brendan J. LaSalleIn this fourth annual collection, the editors of Spectrum 4 present works by the world's most electrifying creators of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and surreal art, including winners of the Chelsey Awards. Some of the artists included are Rick Berry (DC Comics covers), James Christensen (The Voyage of the Bassett), and James Gurney (Dinotopia). 249 color illustrations plus b&w photos.From the PublisherSpectrum 4: The Fourth Annual Collection of the Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art is one of the most eagerly waited art books of the year. Applauded by reviewers, treasured by fans of wonderful art, appreciated as a resource for art directors looking for new talent, and a symbol of pride for the creative community, Spectrum has become an annual event. Featured this year is a greater representation of international talent, including works from Germany, England, the Netherlands, Croatia, Canada, and France. And naturally, Spectrum 4 showcases the art of a virtual who's-who of American artists of the fantastic, including many previously unpublished pieces. Underwood Books is delighted and proud to be the publisher of this groundbreaking series - the only "Best of the Year" collection for the fantastic arts. Over 250 full color paintings, drawings and sculptures by nearly 175 of the world's most outstanding artists of the fantastic. Each work of art was selected by an award-winning jury of artists, designers and art directors and includes complete credit for the featured art, including size, title, and medium employed. Featuring work originally created for advertising, book covers, comics, magazines, art galleries, and portfolios, Spectrum 4 also included the recipients of the yearly Chelsey Awards as presented by the Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Artists. Spectrum's third Grand Master Award winners, renowned children's book artists Leo & Diane Dillon, are also profiled and Arnie Fenner discusses 1996's artistic highlights in his illustrated "Year in Review."From the Back CoverAs the clock ticks down on the 20th century people with a sense of wonder speculate on what the future may bring. If the artistic visions presented in Spectrum 4 are any indication, the next millennium will be by turns pagan, spiritual, high tech, primitive, erotic, beautiful, whimsical, bizarre, frightening, and by all means amazing.About the AuthorArnie Fenner (editor) has received two World Fantasy Awards and honors from the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts and many others. He and fellow editor Cathy Burnett Fenner have been honored as designers of books by Stephen King and Harlan Ellison and were presented with the Locus Award and the ASFFA Award for Spectrum. Assistant editor Jim Loehr has an extensive background in advertising and publishing. Spectrum was twice nominated for the Hugo Award.