Dracopedia The Great Dragons

Dracopedia The Great Dragons
Author: William O'Connor
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012-06-26
Genre: Art
ISBN: 144031067X

An Artist's Field Guide to the World's Great Dragons! Creatures of great beauty and terrible ferocity, dragons have been featured and revered for centuries. Of the thousand-plus species still in existence, none have inspired more folklore and artistic awe than the eight species of Great Dragons. Within these pages, these fire-breathing monsters of legend - the rock stars of the dragon world - come to life through the work of artist and adventurer William O'Connor. Not since the original Dracopedia has there been such a beautifully illustrated and meticulously researched guide on the subject, with special focus on the distinctive features of each species - from the broad horns of the Icelandic white dragon to the elaborate neck frills of the Ligurian gray. Based on the author's expeditions to sanctuaries around the globe and consults with prominent regional experts, Dracopedia The Great Dragons presents never-before assembled facts and instruction to help you capture the heart-beating grandeur of these magnificent monsters. Inside, find everything you need to know to capture the essence of your favorite dragons through your artwork: • Learn about the habits, anatomy and natural history of 8 fierce and fantastic dragons • Each profile features sketches, drawings and start-to-finish creation of a stunning artwork, illustrating key concepts that apply to any medium • Discover special techniques for achieving dramatic lighting effects, powerful compositions and the incredible sculptural forms and textures of dragons • Includes a gallery of dragons and a foldout comparison poster

Dracopedia Field Guide

Dracopedia Field Guide
Author: William O'Connor
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 161
Release: 2019-05-14
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1440353840

Identify dragons in the wild with the Dracopedia Field Guide! Have you ever stumbled upon a dragon egg and thought to yourself, "I wonder which type of scaly beast will burst forth from this delicate and dappled shell?" Well, wonder no more. This fantasy field guide is required reading--and required packing--for both budding and expert dragon enthusiasts. Don’t leave home without it. This comprehensive and elucidating manual identifies the dragons of the world from Amphipteridae through Wyvernae. Each genus of dragon is meticulously chronicled--from winged Coatyls and Sea Orcs to itty, bitty Feydragons to fire-breathing Great Dragons--then broken down into additional subsets to help you discover what sets these magnificent creatures apart. Uncover the biology, history, behavior and habitat of each stunning and primeval beast through written and illustrated descriptions. Each dragon specimen entry includes the following important information for fast and easy identification: • Size • Weight • Visual descriptors, including color, distinguishing marks, wings, horns, beaks, etc. • Habitat • Diet • Conservation status • Common names Dracopedia: The gold standard for dragon enthusiasts everywhere!

Dracopedia The Bestiary

Dracopedia The Bestiary
Author: William O'Connor
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 162
Release: 2013-05-24
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1440325243

Unleash the Beasts! For millennia historians, artists and scientists have chronicled their ideas and discoveries of mythological and magical monsters in encyclopedias known as bestiaries. From Asia to America, Japan to the jungles of South Africa, the vast menagerie of exotic and legendary creatures has populated the imaginations of all cultures for centuries. Beautifully illustrated and fantastically detailed, Dracopedia: The Bestiary is a modern, but no less unsettling reimagining of the ancient version. It is an A-to-Z artist's guide to animals of the legendary world. Some, like the griffin and yeti, may be familiar to you. Others--like the enigmatic questing beast and ferocious manticore--may seem new and strange. Some may even haunt your dreams. Inside the bestiary, you will find: • Secrets of each animal's evolution--origins, habitat, anatomy, diet and more. • Fantastic illustrations created using pencil sketches and digital coloring. • Four-stage demonstrations taking you from concept and design to under-painting and finishing details. By drawing on the forms and features of more pedestrian animals, you'll learn how to give shape to the bizarre creatures that roam the depths of your imagination, adding to the bestiary of the ages.

Dracopedia The Great Dragons

Dracopedia The Great Dragons
Author: William O'Connor
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 162
Release: 2012-06-26
Genre: Art
ISBN: 144031067X

An Artist's Field Guide to the World's Great Dragons! Creatures of great beauty and terrible ferocity, dragons have been featured and revered for centuries. Of the thousand-plus species still in existence, none have inspired more folklore and artistic awe than the eight species of Great Dragons. Within these pages, these fire-breathing monsters of legend - the rock stars of the dragon world - come to life through the work of artist and adventurer William O'Connor. Not since the original Dracopedia has there been such a beautifully illustrated and meticulously researched guide on the subject, with special focus on the distinctive features of each species - from the broad horns of the Icelandic white dragon to the elaborate neck frills of the Ligurian gray. Based on the author's expeditions to sanctuaries around the globe and consults with prominent regional experts, Dracopedia The Great Dragons presents never-before assembled facts and instruction to help you capture the heart-beating grandeur of these magnificent monsters. Inside, find everything you need to know to capture the essence of your favorite dragons through your artwork: • Learn about the habits, anatomy and natural history of 8 fierce and fantastic dragons • Each profile features sketches, drawings and start-to-finish creation of a stunning artwork, illustrating key concepts that apply to any medium • Discover special techniques for achieving dramatic lighting effects, powerful compositions and the incredible sculptural forms and textures of dragons • Includes a gallery of dragons and a foldout comparison poster

Field Guide to Drawing & Sketching Animals

Field Guide to Drawing & Sketching Animals
Author: Tim Pond
Publisher: Search Press Limited
Total Pages: 101
Release: 2019-01-02
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1781265127

Artist Tim Pond's lively and engaging book fuses science with art, providing the reader with the skills, techniques and knowledge they need to create sketches of animals filled with life and movement.There are some very good books written on life drawing, yet when it comes to drawing wildlife, illustrators and artists often revert to working solely from photographs, which can leave the artwork looking lifeless and flat. In this inspirational book, artist Tim Pond shows you how to observe and draw animals in zoos, farms, wildlife parks and aquariums, teaching you some fascinating facts about the animals along the way and ultimately bringing you closer to nature. One of the challenges with sketching wildlife is that animals are constantly moving. However by having some basic understanding of the biology of an animal, such as knowing that a duck has a cheek or that a cheetah can't retract its claws, can influence how you might sketch them, and results in a lively drawing that captures the form, movement and ultimately the spirit of the animal in question. Combining scientific knowledge with expert practical guidance is key to creating successful drawings of animals, and Tim's ability to convey this in a way that is both accessible and engaging makes this a unique and inspiring guide suitable for artists of all levels. Tim's book takes you on a journey of discovery that will enable you to develop the skills, techniques and knowledge you need to sketch a broad range of wildlife, encompassing mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and insects. It includes quick, gestural sketches as well as linear and tonal studies, in a variety of media - pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour. There are numerous studies comprising how to represent the different patterns of animals' coats, how to capture the plumage of an exotic bird in watercolour, and how to sketch a hippo's hooves, as well as guidance on tools, materials and basic techniques. The result is a treasure chest of fascinating facts, studies, sketches and annotated drawings that will not fail to ignite your enthusiasm for drawing animals from life.

DragonWorld

DragonWorld
Author: Pamela Wissman
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2011-07-06
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1599631482

A tribute to dragonkind From fire-breathing to friendly, dragons pretty much rule the fantasy world. Dedicated to the coolest of mythological beasts, DragonWorld is a showcase of some of today's best, most imaginative dragon art. Some stick to the popular notion of what a dragon is, while others offer more unexpected interpretations. Behind this fiercely creative work is a diverse group of young international artists who have developed loyal fan followings on the popular online showcase, deviantART.com. Look inside to see why. • 120 creations from 49 cutting-edge dragon artists all on deviantART.com • Represents a wide variety of mediums—both traditional and digital—and an even wider variety of stylistic interpretations from classic to futuristic • Q&A-style profiles offer fascinating insights on the artists' techniques and inspirations

Drawing Fantastic Dragons

Drawing Fantastic Dragons
Author: Sandra Staple
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2018-07-03
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
ISBN: 1612437702

Create and customize legendary dragons from your favorite fantasy stories or your wildest imaginings with this guide to drawing and coloring mythical beasts. If you can dream it, this book will show you how to bring your dragon to life in distinct and dramatic color. With easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, Drawing Fantastic Dragons teaches the tricks and techniques to create your own amazing art. Start with a sketch of the dragon’s body form. Then add the head, tail, arms, and legs. Next personalize it with one of the many styles of horns, scales, claws, and wings detailed in this guide. You will even learn how to add age, personality and animal attributes to your dragon. Lastly, author Sandra Staple shows how to finish your dragon drawing with amazing color effects. Packed with example after example, this hands-on guide features dragons of all shapes and sizes, and includes a special section on how to draw unique beasts like earth, air, and fire dragons, wyverns, hydras, and more.

A Natural History of Dragons

A Natural History of Dragons
Author: Marie Brennan
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2013-02-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1429956313

Marie Brennan begins a thrilling new fantasy series in A Natural History of Dragons, combining adventure with the inquisitive spirit of the Victorian Age. You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . . All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. "Saturated with the joy and urgency of discovery and scientific curiosity."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Natural History of Dragons An NPR Best Book of 2013 The Lady Trent Memoirs 1. A Natural History of Dragons 2. The Tropic of Serpents 3. Voyage of the Basilisk 4. In the Labyrinth of Drakes 5. Within the Sanctuary of Wings At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The Book of Dragons

The Book of Dragons
Author: Jonathan Strahan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 625
Release: 2020-07-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0062877178

R. F. Kuang, Kate Elliott, Todd McCaffrey, Garth Nix, Peter S. Beagle, and other fantasy and science fiction masters take on the greatest mythical beast. From China to Europe, Africa to North America, dragons have long captured our imagination in myth and legend. Whether they are rampaging beasts awaiting a brave hero to slay or benevolent sages who have much to teach humanity, dragons are intrinsically connected to stories of creation, adventure, and struggle beloved for generations. Bringing together nearly thirty stories and poems from some of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers working today— Garth Nix, Scott Lynch, R. F. Kuang, Ann Leckie & Rachel Swirsky, Daniel Abraham, Peter S. Beagle, Beth Cato, Zen Cho, C. S. E Cooney, Aliette de Bodard, Amal El-Mohtar, Kate Elliott, Theodora Goss, Ellen Klages, Ken Liu, Seanan Maguire, Patricia A McKillip, K. J. Parker, Kelly Robson, Michael Swanwick, Jo Walton, Elle Katharine White, Jane Yolen, Kelly Barnhill, Brooke Bolander, Sarah Gailey, and J. Y. Yang—and illustrated by award-nominated artist Rovina Cai with black-and-white line drawings specific to each entry throughout, this extraordinary collection vividly breathes fire and life into one of our most captivating and feared magical creatures as never before and is sure to become a treasured keepsake for fans of fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales. “A treasure trove of wonder.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A heaping hoard of literary gems that fans of dragon-powered stories will surely treasure.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Seems almost certain to be the most significant fantasy anthology of 2020.” —Locus