"The elements of a fantasy illustration need make no pretence of imitating life such as they must in, say, an illustration for a gothic, a mystery, or a novel," asserted fantasy artist Boris Vallejo in Fantasy Art Techniques. "Fantasy engages the imagination to a much larger extent; the creatures portrayed may come partly or entirely from your head. And yet, to be successful, the scenes from your imagination must be convincing enough for a viewer to be willing to go along with you: to willingly suspend his disbelief and say, 'Yes, this could work'."

Although his paintings won't be found hanging in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art or the hallowed rooms of the Louvre in Paris, Vallejo has made a name for himself in the art world. Reproductions of his fantastic paintings of well-muscled barbarians, sexy heroines, and bizarre beasts are especially hard to avoid if one...