---
product_id: 1606561
title: "Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)"
price: "HK$415"
currency: HKD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.hk/products/1606561-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1
store_origin: HK
region: Hong Kong
---

# Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)

**Price:** HK$415
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- **What is this?** Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)
- **How much does it cost?** HK$415 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hk](https://www.desertcart.hk/products/1606561-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1)

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## Description

desertcart.com: Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art): 9780740785504: Gurney, James: Books

Review: For those who want depth in your art - If you are a regular reader of James Gurney's blog, Gurney Journey, you would expect nothing less. This book is as good as I expected. He dispenses his knowledge as freely as he does on his blog. Here's what he says about his own book from the introduction: "This is not a book about figure drawing, anatomy, or perspective. It's not a step-by-step guide on how to draw dinosaurs. It's also not a recipe book for a particular paint technique, although all these topics are addressed in passing. What this book contains is a distillation of the time-tested methods that I've found to be most helpful for achieving realism in imaginative pictures." If you haven't got the hint from the title, this book is about making your art real and believable. In every chapter, James Gurney shares with us what he learned when creating his paintings. There are topics on people, dinosaurs, architecture, vehicles, composition and his step-by-steps (not techniques but process). The tips he gives can be applied on other subjects as well. The importance of research is emphasized and the amount of research he does really shows. While creating an illustration on ship wreckage for National Geographic, he talked to survivors to get an accurate account. He found out there's a drummer boy who used his drum as a float and drew that in. He also acted out the various poses of sailors in distress, rather than drawing them from imagination. The result is a painting that tells its story convincingly. The same goes for many of his other paintings. Another interesting read is the story of him trying to design a Dinotopian fire engine. When he presented his concept art to a professional fire engine designer, it was critiqued to have form but not function. There's lack of heat protection for the dinosaur, lack of understanding on how water hose works and a complicated water pump design. The revised concept is a huge improvement in believability that I thought it actually might work. He has provided lots of photos and his own work in the book. You'll get to see how he stages the props for reference, sketches and drafts, plenty of commissioned work (especially from National Geographic), the bird on his shoulder while he's drawing, the lousy-art incinerator he created from mirrors and other entertaining stuff. Imaginative Realism is an enlightening and fun read. Highly recommended to professionals, beginning art students and those who wish to push their art to the next level in terms of depth. (More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my desertcart profile for the link.)
Review: An absolute must read for any artist! - After an initial read followed by a 2nd, I promise it’s not hyperbole when I say that this might be one of the best art books ever written. Between the insights into his setup and process, the general advice and practical wisdom on offer, and the brilliant and inspirational artwork he provides on every page, James Gurney has given us a modern classic. It’s a must-have and must-read for any artist of any level. Clear. Concise. Powerful. It may not be a step-by-step book in the traditional sense, but it truly is a manual for a practical approach to ingesting, digesting and creating great art.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #27,476 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #15 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Art (Books) #28 in Arts & Photography Study & Teaching #71 in Painting (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,069 Reviews |

## Images

![Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/913ORH2xvXL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ For those who want depth in your art
*by P***A on October 26, 2009*

If you are a regular reader of James Gurney's blog, Gurney Journey, you would expect nothing less. This book is as good as I expected. He dispenses his knowledge as freely as he does on his blog. Here's what he says about his own book from the introduction: "This is not a book about figure drawing, anatomy, or perspective. It's not a step-by-step guide on how to draw dinosaurs. It's also not a recipe book for a particular paint technique, although all these topics are addressed in passing. What this book contains is a distillation of the time-tested methods that I've found to be most helpful for achieving realism in imaginative pictures." If you haven't got the hint from the title, this book is about making your art real and believable. In every chapter, James Gurney shares with us what he learned when creating his paintings. There are topics on people, dinosaurs, architecture, vehicles, composition and his step-by-steps (not techniques but process). The tips he gives can be applied on other subjects as well. The importance of research is emphasized and the amount of research he does really shows. While creating an illustration on ship wreckage for National Geographic, he talked to survivors to get an accurate account. He found out there's a drummer boy who used his drum as a float and drew that in. He also acted out the various poses of sailors in distress, rather than drawing them from imagination. The result is a painting that tells its story convincingly. The same goes for many of his other paintings. Another interesting read is the story of him trying to design a Dinotopian fire engine. When he presented his concept art to a professional fire engine designer, it was critiqued to have form but not function. There's lack of heat protection for the dinosaur, lack of understanding on how water hose works and a complicated water pump design. The revised concept is a huge improvement in believability that I thought it actually might work. He has provided lots of photos and his own work in the book. You'll get to see how he stages the props for reference, sketches and drafts, plenty of commissioned work (especially from National Geographic), the bird on his shoulder while he's drawing, the lousy-art incinerator he created from mirrors and other entertaining stuff. Imaginative Realism is an enlightening and fun read. Highly recommended to professionals, beginning art students and those who wish to push their art to the next level in terms of depth. (More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An absolute must read for any artist!
*by T***. on January 22, 2025*

After an initial read followed by a 2nd, I promise it’s not hyperbole when I say that this might be one of the best art books ever written. Between the insights into his setup and process, the general advice and practical wisdom on offer, and the brilliant and inspirational artwork he provides on every page, James Gurney has given us a modern classic. It’s a must-have and must-read for any artist of any level. Clear. Concise. Powerful. It may not be a step-by-step book in the traditional sense, but it truly is a manual for a practical approach to ingesting, digesting and creating great art.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unparalleled Wealth of Knowledge and Learning for Illustrators
*by Z***R on March 14, 2016*

REASON TO BUY Gurney makes lucid every primary aspect of illustration and fantasy in this book. His descriptions are clear, beautifully illustrated by his personal works. I've been studying art on my own, trying to utilize online resources, but those resources pale in comparison to this. This book does an amazing job of breaking down the complex and ineffable problems painters face. I learn something new everytime I open it! Not only that, but Gurney approaches art in such a passionate, humble, patient way that you just get so invigorated to make art alongside him. A steal for the price. CONTENT This book focuses on Methods and Design Elements: How to research/ do studies correctly, how a thumbnail progresses to a final piece, and tips for compositions. Loads of stuff from useful studio tools, to career options. It is a bible for the illustrator, an all in one that you can refer to whenever you are unsure.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)
- Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter (Volume 2) (James Gurney Art)
- The Artist's Guide to Sketching: The Classic Book about Making Art on Location

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*Product available on Desertcart Hong Kong*
*Store origin: HK*
*Last updated: 2026-01-25*