Paolo Barbieri’s StarDragons Blends Myth and Astronomy in 56 Fantasy Illustrations

Italian fantasy illustrator Paolo Barbieri has released StarDragons, a book featuring 56 detailed drawings that merge mythology and astronomy. Published by Edizioni Lo Scarabeo, the collection names dragons after the 48 Ptolemaic constellations and accompanying creatures after major stars. Barbieri, born in Mantua in 1971, has worked for 25 years as an illustrator for publishers including Lo Scarabeo and Mondadori, specializing in fantasy book covers. He uses both traditional pencil sketches and digital techniques, adapting digital tools to his classical style. In 2001, he served as color department director for the animated film Aida degli alberi, directed by Guido Manuli with music by Ennio Morricone, spending three months in Seoul learning a soft acrylic technique similar to that used by Studio Ghibli and Disney. Barbieri argues that fantasy has always existed in art, citing Raphael, Giambologna, Bouguereau, Dürer, Bosch, Bernini, Caravaggio, Cellini, Botticelli, Ingres, and Canova. He credits the Lord of the Rings film trilogy with broadening the Italian audience for fantasy. Each illustration takes two to five days to complete, with the initial sketch being the most mentally demanding part. Barbieri emphasizes the importance of social media for emerging illustrators but insists that professionalism with publishers remains essential. StarDragons costs €24.50 and has 127 pages.