Cover of Imaginative Realism

Imaginative Realism

How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

by James Gurney · first published 2009

3mentions
2recommended by
3HN commenters
2012–2025first – last mentioned

67% recommend33% neutral

From the author of [Dinotopia][1] an instructional book on the technique and thought behind painting subjects, or a subject matter that cannot be direct observed while maintaining visual realism. [1]: http://openlibrary.org/works/OL58401W/Dinotopia

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mentions per year

10 2007: 0 mentions2008: 0 mentions2009: 0 mentions2010: 0 mentions2011: 0 mentions2012: 1 mention2013: 0 mentions2014: 0 mentions2015: 0 mentions2016: 0 mentions2017: 0 mentions2018: 0 mentions2019: 0 mentions2020: 0 mentions2021: 0 mentions2022: 1 mention2023: 0 mentions2024: 0 mentions2025: 1 mention2026: 0 mentions200720172026

What Hacker News says

  • commieneko · May 10, 2012 · Recommends

    …for a while. I can recommend the Andrew Loomis classic from the 1930s-40s, Creative Illustration. It's full of all kinds of filtering tricks. For a more modern book, James Gurney's Color and Light and Imaginative Realism are both quite good. You can also pick up a copy of one of his Dinotopia books, it won't help designing graphics, but, hey, dinosaurs. Right? (He also has an excellent website: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/)…

    on “Pixel-fitting – how antialiasing can ruin your logos and icons” ↗
  • odessacubbage · Jun 8, 2022 · Recommends

    james gurney wrote a fantastic book on precisely this subject >https://jamesgurney.com/products/imaginative-realism-how-to-...

    on “How to Draw Animals (1930)” ↗
  • skydhash · Aug 21, 2025 · Mentions

    …bookshelf are: - Figure Drawing - Design and Invention, Michael Hampton: The author also post on Youtube - How to Render, Scott Robenson, Thomas Bertling - How To Draw, Scott Robenson, Thomas Bertling - Imaginative Realism, James Gurney - Color and Light, James Gurney - The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression, Gary Faigin - Classic Human Anatomy, Valerie Winslow - Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life…

    on “Ask HN: Best books on various topics of drawing, art and animation?” ↗

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Focus search
j / k
Next / previous book
Enter
Open focused book
Esc
Close / go back
g h
Go to Home
g t
Go to Top all-time
g m
Go to Most recommended
g r
Go to Rising
g f
Go to For You
?
Show this help