Members' Art, Prose and Poetry

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:44 pm

Marbretherese, you and Iolanthe have both written 'I reckon' in the last few days. It's funny to us Yanks--that's old-fashioned cowboy language here! Is that common usage in British English?

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:12 am

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:23 am

Riv, I love your new picture

. It works so well for that particular one which was almost stained-glassy anyway. It looks so homely. I'd love that (and the previous one) as a real stained glass panel. Now there's an idea! Middle-earth stained glass

. Know any glass artists??????

Merry wrote:Marbretherese, you and Iolanthe have both written 'I reckon' in the last few days. It's funny to us Yanks--that's old-fashioned cowboy language here! Is that common usage in British English?

Yes, it is

. I never reckoned that I'd have something in common with cowboys! Those old-fashioned cow-pokes must have been copying us

.

Here's my Gandalf the Grey. It started as a doodle while sitting in front of an old film with a mega sore throat yesterday. I really liked the face so I decided to ink it. Then I thought I'd see if I could still do cross-hatching. I used to do a lot of cross-hatched ink drawings many years ago and Marebretherese had to have a go at it on her recent life-drawing course so it's been in my mind to do some more. It's a very obsessive technique using individual strokes to shade. Here it seems like millions. Ideal for when you've got a temperature!

Gandalf the Grey

I'm now thinking that I might do a whole series of characters as it's something I can nibble away at while watching TV

.

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:00 pm

Iolanthe, I can give you no greater compliment on this new piece other than to say...you have captured the essence of Gandalf. Simply wonderful!!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:36 pm

Maybe I should have a fever more often

.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:52 am

He's got great eyes, Iolanthe: lively and sad at the same time. The shading technique really works there.

I love the second 'stained glass', too, RR. It seems to allow you to use brighter colors, and the border is fantastic!

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:37 am

Iolanthe, I love your drawing. Mind you if I'd attempted all that cross hatching I think it would have given me a temperature . . . !!

Riv, I thinks this stained glass idea is fantastic. I really like the second one and I agree with Iolanthe - there must be somewhere you could get these made up into glass panels!!

Lindariel · Post by **Lindariel** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:32 pm

Riv, you certainly do have a wonderful feeling for the "stained glass" effect. Just lovely!

Iolanthe, I have no words! What an extraordinary likeness, and I just can't imagine how LONG it took you to do this or summoning up the patience for all of that cross-hatching. That would have driven me nuts! It is a beautiful piece. Will we be seeing it on the V-W Marketplace, by any chance (as well as your other more recent works)? My wallet is itchy.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:58 am

Possibly! I'm in the middle of setting up my own website so some, but not all. will go there

. Actually the cross-hatching doesn't take me that long. The Gandalf took about 3 hours.

Here's another - finally a picture of Aragorn with the Palantir! I've gone even crazier with the cross-hatching here and produced something that's almost impossible to reproduce successfully. It would like fine in an exhibition but it hates the scanner. It's all a process of seeing what works and what doesn't...

Aragorn decides he must use the Palantir

It's very, very difficult to get my original pre-Viggo Aragorn out of my head and onto paper because he is...well... sort of perfect. This doesn't even come close

. But at least it doesn't look like a certain actor... does he?

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:10 pm

No, Iolanthe, this is not VM, and I think you're right to try to create art that is not derivative of the movies. Once again, I am drawn to the eyes here--perfect! They say, I know I have to do this, but lord, I know I'm going to have to pay for it when I do. I also like the hint of a Rohan border above. I actually like the hint of it rather than the whole thing: it reminds us of where (book) Aragorn was when he looked into the palantir without making it a distraction.

Well done indeed!

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:53 pm

This is excellent, Iolanthe, and no, it doesn't look like V-M; although your Aragorn is holding onto his sword in a manner which suggests he takes it everywhere with him

- which fits the storyline too. I love that sword, and his expression of foreboding . . . !

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:59 pm

My imaginary Aragorn has a look all his own and I also am thrilled to see you give him his own personality.

Needless to say...I love the piece Iolanthe!

Gotta LOVE that Aragorn!

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:44 am

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:39 pm

Lovely!!!! For this one I definitely prefer the new version over the old - it gives it a lot more vigour and clarity. I love it Riv

.

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:15 pm

I agree Iolanthe. It took me a while, but I think I have stumbled onto a style that feels right and makes me happier about the end result.