Artist Resources No 6: Spectrum

Now in its 24th year, Spectrum has been collecting and publishing a yearly anthology of fantastic artwork.  And before you tell me that the internet has replaced the need for printed artwork, I’d beg to differ.

The editors of Spectrum bring together artists from all around the world, showcasing works in every conceivable medium; and all that explore, celebrate and challenge the viewer to comprehend what is the truly fanatical and imaginative.  Which is to say, this is more than just a collection of elves, dwarves and dragons – which there is plenty of.  But it takes the reader on a journey into the magical world of other people’s imaginations, where the definition of fantasy art is unbounded and untouched by popular media.

While I do not have every copy in this series (yet!), what editions I do have help me find inspiration and courage to continue this path as a visual artist.  Do not beggar yourself by only pursuing online forums and websites – if you own no other printed books then make sure you own a few editions of Spectrum.

Author: Ward

I’m the creator and operator of this little corner of the internets, writing on all things related to art and more specifically my experiences trying to figure this whole thing out. I guess I’m trying to figure out life, too, but mostly I just post about art here. View all posts by Ward