The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan

Title:  The Art of Steampunk

Sub Title:  Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contagions from th

Author:  Art Donovan

Publisher:  Fox Chapel Publishing

Publication Date:  29/6/2011

Source:  NetGalley

Pages:  128

My Rating: I loved it!

From Goodreads:









The Art of Steampunk seeks to celebrate the world of Steampunk: a world filled with beauty and innovation. A world in which steam power and technology intertwine to create machines that are not only functional and practical, but unique and striking.
Inside, you will find the fantastical and stunning artwork of Steampunk artists from around the world. The 17 artists featured on these pages, among the frontrunners of the Steampunk genre, have had their work displayed at an exhibition at The Museum of History of Science at the University of Oxford, UK and have attracted the media attention of BoingBoing, one of the world’s largest blogs. Their artwork consists of everything from clocks and watches to light fixtures and jewelry, but every piece demonstrates hours of painstaking work and devotion from its creator. You will find that the artists themselves are just as unique and colorful as their masterpieces. Fully embracing Steampunk ideology, many have adopted a Victorian alter ego—a mad scientist persona to match the complicated intricacies of their artwork.
The Art of Steampunk brings the vision of the Steampunk artist alive on the page, providing a unique insight into the captivating and dynamic world of a vastly underground genre.e Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement.

My Review:

The Art of Steampunk is rooted in the Aesthetics of Victorian Technology.  Steampunk can be described as Victorian Sci fi because authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells opened peoples imaginations like no one else had ever done before. But, it was not until the late 1980's that it got the name, "Steampunk".  The term was used by K.W. Jeter during the Cyberpunk era  to describe the stories written during the Victorian period, and it has stuck ever since. 

This Victorian period and the writing that ocurred during that period has provided inspiration for artists of today.  The inspiration for this book was due to a Steampunk exhibition at the University Museum of History and Science in the UK.  This exhibition occurred because of Art Donovans encouragement for doing the exhibition and thank goodness he was persistant.  Otherwise, these wonderful artists may have been overlooked.  The artists that participated in the exhibition came from all over the world.  For your viewing pleasure, please visit http://steampunkmuseumexhibition.blogspot.com/   But beware, because this stuff will make you drool!   Surely, after seeing this, you will become a fan of this Art!

Here are a few photo's of the art in this book, but please visit Art's website to see the Art as I believe it showcases the Art much better than the pictures provided here.