The Deceiving Eye: The Art Of Richard Hescox with text by Randy M. Dannenfelser
01/07/2004 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Paper Tiger. 128 page hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK), $29.95 (US), $44.95(CAN). ISBN: 1-84340-184-3. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. Buy The Deceiving Eye in the USA - or Buy The Deceiving Eye in the UK  check out website: www.papertiger.co.uk
All
right, if you live in the UK like me, you won’t have seen many of
Richard Hescox’ book covers cos they tend to appear on US publishers
like DAW.
If you play a lot of computer games, then chances
are that you’ve come across his work since he’s been involved in
a lot of computer games where his work has been translated into
the backgrounds you see on the screen, creatures and gadgets that
they use. Even more remarkable because Richard Hescox is not a digital
artist.
His preference is oils although he’s pretty fluent
with acrylics as well. He admits here that he would prefer to be
called an ‘illustrator’ than an ‘artist’ because it sums up what
he does for a living - illustrating or interpreting a scene.
Uniquely, this book also features a selection of non-commissioned
work where Hescox paints what he likes as well. This always throws
fresh insight into what an artist can do unleashed by art directors
and needs to be encouraged in books like this if they want to extend
their work possibilities.
There’s an interesting contrast between his SF and
fantasy paintings. With SF, Hescox’ art has the associated sharpness.
With fantasy though, maybe it's the different colour palate, but
there’s an almost biscuit tin top ethereal look to them that is
an interesting contrast that adds a dream-like quality to his work.
To add to this mix, there is a selection of pre-final
painting paintings that illustrate the difference between them and
the final picture that should reassure anyone that your ideas can
be refined without resorting to a lightbox to just scale things
up.
Looks like your bookcase is going to have another
interesting volume to add to its selection this year. Be sure to
give it a look.
GF Willmetts 
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