Discover the origins and evolution of fantasy art, from Renaissance angels to modern digital masterpieces.
Dragons, elves, big-breasted goddesses with powers from spiritual beings… and the list goes on. These are some of the images that come to mind when one hears “fantasy art.” But is fantasy art as simple as that? Whether you like indulging in otherworldly daydreams or enjoying a good marathon of The Lord of the Rings, fantasy art is a phenomenon that is here to stay. Considering it’s a trend that is on the rise, let’s look at a brief history of fantasy art, what characterises fantasy art, common themes, how it has evolved into different art forms and why it’s important in today’s world.
What is fantasy art?
Fantasy refers to anything that is not from our world, things that are related to magical and supernatural elements. Fantasy art, then, applies to art from the 20th century onwards that stems from fantasy literature. It’s also linked to fantasy fiction with some well-known fantasy fiction including Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.
What elements make up fantasy art?
In this type of art, you’ll find beautiful, sprawling landscapes, dainty fairies, mischievous goblins, devilish ogres, lithe nymphs, gorgeous elves, hideous orcs, thunderous giants, ugly trolls, bloodthirsty vampires, fire-breathing dragons, sneaky leprechauns, fearsome dungeons, skin-crawling reptilians and more, just to name a few. As we’re sure you’ve noticed, fantasy art can either be really beautiful or monstrous. The creatures range from dainty to grotesque, small to big, harmless to dangerous.
It’s such a broad spectrum of creatures with different enlightening (and sometimes terrifying) characteristics that the artwork cannot help but portray this in many fascinating forms. If you enjoy daydreaming or imagining other worlds with creatures that look nothing like you, fantasy art is sure to tickle your fancy.
What are the origins of fantasy art?
Here are some interesting facts about the origins of fantasy art. Church ceilings had magnificent drawings of angels and demons, bringing to life things people had been taught in the Bible regarding good and evil. Fantasy art at one time had its origins from Renaissance times but has since been attributed to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, published in 1865. It was the first book to visually immerse its readers into a world with talking, animated animals and made the reader a part of a new fantastical world. You can read more about this on this article.
Notable artists who are attributed to contributing to fantasy art are Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch, Gustave Doré, Arthurian legend and chivalry J.W. Waterhouse, Edmund Blair Leighton and Frank Frazetta. Michelangelo and French Symbolist Gustave Moreau also depicted otherworldly creatures in their artwork and thus also contributed to fantasy art as we know it today.
Common themes in fantasy art
As with any genre, fantasy art has common themes that run through it. Some of them are:
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- Good versus evil
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- Betrayal
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- Love
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- War
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- A quest of some sort
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- A person against society
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- A person against himself or the environment
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- Heroes/villains, unlikely or otherwise
In all of these, people are able to relate to them because who of us has not been betrayed or come to a realisation of an important aspect of life after making it through some hardship? At other times, we may live vicariously through these characters, rooting for the underdog and pushing for justice to be done. Fantasy art evokes so many emotions, good and bad, and the more we relate to it and see ourselves in it, the better it resonates with us.
The evolution of fantasy art
During the Renaissance era, a lot of artworks surrounding themes of angels and demons and otherworldly creatures were done in chapels and other prominent buildings. Most of these paintings were done for Biblical reasons, i.e., to scare people into not sinning by telling them that their fate would be eternal torment from scary-looking creatures if they didn’t turn back from their sinful ways. Did it work? Possibly, but the fact that this kind of artwork inspired what we now know as fantasy art cannot be denied.
Fantasy art that began as Biblical allegories transitioned into talking animals and creatures and then into scantily-clad women in the 1930s. The Great Depression was ravaging the world and magazine sales were low so sexy women started gracing magazine covers. As mentioned in the previous section, war is a common theme in fantasy art and well-endowed women started becoming more prolific. What’s more badass than a Viking-like female warrior in not so much armour wielding a sword like it’s nothing?
Fantasy literature started becoming a thing around the end of the 1930s with the release of The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia followed in 1953. Basically, the more fantasy literature there was, the more fantasy art could become realised.
It can be said that fantasy art is a medium used by humans to make sense of the world around them, to make sense of things they can and cannot see. This is evident in the constant narrative that we are not alone in this world and that there are consequences for being good or bad. With the craziness of this day and age, it’s no wonder that so many turn to things like fantasy art to escape their own reality.
Thanks to the proliferation of the Internet and technology, art is no longer just physical. Artists can create artwork on digital devices and sell them electronically via marketplaces like Etsy, Gumroad, and Creative Market or as a non-fungible token (NFT) and make up to millions of dollars apiece. We at [redacted] have an art gallery dedicated to the best fantasy artists around the world. It’s a great place to start for fantasy art for beginners. Feel free to check out our artists featured on [redacted], and you can even become a [redacted] with great perks! We also offer the option of minting your digital artwork so that you, the artist, can focus on creating more beautiful work that resonates with your fans.
Different artwork forms have arisen in the last few decades and have evolved into photography, jewels, music… you name it! Artists are limited only by their minds because of the different avenues they can pursue when it comes to what art forms they choose to share with their fans. Thanks to the varied forms of art, many people can choose how best they want to consume it which is very convenient in today’s digital world. Whether you like listening to music, looking at photos or touching beautiful jewels, the fantasy art experience remains the same: escaping reality and appreciating art in the comfort of your own home.
Why is fantasy art important in today’s world?
There are a number of reasons why fantasy art is important today. For one thing, it is a creative expression for artists. It helps us to better understand the world in and around us. Human beings have very expressive imaginations and artwork is an arguably safe way of putting those images and thoughts down on paper. Being imaginative is an important skill in today’s world as it helps you to think outside of the box and be able to see the world through different eyes. When you can do this, you can come up with innovative solutions to problems people face every day.
Another important reason for fantasy art today is the fact that it has increasingly become people’s bread and butter. What better way to adult than creating artwork that is adored by fans worldwide? You as the artist do what you love by creating something that brings joy to someone else. Isn’t that what we all want at the end of the day?
It’s also important because it’s an essential form of storytelling. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this could not be truer. Sometimes we are unable to put into words how or what we are feeling, but a picture can do that for us. It’s an amazing feeling to come across a piece of art that gets you and expresses how you feel in a way you are unable to. Clearly, fantasy art is an important part of today’s world as it is a great form of self-expression, a means to understand oneself and the world around them and a form of livelihood for some.
Final thoughts
How was that for a look into fantasy art? We hope this brief overview of this fascinating genre has piqued your interest and whet your appetite for more like it. Did any of the facts or points about fantasy art surprise you? Which one surprised you the most? Comment below and tell us your favourite form of fantasy art. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and/or join our Discord channel where you can explore your fantastical mind more!
