The image of its city namesake, Los ángeles is a multifaceted book teaming with angels and gods. It’s where Sylvain Despretz has lived for the past twenty years, behind the scenes and next to the mightiest of the mighty. A renowned artist who works in the shadows, he has helped pen the visions of Ridley Scott, David Fincher, Andrei Konchalovsky, Mike Newell, Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick, to name a few. Storyboards, concept art, paintings and illustration – his palette of talents has been deployed to bring emblematic (The Fifth Element, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Eyes Wide Shut) and other lesser-known works to fruition.

This book is neither catalogue nor instruction manual – it is both, and yet so much more. Throughout the pages the author reveals his calling – that of an artist and craftsman putting his talent to work on the dream machine that is Hollywood. Peppered with anecdotes, observations and musings on the past two decades, this book is a unique must-have for all those who are interested in cinema, illustration and art in general.

Sylvain Despretz is an independent writer-director who has worked extensively in the USA and in Europe in the fields of storyboarding and illustration. His mentor in the early part of his career was none other than the late Jean “Mœbius” Giraud, the world-renowned artist.

This 400 paged giant tome showcases a dizzying collection of the artist’s most impressive concept art work and storyboards for major Hollywood films as well as his own personal work, and is pure eye candy from cover to cover.

(above & below) Concept art pieces and storyboards ( further down below ) for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000).

(above & below) Storyboards for Francis Lawrence’s I am Legend ( 2007 ).

(above & below) Storyboards for scenes from a never made live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira.

The later 1/2 of the book features more personal art work by the artist, and the artistic influence by his mentor Jean “Mœbius” Giraud can clearly be felt. Beautiful stuff.

Los ángeles is an endlessly fascinating volume showcasing a most splendid collection of illustrations, storyboards, concept art for the cinema as well as personal art work by the truly luminary artist Sylvain Despretz. The book is fairly pricey but given the range and scope of the material covered ( totaling 400 pages ) as well as the sturdy hard cover format it is presented in is well worth it, in my opinion. My highest recommendations.

Thanks to @blauereiter for the nod!
In lieu of Amazon, some people like to support the independents, you can order this book in its basic form or as a box set from Bud Plant Art Books. 😉https://t.co/gQARo1qvJ2 https://t.co/WMKps1ycko

— Sylvain Despretz (@The_Metaprogram) February 23, 2022

Los Angeles – Sylvain Despretz Art Book details :

– Dimensions – ‎11.3 x 1.69 x 8.74 inches
– hardcover, 400 pages
– Full color, in English

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