How do you paint a dinosaur you've never seen, design a believable alien civilization, or create a fantasy world that feels real? Award-winning artist and author James Gurney provides artists with a practical guide for creating images that are both imaginative and convincing.

“Gurney's Imaginative Realism is a gold mine for artists who want to create images that sing with authority and delight the viewer with rich otherworldly visuals.” – Erik Tiemens, concept artist, Star Wars: Episodes II and III

“Imaginative Realism is an indispensable, flawless reference for vision-makers in any discipline to create their own imaginative realms.” – Frank M. Costantino, ASAI, SI, FSAI, JARA, cofounder, American Society of Architectural Illustrators

In Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist, Dinotopia creator James Gurney instructs and inspires beginning artists and fans of fantasy art, sharing his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings and teaching, step-by-step, the techniques that won him worldwide critical acclaim. This groundbreaking work examines the practical methods for creating believable pictures of imaginary subjects, such as dinosaurs, ancient Romans, alien creatures, and distant worlds.

Alongside a survey of imaginative paintings from the Renaissance to the golden Age of American illustration, the book explains not just techniques like sketching and composition, but the fundamentals of believable world-building, including archaeology, architecture, anatomy for creatures and aliens, and fantastic engineering. It concludes with details and valuable advice on careers in fantasy illustration, including video game and film concept art and toy design.

More than an instruction book, this is the ultimate reference for artists as well as fans of science fiction and fantasy illustration.

• Helps artists move beyond copying references and develop original ideas
• Features hundreds of examples, illustrations, and visual demonstrations
• Written by one of the most respected artists in imaginative realism
• Offers timeless principles that remain relevant across artistic disciplines

Whether you're designing dragons, inventing alien ecosystems, or building entirely new worlds, Imaginative Realism provides the tools, techniques, and creative mindset to make the impossible feel real. Discover how to bring your most imaginative ideas to life with confidence and credibility.