--- product_id: 48916674 title: "Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art)" price: "€ 42.53" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/48916674-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1 store_origin: PT region: Portugal --- # 4.8/5 from 2,097 reviews Masterclass in imaginative realism 38 rank in Sci-Fi & Fantasy Art Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art) **Price:** € 42.53 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎨 Paint the impossible, own the extraordinary. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (Volume 1) (James Gurney Art) - **How much does it cost?** € 42.53 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/48916674-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **For serious artists only:** Designed for painters who already draw well and want to push boundaries beyond reality—no beginners’ fluff here. - • **Pro insights from a master:** James Gurney shares step-by-step techniques from sketches to finished oil paintings, inspired by the golden age of American illustration. - • **Unlock the art of the unreal:** Learn to paint vivid, believable scenes that don’t exist—perfect for fantasy, sci-fi, and historical recreation. - • **Elevate your creative process:** Detailed chapters let you absorb knowledge at your own pace, blending traditional skills with visionary storytelling. - • **Collector’s quality and value:** Printed on premium paper with stunning illustrations, this book is a must-have for any art professional’s library. ## Overview Imaginative Realism by James Gurney is a highly rated, professional-level art book that teaches artists how to create realistic paintings of imaginary subjects. Ranked #38 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Art and boasting a 4.8-star rating from over 2,000 reviews, it offers in-depth, stepwise guidance rooted in traditional oil painting techniques and the heritage of classic American illustration. Ideal for serious painters aiming to master fantasy, sci-fi, or historical visual storytelling. ## Description This book explores the question of how to paint a realistic picture of something that doesn't exist. It is intended not only for artists interested in fantasy and science fiction, but also for anyone who wants to recreate history, visualize extinct wildlife, or simply tell a story with a picture. Review: Do not be put off by the cover, this is an excellent book. - I am afraid I judged this book by its cover and really didn't think that this was the kind of book that would be suitable for me or that I would enjoy. But having encountered James Gurney online and discovered that, rather than just painting dinosaurs, he was a far more traditional painter than I had imagined and decided to give it a try. I am delighted that I did. This is an excellent book written by a painter for other painters and full of interesting insights. It is definitely not for beginners since it assumes that you can already paint and draw well and are willing to work devotedly to conjure up a realistic depiction of an imaginary scene. He is consciously drawing on the heritage of the golden age of American illustration (which I like too) and takes you through all the steps he takes from thumbnail sketches to finished pieces, which is fascinating. There are a couple of drawbacks : his studio setup, kit and workshop facilities are way beyond what most of us can aspire to so I wish he could be a little more aware about these limitations most of us face. ( Plasticine and cardboard maquettes lit by an Anglepoise work fine for us lesser mortals.) This could be daunting or reduce one to paroxysms of envy. There is very little about any other medium except oil paint and you also have to have a high tolerance for dinosaurs . However these are minor quibbles. There is not only the enjoyment of being taken through his process of work but a lot of useful information to be gleaned en route. In fact I was so impressed that I immediately ordered his other book - "Colour and Light". So I can unhesitatingly recommend this to any other realist painter who wants some insight into Gurney's way of working and how to depict an imaginary world. Review: Review - This is a fantastic book and will be a wonderful addition to anyones collection who is interested in developing fantasy art, or even just improving general drawing and design skills. The information is broken down into manageable bitesized chapters, so you can read the whole book as a whole, or just dip in and out. The illustrations are lovely, and I love reading about how the artist develops ideas and gathers information. The cover of this book does not do it justice, as it could put some artists off if they are not really into fantasy work, but there are some great illustrations, and the influence of some past masters are evident in some of the work. The book is a good size and there is plenty to read and lots of information. The book is printed on good quality paper and is really good value for money. A breath of fresh air in the art book format. If you like fantasy art, or are interested in reading about how other artists work then buy this book, you won't be disappointed. ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 47,312 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 38 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Art History & Criticism 46 in Arts & Photography Study & Teaching 320 in Painting (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,097 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/81IFEoZNK-L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Do not be put off by the cover, this is an excellent book. *by L***R on 5 April 2019* I am afraid I judged this book by its cover and really didn't think that this was the kind of book that would be suitable for me or that I would enjoy. But having encountered James Gurney online and discovered that, rather than just painting dinosaurs, he was a far more traditional painter than I had imagined and decided to give it a try. I am delighted that I did. This is an excellent book written by a painter for other painters and full of interesting insights. It is definitely not for beginners since it assumes that you can already paint and draw well and are willing to work devotedly to conjure up a realistic depiction of an imaginary scene. He is consciously drawing on the heritage of the golden age of American illustration (which I like too) and takes you through all the steps he takes from thumbnail sketches to finished pieces, which is fascinating. There are a couple of drawbacks : his studio setup, kit and workshop facilities are way beyond what most of us can aspire to so I wish he could be a little more aware about these limitations most of us face. ( Plasticine and cardboard maquettes lit by an Anglepoise work fine for us lesser mortals.) This could be daunting or reduce one to paroxysms of envy. There is very little about any other medium except oil paint and you also have to have a high tolerance for dinosaurs . However these are minor quibbles. There is not only the enjoyment of being taken through his process of work but a lot of useful information to be gleaned en route. In fact I was so impressed that I immediately ordered his other book - "Colour and Light". So I can unhesitatingly recommend this to any other realist painter who wants some insight into Gurney's way of working and how to depict an imaginary world. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by J***T on 23 October 2009* This is a fantastic book and will be a wonderful addition to anyones collection who is interested in developing fantasy art, or even just improving general drawing and design skills. The information is broken down into manageable bitesized chapters, so you can read the whole book as a whole, or just dip in and out. The illustrations are lovely, and I love reading about how the artist develops ideas and gathers information. The cover of this book does not do it justice, as it could put some artists off if they are not really into fantasy work, but there are some great illustrations, and the influence of some past masters are evident in some of the work. The book is a good size and there is plenty to read and lots of information. The book is printed on good quality paper and is really good value for money. A breath of fresh air in the art book format. If you like fantasy art, or are interested in reading about how other artists work then buy this book, you won't be disappointed. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good book *by T***E on 18 August 2025* Compelling read, I wanted to learn more about painting and using some of the techniques described to improve my Warhammer painting. Very much worth a read! ## 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 --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/48916674-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/48916674-imaginative-realism-how-to-paint-what-doesnt-exist-volume-1) --- *Product available on Desertcart Portugal* *Store origin: PT* *Last updated: 2026-08-02*