EXPOSÉ 8 In ReviewIf you've ever held a copy of any of Ballistic Publishing's books in your own hands, you know just how wonderful they are. Whether it is of the tutorial-based d'Artiste series, the CG character collections of the EXOTIQUE series, or the annual categorized EXPOSÉ series that encompasses "the finest digital art in the known universe," you know these are all top-notch collections. And with EXPOSÉ 8, Ballistic has done it yet again! For EXPOSÉ 8, there was another record number of entries submitted - this time close to 6300! The artwork that did make it in this collection comes from 283 artists in 52 countries. Of course, with an increaesd number of entries, and likewise getting consistently harder to decide on what to feature, Ballistic had to expand this volume to an additional 16 pages over last year's EXPOSÉ 7. This job was once again very well handled by a panel of experts in their own right. Filling out the advisory board for EXPOSÉ 8 were:
Hades: Valiant Vue Esprit, Photoshop by Christian Hecker Germany In addition to the page expansion, there are a couple of new categories this year, which are Game Art and Comic/Manga. In the opening pages of EXPOSÉ 8 is a really nice listing of the 21 different categories featured, with a description of each, as well as the judging criterion. The 21 categories featured in EXPOSÉ 8 are :Â
Hi-tech nature: BirdBot CINEMA 4D, Photoshop by Dave Davidson Great Britain In each of the 21 categories, there is one Master award given, followed by Excellence awards to the next 2-3 artists in the voting order. Also, each year in the EXPOSÉ series, there is the Grand Master award which is given to an artist whose work has been highly influential. Many will be quite pleased to know that this time the award went to H. R. Giger. In addition to showcasing some of Giger's works in EXPOSÉ 8, there is also a nice background on the artist and his work throughout the years. Li II, 1973-74: Acrylic and indian ink on paper on wood, 200 x 140cm Image courtesy H.R. Giger Necronom IV, 1976: Acrylic on paper on wood, 100 x 150cm Image courtesy H.R. Giger I was also happy to see Giger's Necronom IV, which later developed into the creature in the film Aliens, is included EXPOSÉ 8. And, on a personal note, I must say I still think Giger's work on Emerson, Lake, & Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery LP is one of the best cover art pieces ever. Inkblot Photoshop by Patipat Asavasena Thailand I have to give a ton of credit to the judges whose job it was to choose amongst almost 6300 images and decide which would grace this collection. And further still, finding those to represent each of the 21 categories. Each category is indeed represented very well in EXPOSÉ 8. The Joker Photoshop by Nakai Wen, Funny Lab Taiwan Normally, my tastes lean more toward Architecture, Matte Painting, and the Surreal. However, in EXPOSÉ 8, I found the categories of Comic/Manga, Storytelling, and Whimsical to be among my favorites this time around. I can also honestly say that each and every time I open this book there are more new discoveries to behold, as I look further into the wonderful detail and brilliance of each of the artworks chosen to fill this collection. Eclipse 3ds Max, Photoshop, V-Ray by Jie Ma China The layout of EXPOSÉ 8, as others before it, is once again done very well, and the printing is high quality as you can always expect from Ballistic. I just can't say enough about this book, or others from Ballistic for that matter. From the exceptional artists that were chosen, to the presentation of the works, and the overall beauty of the book itself, believe me when I say this is not something that will collect dust on your bookshelf. If you're looking for inspiration, no matter your personal genre of interest, EXPOSÉ 8 is certain to fill that need and move you further in your own artistic pursuits. As an added bonus, anyone purchasing a copy of EXPOSÉ 8, whether it be the Limited Edition, hard cover or soft cover, is entitled to an exclusive download offer of three video tutorial walkthroughs and Photoshop brushes! Pricing: For more information about EXPOSÉ 8, please visit Ballistic Publishing, and be sure to look at their Book Previewer to get a good look at the content before purchase. EXPOSÉ 9: Call For EntriesBallistic Publishing is now calling on artists to submit digital images for consideration in EXPOSÉ 9. Images can be created in any 3D or digital illustration application. Photoshop and digitally manipulated photography is also welcome. We are interested in digitally-created fine art, whether it be 2D or 3D, for commercial use, or personal satisfaction. Deadline is February 28th. Read more here... About Ballistic Publishing Ballistic Publishing is the leading, award-winning,
independent publisher of books for the digital arts industry.
Dedicated to producing the highest quality publications celebrating
the talents of digital artists worldwide, it is setting high
standards in all areas of publishing from the quality of content,
design and delivery to its responsiveness to the market. Ballistic
Publishing shares a strong affiliation with the digital arts
community through its sister organization The CGSociety (The
Computer Graphics Society). Ballistic Publishing is based in the
Adelaide Hills of South Australia, with offices in Melbourne
(Victoria, Australia) and Tampa (Florida, USA). All content and images cannot be copied, printed, or reproduced in any manner without written permission. Nick C.
Sorbin is a digital artist, sculptor, writer, and
Managing Editor for Renderosity's Front Page News.
Renderosity Homepage |
February 7, 2011
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