Book of Sci-Fi Capital Ship Concept Art/Drawings/Sketches?

By strikenowhere, in Star Wars: Armada Off-Topic

Hi there!

Besides being a hardcore Armada player I'm also an extremely novice artist and I had a question for the forum - are there any books out there that are basically compilations of concept art/drawings/sketches of sci-fi capital ships that you would recommend? I'm basically just looking for sources of inspiration and would love to have a physical book lying around that I can look at for reference.

Thanks!

In general or for Star Wars?

“The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels” is Legends now but is that has a decent chunk of info on vessels such as a few capital ships up to Attack of the Clones, but not a wealth of images outside one large drawing for each. Not good for art reference.

“The Clone Wars Incredible Vehicles” is actually surprisingly decent as a reference guide for vehicles from the 2008 series. Meant for a teenager-teenager audience I suspect so don’t expect it to be in depth like one of the many fictional technical manuals meant for adult fans. Also not a wealth of glory shot images so maybe not for your purposes.

“Star Wars Complete Vehicles” and the “Incredible Cross Sections” for the sequel trilogy all cover the major capital ships that appear. However be warned that while the drawings are incredible they are cross sections. Google the book and you’ll see what I mean.

I’d say the art books for the Prequels and all the Disney era films are fantastic. Although they aren’t strictly about capital ships they do cover them occasionally. The Art Book for Rogue One is probably one of the better ones for what you’re asking but again it covers a lot of ground so there’s still not a whole lot on the capital ships.

As for non Star Wars IPs...

There’s a Halo Cross Sections book that I believe covers all of that ip’s capital ships. I don’t own it and I don’t play Halo but flipping through it at the store, I thought it looked fantastic enough for any general Sci-Fi spaceship nerd to want it on their shelf.

Star Trek is much better in regards to what you’re asking. It’s art books tend to mostly focus on the ships.

“The Art of John Eaves” is a fantastic book for one of Trek’s most prolific artists, covers other things as well but there’s a lot of nice drawing and sketches of ships throughout.

“Star Trek Designing Starships” is a series of books from HeroCollector/Eaglemoss that’s all about the design process of the various ships throughout every Trek series. It’s pretty good. The section for each ship could be way more substantial but the sheer variety of ships covered makes up for it I think.

“Star Trek Starships of the Line” is the most in line with your above question. The entire book is full of renders of various Trek ships in unfamiliar situations that we either only heard of or are simply explorations of “what if scenarios”.

Regarding Trek i’d suggest googling Andrew Probert and Doug Drexler, they both have or had blogs I believe to which they posted a great deal of fascinating artwork from their careers.

Edited by Forresto

I actually am a novice artist myself and I’m looking for the same kind’ve reference material you are so i’m very interested to see other people’s suggestions.

43 minutes ago, Forresto said:

In general or for Star Wars?

“The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels” is Legends now but is that has a decent chunk of info on vessels such as a few capital ships up to Attack of the Clones, but not a wealth of images outside one large drawing for each. Not good for art reference.

“The Clone Wars Incredible Vehicles” is actually surprisingly decent as a reference guide for vehicles from the 2008 series. Meant for a teenager-teenager audience I suspect so don’t expect it to be in depth like one of the many fictional technical manuals meant for adult fans. Also not a wealth of glory shot images so maybe not for your purposes.

“Star Wars Complete Vehicles” and the “Incredible Cross Sections” for the sequel trilogy all cover the major capital ships that appear. However be warned that while the drawings are incredible they are cross sections. Google the book and you’ll see what I mean.

I’d say the art books for the Prequels and all the Disney era films are fantastic. Although they aren’t strictly about capital ships they do cover them occasionally. The Art Book for Rogue One is probably one of the better ones for what you’re asking but again it covers a lot of ground so there’s still not a whole lot on the capital ships.

As for non Star Wars IPs...

There’s a Halo Cross Sections book that I believe covers all of that ip’s capital ships. I don’t own it and I don’t play Halo but flipping through it at the store, I thought it looked fantastic enough for any general Sci-Fi spaceship nerd to want it on their shelf.

Star Trek is much better in regards to what you’re asking. It’s art books tend to mostly focus on the ships.

“The Art of John Eaves” is a fantastic book for one of Trek’s most prolific artists, covers other things as well but there’s a lot of nice drawing and sketches of ships throughout.

“Star Trek Designing Starships” is a series of books from HeroCollector/Eaglemoss that’s all about the design process of the various ships throughout every Trek series. It’s pretty good. The section for each ship could be way more substantial but the sheer variety of ships covered makes up for it I think.

“Star Trek Starships of the Line” is the most in line with your above question. The entire book is full of renders of various Trek ships in unfamiliar situations that we either only heard of or are simply explorations of “what if scenarios”.

Regarding Trek i’d suggest googling Andrew Probert and Doug Drexler, they both have or had blogs I believe to which they posted a great deal of fascinating artwork from their careers.

These are some great examples (especially the Trek ones) - thank you!