Creator of Dinotopia to lecture at DCAD

February 1st 2010

Members of the public are invited to join students, faculty and staff of the Delaware College of Art and Design for a unique lecture Thursday, Feb. 11, at 12:35 p.m. New York Times best-selling author and illustrator James Gurney will present “Dinotopia: Behind the Scenes.”

Gurney’s book, Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, has been translated into 18 languages in 32 countries since its publication in 1992. In 2002, Dinotopia was adapted into a television miniseries, which won an Emmy Award for Best Special Effects. A solo exhibition of the artwork from Dinotopia began at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., and is now in place at the Delaware Art Museum (through May 16).

In his lecture, Gurney will examine the methods for painting a realistic picture of a scene that doesn’t exist, based on his new book Imaginative Realism. He will explore the nitty-gritty of visualizing imaginary scenes realistically in traditional media, including a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Dinotopia. The presentation covers research, thumbnail sketches, reference maquettes, perspective, dinosaur reconstruction, step-by-step sequences, plein air painting, plus a little about worldbuilding and working as an author/illustrator.

The free lecture will take place in The Copeland Room at the Delaware History Museum, 504 N. Market St., Wilmington. For more information, call 302.622.8000.

Gurney is also known for his scientific and historical illustrations, including the “World of Dinosaurs” postage stamps for the U.S. Postal Service and more than a dozen assignments for the National Geographic Magazine. His Hudson River landscapes were a cover feature in the November 2006 issue of American Artist Magazine. His most recent book is Imaginative Realism based on his blog “GurneyJourney.”