3 Fantasy Art Techniques Every Artist Should Know
Introduction
Have you ever seen a painting so compelling that you feel you could step right into it? Some fantasy art just captures your imagination instantly, while others are dull and devoid of life. Fantasy art is supposed to be, for all intents and purposes, magical. But what makes this kind of art so larger than life? If you’re wondering how to make fantasy artwork more dynamic, then you are in luck! There are 3 main fantasy art techniques that can bring your artwork to the next level.
Use Dynamic Composition
Use Dramatic Lighting
Tell a Compelling Story With Your Fantasy Artwork
These three techniques are some of the simplest yet most powerful ways to make your fantasy art more engaging. As a fantasy artist myself, I will use one of my recent paintings to show how I incorporated all of these to create a visually compelling painting.
Tip Number 1 – Create Dynamic Fantasy Compositions
The single most important thing in creating any painting, not just fantasy art, is composition. If you don’t have composition, you have nothing. Even the best artist’s work can fall flat with a weak composition. A weak or chaotic layout ruins an otherwise great painting. Thankfully there are a number of simple fantasy art techniques you can use to avoid these pitfalls.
According to Artistry by Altenew, here are some techniques to get you started:
Rule of Thirds
If you draw a 3x3 box grid over your artwork, you can put visually interesting objects at each of these points, or along the grid lines.
In my painting “Birth of a Tyrant,” I used all these techniques to create a visually striking composition. Starting with the rule of thirds, I placed objects like the eclipse and a rock formation into the upper thirds, while my main character and walkway lay on the lower third.
Symmetry and Asymmetry
Using the rule of thirds gridlines as a guide, you can creatively choose which areas you wish to make symmetrical and which areas you wish to stand out by changing.
Even though the lighting is different, there is symmetry between the left and right sides of the canyon wall and the crowd. Yet there is an asymmetry in the sky with the aforementioned eclipse and rock tower as well as the character who’s cape blows to one side as he raises his opposite hand.
Negative Space
These are areas that have little to nothing inside of it. They offer places for the viewer's eye to rest, and contrast busy and highly detailed areas.
Since the bottom half of my fantasy painting is so busy, I used negative space in the sky to keep it simple, clean, and clear. This gives the eye a break and allows it to funnel down towards the subject of the painting.
Leading Lines
These are lines, either implicit or explicit in a composition, that lead the viewer's eyes to where you want them to go.
With so much going on, I used some leading lines in the canyon walls to funnel the viewer to the subject at the center of the piece, and 2 more on either side of the rock walkway that leads the viewer’s eye up and into the character. Furthermore, the shadows curve along the crowd of people to help funnel the eye back into the painting if it is going to be led outside of it.
Using Depth Through Layers
Depth can be created by having various overlapping layers incorporated into a fantasy artwork. Things in the foreground will be larger, have little to nothing overlapping it, and typically further away from the horizon. In contrast, things further away will be more obscured by closer layers, smaller, and closer to the horizon line.
Since there is so much depth in this painting, it is important to have well-defined layers. First, there is the walkway that is close to the viewer and converges at the center of the painting. The character is placed atop this to indicate he is in front, with no obstructions on his form. Next is the crowd of people, obscured by the subject and walkway. Behind that is the sand dunes. Above that is the canyon wall which is partially blocked by the people, indicating that it is behind them. Behind that is the giant rock towers, eclipse, and finally, the sky which sits behind it all.
I hope you see how important it is to have a clear, and compelling fantasy art composition like this. Making sure everything stays clear while also staying interesting can be a challenge, but these are some of the techniques to make your artwork stand out
For tips on starting your own art collection, you can read more about it here!
Tip Number 2 – Master Dramatic Fantasy Lighting
According to Lightadvisor,
“Lighting techniques play a crucial role in artistic expression. They help define shapes and forms within a composition.”
Chiaroscuro
One technique in lighting is called chiaroscuro, which uses strong contrast in values to bring a composition to life and define its features. This boosts the dramatic feeling of a painting and is a great tool on how to make fantasy art.
For example, in my painting, I used chiaroscuro to make the walkway stand out from the crowd as well as the highlights on the cape. This brighter color pushed the subject into the foreground. In addition, the contrast between the light hitting the crowd and the shadowed section helps further force a feeling of division.
Using Color
Finally, the use of red lighting was a choice on my part as a fantasy artist to bathe the scene in an eerie feel of unrest. This uniform color helped to make sure every piece of the painting was tied together as one whole and to make sure nothing felt like it didn’t fit, further pushing the narrative that we will discuss next.
Tip Number 3 – Use Storytelling to Enhance Fantasy Paintings
According to Athena Productions:
“Crafting the perfect fantasy environment isn’t just about adding dragons or castles; it’s about creating atmosphere, and mood, and telling a compelling visual story through design. Achieving this requires intentional design choices at every step.”
I could not agree more. In fact, these techniques are so powerful they can be used in everything from short stories to songs to paintings.
Crafting Atmosphere & Mood
When you are making fantasy artwork, every choice you make is intentional, and every choice you make matters. It is all about how you package your art and is what can separate just another boring painting, from an exciting, visually compelling fantasy painting.
In my painting, I tell a story with each part. Painting the eclipse gives it a sense of drama, depth, and an unsettling tone. The desert painting, with the dunes of sand, adds to the struggle, loneliness, and hardships the people have to go through.
The Power of Symbolism in Fantasy Art
The most important part of the piece is the relationship between the shadowy figure, and the sea of people beneath him, both literally and figuratively. With his fist raised high, knife in hand, the crowd reciprocates. The actions of one individual stirring up a crowd to take up arms. And yet, the story doesn’t conclude, the painting doesn’t tell where the story concludes, yet we can infer where the story will end.
Adding these story elements can transform a regular piece of art into something that really moves someone. It is your job as an artist to tell that story with a single still image.
Conclusion
The best fantasy art doesn’t just look good—it tells a story, evokes emotion, and feels alive. Mastering compelling compositions, lively lighting, and sensational storytelling puts you on the fast track to creating art that your audience adores. Keep experimenting, keep creating, and most importantly—make every piece tell a story.
What do you think about these tips, did you find them useful? Leave your comments or suggestions below, and as always happy Painting!
Want to own a piece of captivating fantasy art? Check out my full collection of art prints, including Birth of a Tyrant!