Beyond Imagination:
The World of Science Fiction Fantasy and Art

This Saturday, University College London is hosting a conference for science fiction and fantasy artists. The conference, called "Beyond Imagination," is being organized by The Association of Illustrators.

Keynote speakers whom I immediately recognized were Alan Lee and Dave McKean.

I recognized McKean from his work on MirrorMask (see my post on MirrorMask).

Alan Lee, of course, is the famed Tolkein illustrator who teamed up with John Howe to create the splendid conceptual artwork for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Perhaps my husband made me watch the special features disks of the Trilogy one too many times- but I have come to believe that the cinematic success of these films is largely due to Alan Lee and John Howe. These artists were able to translate the historical backstory that fueled the books into a visual backstory, which fueled the film.

I was also vaguely familiar with the name of another keynote speaker: Fred Gambino. Turns out he's done, among other things, a ton of cover art for Asimov's and Interzone.

Born without the ability to draw a stick figure, I am in awe of people who create fantasy scapes out of pigments and parchment. I think they're magical, and the field of speculative fiction would lose some of its magic without the visual arts.

It's worth checking out the Association of Illustrator's website. They have browseable portfolios up online- what fun! My personal favorite portfolio was Jenny Lloyd's. I loved the Eastern aesthetic of her art, and the way she used simple designs to create a sense of wonder.

Isn't evoking a sense of wonder what the field of science fiction and fantasy is all about?