EXPOSÉ is an annual compilation produced by Ballistic Publishing with the tagline “Finest digital art in the known universe”.
EXPOSÉ 4
Digital artists from around the world submitted their finest artistic creations for a chance to be included in the 4th edition. 317 artworks from 241 artists in 49 countries were selected from over 5,000 submissions by an advisory board consisting of top artists and industry veterans.
After a brief introduction by the Editors, and a listing of the various categories of art in the book, EXPOSÉ 4 begins by introducing the “Grand Master”. The Grand Master is an artist, chosen by the advisory panel, who is renowned for their artwork and contribution to the digital art community. The Grand Master for EXPOSÉ 4 is Stephan Martiniere, an accomplished concept artist who has worked on many recent blockbuster science fiction movies. Several pages are devoted to displaying a nice selection of Stephan’s artworks.
EXPOSÉ 4 showcases works in 20 categories: Fantasy, Exterior Architecture, Interior Architecture, Portrait (Painted), Portrait (Rendered), Action, Conflict, Faery Folk, Creatures, Environment, Cityscapes, Matte Painting, Science Fiction, Abstract & Design, Product Design & Still Life, Horror, Surreal, Humorous, Whimsical and Transport.
Each art category begins with a showing of the Master and Excellence award winners. The award winning images are displayed full page (sometimes a two-page spread) to show off their detail. Being an art book, there is a minimum of text throughout. The title, software used, client, and artist name for each artwork is the only text found in the art galleries.
The quality of artwork in EXPOSÉ 4 is top notch, and even though it is all digital art, the countless styles and techniques presented ensure the artwork remains diverse and interesting throughout. The printing and quality of the book itself is also very good. The pages are glossy black, making the artwork stand out quite well.
While there are many full page images, we found ourselves wanting to see more large images. A good deal of artwork in this collection is intricate and detailed, and we really wanted a closer look at more of the art.
The book concludes with an index that features the names and contact information of the artists.
Our only regret with EXPOSÉ 4 is the price. At $49, the Soft Cover edition is the cheapest of the
three available editions: Hard Cover ($59 USD), Soft Cover ($49 USD) and Limited Edition ($145 USD). Still, if you are a fan of digital art, you won’t be disappointed. Overall, EXPOSÉ 4 delivers what it promises– The finest digital art in the known universe.
About Ballistic Publishing
Ballistic Publishing is the leading, award-winning, independent publisher of books for the digital arts industry. Dedicated to producing the highest quality publications celebrating the talents of digital artists worldwide, it is setting high standards in all areas of publishing from the quality of content, design and delivery to its responsiveness to the market. Ballistic Publishing shares a strong affiliation with the digital arts community through its sister organization The CGSociety (The Computer Graphics Society). Ballistic Publishing is based in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, with offices in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) and Tampa (Florida, USA). More information about Ballistic Publishing is available from www.BallisticPublishing.com.
