As an established authority on art and design with a growing stable of high-calibre artist-authors, 3dtotal Publishing is uniquely placed to produce Artists' Master Series. Launched in 2021 with Artists' Master Series: Color & Light, the second volume in this exciting new series takes another deep dive into key areas of art theory, this time spotlighting composition and narrative.

No matter what medium you work in, this combination can be the driving force that elevates art from good to world-class.

This book takes these fundamentals and pushes them to an advanced level of understanding and application. To achieve this ambitious brief, a select few, hugely popular industry experts reveal how they plan and execute these techniques.

Their in-depth illustrated advice, detailed step-by-step tutorials, enlightening case studies, and awe-inspiring inspiration provide a distinctive and invaluable blend of professional-grade techniques that can't be found anywhere else. For artists and designers aiming to raise their game to expert level, the Artists' Masters Series is the key to success.

In Mythical Beasts: An Artist's Field Guide to Designing Fantasy Creatures, thirty talented artists show you how to sketch, draw, and render thirty mythical creatures. Learn how to create some of the best-known fantasy creatures including the werewolf, unicorn, and of course the fantasy staple--the dragon. Also included are lesser-known mythical beasts such as the Slavic Leshy, Japanese Jorogumo, and the Congolese Dingonek. Each creature has its own chapter which covers its history, how to render main elements, and variations, and one large final illustration. If you are a fan of mythology and fantasy, then Mythical Beasts is the book for you

Building on the foundations set by our popular Art Fundamentals book, Beyond Fundamentals shows artists how to take their work a step beyond techniques and mechanics. A memorable, unique image requires more than just accurate anatomy and choosing the right tools, after all! This impressive volume offers in-depth guidance on conveying mood and emotion, creating narratives, and improving your images' storytelling through composition, character details, and atmosphere. Beyond Fundamentals is an ideal book both for hobbyists and new artists wanting to add extra depth to their work, and for skilled illustrators looking for a spark of new inspiration.

Sketching and drawing are fundamental to creating great art; the simple doodle is often where the artist first brings their ideas and concepts to life. In Sketching from the Imagination: Dark Arts, we have gathered together fifty talented traditional and digital artists to showcase work from their sketchbooks, share inspiration, and give insight into how they create imaginative and dark illustrations. Featuring a range of artwork and artists from many fields, from concept design and animation to illustration and comic art, Sketching from the Imagination: Dark Arts is a collection of beautifully macabre sketches with plenty of useful tips and creative insights--an invaluable resource that will inspire artists of all abilities.

Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting: Characters is a comprehensive guide for artists wishing to create convincing and detailed characters. It features established artists such as Charlie Bowater (concept artist at Atomhawk) and Derek Stenning (freelance concept artist and illustrator, with clients such as Marvel Entertainment and Nintendo) who share their industry experiences by covering such aspects as posing characters, choosing the correct costumes, conveying emotions, and creating suitable moods. Conclusive step-by-step instructions make this an invaluable resource for artists looking to learn new skills, as well as those pursuing the next level.

Sketches and drawings are the foundations of great art, where thoughts and concepts first come to life as an image. In Sketching from the Imagination: Characters, fifty talented artists share their sketches, inspirations, and approaches to creating characters. This book is a visually stunning collection packed with useful tips and creative insights--an invaluable resource that will inspire artists of all abilities.

Anatomy for 3D Artists is an essential teaching guide for sculpting human anatomy. Non-software specific, it is packed with everything today's 3D artist needs to know to tackle the difficult task of recreating the human form in 3D. Starting with 2D references, and moving on to practical and advanced 3D sculpting--including topology and animation preparation--every stage in the creation of an ideal male and female figure is covered. Featuring established artists such as Chris Legaspi and Mario Anger, there are also several master projects for an informative and in-depth overview of the 3D sculpting process, showing how the ideal human form can be adapted to fit any shape!

From the first alleged witch to be hanged in Salem, and Goya's depictions of witchcraft, to Shakespeare's Macbeth, Hogwarts, and beyond, there is no shortage of inspiration, but also of recycled characterizations and central-casting stereotypes. Now, 30 of the world's most talented fantasy and concept artists discover their own, personal manifestation of the witch.

Starting with research, readers will witness the alchemy of details extracted from the seemingly mundane transformed the whole body of the witch, fantastical yet unnervingly believable at the same time. The design process goes on to cast spells not only on appearance, but also the environment, practices, and magical belongings of this one-of-a-kind witch.

With the final design depicted as both a line drawing and in full color, the whole character and their world is defined. A summary of each witch details their background, behaviour, strengths, weaknesses and, of course, powers. The result is 320 pages encased in a beautifully finished hardback cover, the ultimate field guide to designing witches that transcend time, place, and even the most vivid imagination.

Concepts are where all great ideas begin. Whether scribbled in a sketch pad or on a napkin, concepts are a way for artists to develop their skills and discover interesting shapes and forms that can be developed into their next masterpiece. In Sketching from the Imagination, 50 talented traditional and digital artists have been chosen to share their sketchbook works, from doodled concept sketches to fully rendered drawings. A visually stunning collection packed full with useful tips, Sketching from the Imagination is an excellent value resource for concept design to inspire artists of all abilities.

Featuring detailed guides to key tools and techniques from talented expert sculptors, the Beginner's Guide to Sculpting Characters in Clay is vital reading for anyone wanting to explore clay sculpture.

Learn which tools are best suited to your needs and how to use them effectively, explore diverse materials and pick up helpful tips from leading professional sculptors as you start your journey into clay sculpture. With meticulous tutorials, a handy glossary of sculpting terms, and copious amounts of inspiration, the Beginner's Guide to Sculpting Characters in Clay is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to try their hand at creating incredible 3D characters.

Packed with insightful tips, exciting tutorial projects, and essential art theory simply explained by industry professionals, this exciting volume is the perfect launch pad for your journey forward through time.

Previously, she has self-published a graphic novel and two art books. Now, The art of Cosmic Spectrum showcases the artist's entire story and demonstrates the development of her style and career, as well as brand new art and tutorial content. With character art and comics being her specialty, the book features an array of tips and techniques for drawing anatomy, gesture, and character details.

Sketchbook pages reveal Yana's experience in animation and storyboarding; her use of both traditional and digital tools reveals the artist's versatility. Storytelling and connecting with other people are vital to the artist, and readers will be fascinated to discover how she infuses her art with these motivations. Another way in which she shares her art is through her shop, where creativity and commercial success meet.

Yana's energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial spirit will encourage readers looking for way to transform their passion for art into a viable career while staying true to their style. The Art of Cosmic Spectrum is the creative inspiration and springboard every character artist needs.

The humble sketch is the foundation of great art, where thoughts and concepts first come to life as an image--but rarely are sketches celebrated like they deserve to be for their power to explore, inspire, and entertain. In Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi, a selection of fifty talented traditional and digital artists, ranging from industry legends to talented up-and-comers, have been chosen to share their sketches and reveal the ideas, inspirations, and techniques behind their creative processes.

Continuing the high-quality format of 3dtotal Publishing's previous successes, Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing and Sketching from the Imagination: Fantasy, this new title is dedicated to fantasy's sibling genre, sci-fi, in all its forms. From doodles of robots and aliens to concept designs for spaceships and speculative life-forms, including rendered drawings of invented worlds, Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi presents a handpicked collection of the best sketches and drawings by sci-fi artists from across the globe--each with their own unique style and approach to the genre.

Each artist presents an impressive showcase of images from their sketchbooks, accompanied by their own enlightening commentary, and page upon page of useful tips, techniques, creative insights, and invaluable advice for getting your ideas out of your brain and onto the page. Sketching from the Imagination: Sci-fi is not only a must-have resource for any concept designer's shelf, but a stunning compilation of drawings that will delight sci-fi fans and any admirer of beautiful artwork.

Fairy Tales Reimagined is a lavish hardback tome, containing 288 pages populated by characters who started life known to children and adults around the world. However, these characters, their settings, and narratives, have taken on a different form, their stories unflinchingly transformed. The infamous darkness that shrouds many fairy tales is left intact, while in others, the weird, wondrous, and even unexpected workaday awaits.

Lovingly drawn and painted scenes filled with colour and detail make each reimagining utterly convincing. To help tell these transformed tales are the artist's scribbles and sketches, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their creative process. Minimal text provides just enough information to shed light on these new narratives, but ultimately the imagery tells the story. Whether seen as an inspirational art resource, a treasury of tales told through a fantastical filter, or simply a unique collection of bedtime stories, Fairy Tales Reimagined will captivate audiences within and far beyond the realms of practical art.

To tell the story behind her art, Laura begins the book by sharing her journey from art student to professional artist, providing encouragement for budding pros and enthusiasts alike. Laura also talks about what inspires her, with mythology and psychology being just two subjects that feed into her emotion-infused work. The reader is then invited behind the scenes to watch the artist at work in her studio, located in her hometown of Thun, Switzerland.

Laura's portraiture sketchbook is opened to reveal simple drawings and recent studies made as the early stages of future paintings. Throughout these sections are artworks from past and present. In addition, there is brand new art by Laura, created exclusively for this book.

Finally, the reader is led through detailed, step-by-step tutorials demonstrating the artist's workflow and the key fundamentals of portraiture (pose, light, and composition). From using reference models, and expert tips for working in Procreate, to sketching, coloring, and advancing the portrait from realism to hyperrealism, the process is explained from start to finish.

Illustrator Pascal Campion shares his professional journey, galleries of work, and narrative-influenced tutorials, with charming art inspired by family life.

It was after graduating in 2000 from the Arts Decoratifs de Strasbourg, France, with a diploma in Narrative Illustration, Pascal's brother built him a computer. This was a new tool for Pascal and a digital artist was born. Roles in commercial art, animation, games, concept design, visual development and more have supplied Pascal with unique experience and skills to share with 3dtotal readers.

He has freelanced for several prestigious clients on exciting projects. But it was his Sketch of the Day project (every morning, first thing, he creates a full-color sketch and story) that helped him to build his Instagram account. More than 860K fans follow Pascal's daily comic strip stories, with characters and stories inspired by his work and family life. This discipline combined with the ability to communicate with such relatable and charming spontaneity will fascinate readers.

Pascal digs deep to pinpoint how his style and skills have evolved, helped by galleries of work past and present, including exclusives created just for this book. Tutorials with tips on storytelling, creating ambiance, and channelling personal experience will delight artists who want to pursue the storytelling side of their art.

Character Design Quarterly (CDQ) is a lively, creative magazine bringing inspiration, expert insights, and leading techniques from professional illustrators, artists, and character art enthusiasts worldwide.

Each issue provides detailed tutorials on creating diverse characters, enabling you to explore the processes and decision making that go into creating amazing characters. Learn new ways to develop your own ideas, and discover from the artists what it is like to work for prolific animation studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks.

The cover for issue 35 is by Maxine Vee (313K Instagram followers), a freelance illustrator based in Canada. Her cosy, fantasy-inspired characters and environments have led to work with Walt Disney Studios, Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury, and many more. She takes readers step by step through the creation of her stunning cover art, then answers our questions on her career journey and current creative projects.

Another great feature in this issue is an in-depth look at using Risograph to create characters. Natalie Andrewson, an American freelance illustrator and author (based in Los Angeles) speaks to us about how she came to work in this unique medium and creates a brand-new character, walking us through her process. Her work has featured in graphic novels, animation, gallery shows, and more. She has 193K followers on Instagram.