Fantasy Cartooning Ben Caldwell Pdf Download

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· 96 ratings · 8 reviews

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Jul 31, 2019 Helsean K. rated it really liked it

A very good reference book for different types of fantasy creatures. The tips, although classic, are also quite helpful in identifying and drawing these creature types.

Aug 07, 2017 m. moon rated it liked it

enjoyed it and think I might revisit it but I really wish there was a wider variety of female characters/body types!

Nov 09, 2009 Beth rated it really liked it

Former Marvel cartoonist Caldwell delivers just the right mix of instruction, basics and background for creating memorable characters in comic book style. Heroes and villains, peasants and aristocrats, fey folk, monsters and dragons are easily reproducible following Caldwell's encouraging notes and sketches that go from rudimentary lines to smiling and snarling characters.

Not as step-by-step as Ames or Emberly, this book assumes you have some understanding already of proportion and musculature,

Not as step-by-step as Ames or Emberly, this book assumes you have some understanding already of proportion and musculature, and is recommended for the novice, but not complete beginner, cartoonist. Most illustrations are completed in just three steps:

1. Stick figurish outline
2. Fleshed out body
3. Features and clothing/weaponry detail

The first pages on human-like characters focus more on basics, such as face-shapes and muscles. The first page on animals offers the basic animal face, and variations on that theme. Throughout, Caldwell illustrates how tweaking a few details, such as eyebrows, can make a character more sinister, and provides examples of how features differ depending on age (for example, shortened sleeves can make a teen seem gangly, while larger knuckles and exposed tendons make a hand look aged) or disposition (smiley wrinkles versus angry wrinkles, rounded edges for heroes and angles for villains).

Once the reader has mastered horses and humans, elements can be combined to make a centaur. And, along the way, the author gives readers a feel for the characters they are creating by providing a succinct overview of the fantasy genre and it's accoutrements, and incorporating Greek, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Asian mythology – just enough to whet the appetite and encourage further investigation.

An index makes it easy to turn to a favorite character, and the list of recommended reading is diverse in scope and format. A list of recommended fantasy artists to check out is a nice touch. A website URL at the end of the book promises more lessons, downloadable backgrounds, and chapters on weapons and environments, but it was not up and running at the time of this review. Hopefully by the pub date (August 2005) the domain will be registered and available.

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Mar 10, 2009 Parka rated it it was amazing

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This book is incredibly fun if you're into fantasy cartooning.

Ben Caldwell has filled the pages with sketches and tips to drawing all sorts of fantasy characters, ranging from heroes, villains, fairies to beasts. The tips given are not just on drawing, but also on developing characteristics and personality into them. That's character design. He talks about everything, from the hair, eye shadows, wrinkles, costumes, postures, smiles and basically anything that

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This book is incredibly fun if you're into fantasy cartooning.

There's a companion website to the book called Action Cartooning. You can find more art, comics and a community forum.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.

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Jan 27, 2011 Taralen rated it really liked it

Ben Caldwell has a lovely style that is both eye-grabbing and comical. But this book in itself has many flaws.
Ben does provide lots of wholesome examples of variation between faces and character types, but not enough. The variation is very wide, for example, he shows more variety on males than he does on females.
Some of the poses he chose for the characters are also terrible if a beginner were to pick this up. Really it's not just a beginner, it's about showing clarity in the character. There sh Ben Caldwell has a lovely style that is both eye-grabbing and comical. But this book in itself has many flaws.
Ben does provide lots of wholesome examples of variation between faces and character types, but not enough. The variation is very wide, for example, he shows more variety on males than he does on females.
Some of the poses he chose for the characters are also terrible if a beginner were to pick this up. Really it's not just a beginner, it's about showing clarity in the character. There should never be an image of a character not facing the front in an example. The Gypsy is a good example of this. Why did he bother drawing her body but not her face? He describes the face but doesn't show it. This is a flaw.

Another flaw of the book is that some of the images looked rushed or just unfinished. Even pencil work should be taken into meticulous care.

On the bright side, most of the proportions are done well. Ben Caldwell is one my personal inspirations, and I'm sure he'll be a great inspiration for others just the same.

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Jul 31, 2015 B. Reese rated it really liked it

Recycling my other review...waste not, want not

Really love Ben's style and wish I could draw like him. Overall some good tips in here and great for inspiring one to experiment.

Don't expect to draw like him at the end, but going through and playing with the ideas in here will probably help.

I draw slightly better than average, but not "good" and I credit books like this and other drawing books for getting me to draw and try new things. The key thing is to keep drawing and experimenting.

Good ref

Recycling my other review...waste not, want not

Really love Ben's style and wish I could draw like him. Overall some good tips in here and great for inspiring one to experiment.

Don't expect to draw like him at the end, but going through and playing with the ideas in here will probably help.

I draw slightly better than average, but not "good" and I credit books like this and other drawing books for getting me to draw and try new things. The key thing is to keep drawing and experimenting.

Good reference book.

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May 07, 2010 Sarah Schanze rated it it was amazing

I love this guy's style. One of the most inspirational art books I've ever looked through. I love this guy's style. One of the most inspirational art books I've ever looked through. ...more