Books

Derek Stenning’s last few years have been challenging, particularly from a personal work point of view, and a lot of this time seemed lost to him.

A terminal illness in the family put him in the position of a primary caregiver. This, along with too much professional work, injury, and family duties left him burnt out, with little time for his own art.

During these busy times he often turned back to his Entartete Kunst series to distract him from the craziness going on in his life. This art project had rejuvenated him once before with his book Born in Concrete; maybe it could do it again. A sketch here or there, or a painting, started to get him through a difficult spot. Few of these pieces were finished; many were begun and left, as he had no time or energy to complete them.

Thankfully, he has had more breathing room recently, and he circled back to finish those pieces. EK2: The Lost Years is a collection of model kit design work and production paintings, personal commissions, and a selection of material from a resin statue project.

He hopes, by completing this work, it will allow him—from an artistic point of view—to reclaim these lost years.

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After a 12 year absence from creating his own art, Derek started to focus on his personal work in 2009.

His first personal project, Born in Concrete, now available as this second edition, was undertaken to dispel his biases towards expressive art, overcome his own perceived limitations and to rejuvenate his creative spirit. A section of the book will also be dedicated to a step-by-step breakdown of how one of the art pieces was created. This collision of Soviet inspired retro sci-fi and Jewish mystical and qabalistic symbolism has evolved into a filter, or framework, that emotions, ideas and images are pushed through to be given shape and form. This project has been well received, being featured in numerous exhibits, international publications, as well as book and album covers, it continues to unfold and expand…

This book will feature a gallery section of artwork, a chapter on the artwork created for use as graphics on snowboards, the snowboards and the corresponding marketing material as well as a chapter on the creation of a resin model kit by Industria Mechanika.

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Costume design is storytelling. And to do it successfully, you need to understand the five functions of a costume: to connect to plot and theme, establish the structure of society, put in a specific time and place, indicate personality, and reveal a passage of time. It is an exciting and challenging craft that involves a thoughtful and thorough examination of these various elements in order to give a costume life. In animation, games, and illustration, in particular, the designer needs to be acutely aware of the unique characteristics and limitations of each medium―from solid research approaches and basic production pipelines to audience experience and ideal tools of the trade. Talking Threads: Costume Design for Entertainment Art, backed by decades of experience of five industry professionals, provides an in-depth exploration of these functions and format considerations to equip artists with the necessary knowledge and mindset to develop strong narrative-informed costume designs. Each chapter is packed with creative exercises, detailed tutorials, inspiring designs, and invaluable insights that will help artists of all levels confidently and efficiently tackle their next costume adventure.

Graphic L.A. is part practical instruction, part guided meditation on the importance of color values and objects in art. The reader is led by the professional instruction of Robh Ruppel; instructor at the Art Center College of Design, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, and Concept Art Academy. He is also a multiple award-winning art director of video games. By reducing environments down to basic shapes and colors (or “symbols”), Robh builds astounding images. Robh documents the progression of building an image while referencing basic techniques. By using color with surprisingly bold brushstrokes, he produces images of incredible depth with intricate handling of light and shadow. It is a rare exploration into simplicity without resorting to minimalism. Readers will be certain to take away both a sense of admiration for Robh Ruppel’s work and a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of color value relationships in all forms of art. This second edition includes sixteen new images and their accompanying words of wisdom.

Following the success of four titles in the Nuthin’ But Mech series, Lorin Wood pivoted skyward to his passion for space travel. Inviting the work of 51 artists, Wood has curated a collection of imaginative inventions sharing one common theme: Traverse. This compilation draws on each artist’s proven ability to design an aesthetically pleasing mode of transportation, a clear narrative, and a stunning backdrop. Be it rustic freighters, streamlined sentries, or a fleet of modular ships, every original piece portrays an exceptional vision. Traverse celebrates an impressive lineup of contributors—from a range of industries including video games, animation, film, and transportation design—each recognized with their own unique biography. Featuring some familiar names from the Nuthin’ But Mech series, Traverse also celebrates the work of dynamic new talent—delivering an exciting collaboration of innovative and inspired passion projects. Delve into the world of Traverse with this trove of intricate and compelling works, each as immersive and engaging as the next.

The Cabinet of Curiosities is a fully illustrated 88-page hardcover storybook. It tells the story of a pair of kids who inherit a spooky old house from a long lost uncle. The house is full to bursting with mysterious doo-dads and trinkets. Each room being a strange, personally-curated monument to a crazy ancestor. A Cabinet of Curiosities!

The year is 2065. The end of Earth and all its habitants is imminent. Using the world’s greatest technologies, a new generation of highly advanced, autonomous robotic vehicles is developed to explore new lands for human colonization. Inspired by legendary futurists such as Syd Mead (Blade Runner), German industrial designer and concept artist Christian Grajewski used his expert knowledge of automotive design and his fascination with animal anatomy to create fifteen stunning, interplanetary vehicles. Each varies in size and technological capabilities, yet they are unified by one overarching goal: to preserve the human race. From the stealth rotorcraft Hornet to the massive space transporter Orca, the designs of EXPLORER were fueled by Grajewski’s deep desire to launch vehicles beyond Earth’s solar system. He drew from his professional experience working on the design team at Volkswagen Design Center Potsdam, where he developed concepts for such carmakers as Lamborghini, Audi, and Bentley. EXPLORER compiles Grajewski’s early sketches, wondrous renderings, and design reflections that together make a case for historic multinational cooperation and the incredible innovations such collaborations can achieve.