Reference - Lost Cities & Lost Treasure

Hi folks,

Every artist - established or growing has at his or her disposal a decent and modest access to a available references and books on hand. This task and quest, is a lifelong one and I would recommend a gradual and considered consideration of purchases in order to ensure you have the appropriate reference (and not end up with stacks of un usable and out of data references that end up as being expensive door stops at best!)

Thus, I would like to introduce our studio Library recommendation with two new reference books that have joined our growing studio Library within the mythology and ancient treasures section.

Firstly, these books are produced by Octopus Books at http://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
and the following two books caught my eye in particular:

1. The Atlas of Lost Cities: Legendary Cities rediscovered
2. The Atlas of Lost Treasures - John Levy

Often when deciding the suitability of a reference book for our artists at Opus Artz, there is a fine balance between context and information vs visuals.

On one hand, the medical and scientific training background absorbs and revels in the raw data, history and random bits of datum in books typical of Mythology and Ancient History. On the other, I have to be mindful that a more visual centric reference can be more relevant.

I am glad to say, these Atlas series by Octopus books is just the right blend of visual temepered with information. Each area or region or object is split into two pages - filled with relatively informative narrative, visuals and additional data.

Thus, for anyone into historical concept art along the lines of action adventure, these two books come highly recommended!


Further Information

The Atlas of Lost Cities

Brenda Rosen

Imprint: Godsfield Press Ltd
Format: Hardback
Size: 279 x 240 x 22 mm
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781841813271
Published: 15th January 2008

"The Atlas of Lost Cities" explores some of the most extraordinary ancient cities from around the world that have been abandoned, forgotten or hidden by time, and ponders the lessons they can teach us today. This fascinating book examines the role of natural and man-made disasters, rulers and hostile neighbours and the fate of cities built to celebrate religious beliefs and enshrine gods and deities. It traces the lost beauty and ancient wisdom embodied in such key sites as Borobodur in Java and Aphrodisias in Turkey and examines the causes of the failure of cities such as Niya in Central Asia and Mesa Verde in Colorado that had thrived for centuries. This is a thought-provoking and illuminating reference work for everyone fascinated by ancient civilizations.

The Atlas of Lost Treasures

Joel Levy

Imprint: Godsfield Press Ltd
Format: Hardback
Size: 279 x 240 x 20 mm
Pages: 176
ISBN: 9781841813363
Published: 15th October 2008

From the Anglo-Saxon Kings' treasure trove at Sutton Hoo to the sensational discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, this book explores treasures both ancient and modern lost, stolen, seemingly destroyed and miraculously rediscovered. The book will include the search for such legendary treasures as the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail, as well as accounts of the disappearance of wonders of the ancient world including the Statue of Zeus at Olympia and the Colossus of Rhodes. Detailed, sumptious artwork reconstructions will show the treasures in situ in their original temples, palaces and throne rooms, and will take you on a treasure-hunting journey around the world.

Pirate day – explore London’s hidden treasures, old and new

This Sunday, August 5th sees a brilliant Pirate day and exploration into the lost rivers and tunnels of London's past. This event is organised by the Bee Keepers in conjunction with the very cool and free events, arts and musicology London public project - The Tree House gallery.

For further information:
The Bee Keepers - Pirate Day


Info:

There are other rivers of London which lie concealed, encased in tunnels or in pipes, occasionally to be heard but generally running silently and invisibly beneath the surface of the city. To name them in order, west to east – Stamford Brook, the Wandle, Counter’s Creek, the Falcoln, the Westbourne, the Tyburn, the Effra, the Fleet, the Walbrook, Neckinger and the Earl’s Sluice, the Peck and the Ravensbourne.

It has always been said that enchantment is bought in the burying alive of great waters, yet the purchase may be a perilous one.
Peter Ackroyd, ‘London’ p 555

CITY OF LONDON & PIRATES

The City of London is built on burial sites, on entombed rivers and buried treasure.

In the ‘Golden Age’ – from about 1650 – 1720 – pirates operated from London, many licensed by the State. Pirates were lodged in Deptford – right next to Greenwich and the Royal Navy who often pursued them on the High Seas – and on the other side of the Thames, at Wappingside.

The Neckinger – a stream that ran from Bermondsey Abbey to the Thames, part of which is now St Saviour’s Dock – took its named from Neckinger Wharf where pirates were executed, according to folklore. The rope used to hang them became known as the Devil’s neck-cloth or ‘neckinger’.

PIRATE PLUNDER

Pirate loot was carefully reinvested. Many of London’s great institutions built their foundations on pirate plunder: the silver of the Incans and the gold of the Aztecs. Stolen from civilisations of the New World, seized again from foreign ships of the Old World by British privateers, and brought back to London. This money paid for the growth of the City.

The history has been paved over, buried beneath the streets and the every day by bricks and mortar. Dark subterranean veins – associated with crime, alcohol, deformity, disorder, stench and agues – run through London’s financial heart.

The lost rivers have become repositories for discarded and forgotten objects. An anchor was recovered from the Fleet as far North as Kentish Town. Their silted arteries yield coins, daggers, brooches, medals, keys and pins. Things dropped between grates, by accident. Sentimental keepsakes washed into the underworld by the wind and the rain.

• Discover the lost rivers connecting London: we will be processing along the routes of the Fleet, Tyburn and Walbrook, looking for clues revealing their progress through the City and finding buried treasure along the way.
• Unearth the City’s past: we will visit the sites of City institutions that did very well out of piracy. Bring a spade and an open mind.
• Spin a yarn: there will be readings at the Treehouse Gallery from Robert Louis Stevenson, Daniel Defoe and other writers inspired by the piratical past.
• Recover the loot: make your own treasure. The Beekeepers will run workshops to make precious things – rings, bracelets, bookmarks, you name it – from recycled materials, ingenuity and pluck.
• Hunt for treasure: the treeHouse Gallery is a treasure-trove of knowledge and ideas. We’ve buried some clues around the place.
• ‘X’ marks the spot: Pirates operated a kind of anarchist democracy. We’ll be staging a debate: should piracy be renationalised? Join in and cast your vote.

Phone Tim on 07905 277719 for more details, or email info@thebeekeepers.com.

Opus Artz - New Denizens

Hi Folks,

This week I thought we share our new residents who have come to occupy the studio space at Opus Artz, and to provide fresh horror, inspiration and volumetric studies to our Opus artists.

At opus, we believe that the best way to understand form is to study a volumetric object in front of you (and it allows us to collect various..ahem - collectibles for research and painting purposes, strictly)

Think of it as a minor substitute to life drawing, but more portable, and handy, allowing you to study vast shadows and bounced light onto its forms, at your convenience.

BUST OF ARIADNE



First up is the lovely Ariadne, straight from the British museum. Legend has it that this lovely maiden (daughter of King Minos) , fell in love with Theseus and helped him overcome the legendary Minotaur at the centre of the Labyrinth of Crete. Later she was bridge to the god Dionysus.

Ariadne, is also said to the the fertility god of Crete, and her name may have been derived from ariahgne - meaning "utterly pure"


OPUS LYCANTROPE - AUSTIN



Next up, is newcomer Austin, a veritable Lycanthrope produced for Opus to better study and understand the realms of creatures, and monsters via form, texture and frozen motion. Our grateful thanks to the lovely Laurel Austin, whose innocent looking countenance masks the veritable guns, guts and glory of her daily duties as senior concept artist at Splash Damage.



All in all, expect some derivative studies and works in the near future.

- Opus Artz