Art & Artists Inspired by J.R.R.Tolkien

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:02 pm

Iolanthe wrote:Expect the usual illustrated reports .

Yes!!! $\:D/$

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:52 pm

Oh, I am so jealous!

By the way, I decided to use John Howe's Minas Tirith (without the characters) as the illustration for the flyer about my class. It copies well and fits the theme of the class. The flyer turned out so well that I've saved one to frame for my house!

Thanks for all the assistance.

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:45 pm

Iolanthe wrote:Marbretherese, Jonick and I will off to Morton in March tomorrow for ADC Books annual Tolkien art exhibition:

Lands of Enchantment

We're not sure what events are happening on which day but as it's a Saturday I imagine we won't miss much of the good stuff .

Expect the usual illustrated reports .

Awesome! I can't wait.

Parmastahir · Post by **Parmastahir** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:27 am

I have not posted in a while. But I have been busy!

After talking about it for the longest time (almost a year and a half), I pushed my son to help me create my new website:

www.tolkiencalendars.com

He designed it when he was in college (fall of 2007.) I had registered the domain name before then. I found someone to host for it me, and got my son to map it to that server. He set up some templates, and I have been spending most of my free time over the last month transferring all of the content from the Angelfire site. I think it is now all there . . . and I have added some content. I am now creating pages with the monthly illustrations. I am using the photos that I shot for the many Calendar of the Month features. I have programmed four so far:

1969 Ken Rudolph

1986 Hobbit Presse

2002 Pocket

2003 Ronnie Sellers (postcard)

I have 23 more that I will create soon. You can access the monthly illustrations by clicking on the year/publisher (which is a green, underlined link for those entries.) Once I get all of those programmed, I will start creating new Calendar of the Month features. Those now appear on the homepage of the website. In this manner, I will someday get most (if not all) of the calendar illustrations documented.

The only thing I need him to add is a visit counter. Then I’ll abandon the Angelfire site. Actually, I think I’ll program a simple link that will take visitors to the new site.

Comments welcome!

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:55 am

I do like your new site, Parmastahir - I was able to find my way around easily. I particularly like your link to the calendar signed by the Professor, and the letter of provenance which goes with it!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:21 am

Congratulations, Parmastahir! This is SO much easier to navigate and quicker to load, easier to read.... all round a much better showcase for your wonderful collection

. Like marbretherese, this is the first time I've seen your calendar signed by the Professor!

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:30 pm

Yes! This new site is so much better (as you've figured out long ago it would be

). Please let us know when completed. I'll have to change the link on my blog when completed.

Parmastahir · Post by **Parmastahir** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:32 am

Thanks for looking in, checking it out, and commenting. For most intents and purposes, it is compleat. As soon as I post this reply, I'll be creating more pages with the monthly illustrations. (Did everyone find the four I have created so far? I noted this under the "What's New?" link.) Have about 23 to go (from all past Calendar of the Month features.) Then it's on to new ones. Plus I still have a number of links to insert into various entries. Those for the mailers are working, and I still need to copy over the "intros" found at the top of each Angelfire page.

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:56 pm

I found them OK under 'What's New'

.

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:52 pm

Author's Tolkein book sketches see daylight

THESE original sketches are more telling proof of the talent of graphic author James Cawthorn.

The drawings are from a 1960 edition of The Lord of The Rings when he became the first artist, other than Tolkein himself, to illustrate the famous books.

In January the Chronicle told how creative James had written the screenplay for classic sci-fi movie The Land Time Forgot, but his achievements had gone widely un-noted for most of his life.

Since his death sister Maureen has been sorting through the pictures, trinkets and gadgets her eccentric brother hoarded at his Gateshead home.

And now she has finally managed to find the sketches, which many will recognise, but few will realise were created by Dunston-born and bred James.

Mum-of-three Maureen, 71, of Elwood Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, said: “I think the drawings are wonderful but I’m biased.

“He was a very talented artist and I think it’s lovely people in the area are now getting to find out about his fantastic achievements.

“I’m sure there are people, now very grown up, who remember seeing them in books as children.

“I suppose he’s played a very important part in the history of pop culture, particularly in the world of fantasy and sci-fi. There’s still a fantastic interest in his work, especially in those circles.”

When James died, aged 78, at the end of last year, he was living in a Northbourne Street council house in Gateshead, his fee from the 1975 film long spent.

It was during the 1970s he and pal Michael Moorcock penned the screenplay for The Land Time Forgot from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1918 novel.

Handwritten notes and sketches of the imaginary island, Caspak, where the blockbuster was set, are still carefully catalogued with movie posters and review cuttings, in Jim’s collection.

Maureen’s home is still overwhelmed by the treasure trove of creativity, which was her brother’s world, but she says she is comforted to have his pictures close by.

“I’ve actually made more mess trying to sort it all out,” she said.

“There’s just so much of it. But it is nice having his pictures here. It reminds me of how he could just sit and draw for hours.

“He always had the talent. I got a call from one of his old classmate who told me she’d paired up with him to sketch.

“She said they were only 13 or so at the time, but she was astonished hat how good his sketch had been. Even if he is eventually forgotten I know his work never will be.”

Maureen is planning to hold an exhibition of James work, although exact details have yet to be confirmed.

© ChronicleLive.co.uk

You must go to the original article and see the drawings. They are very good.

Original article can be found here.

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:59 pm

Thanks for this, Phillipa - what fabulous sketches! I just love his Strider, he's captured exactly the right mix of cragginess and nobility. Good for Maureen, I hope she manages to get that exhibition up and running!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:57 pm

I like his Strider too. You can really see in his drawing his strong background in graphic art and fantasy comic-book illustration.

Lindariel · Post by **Lindariel** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:16 am

Wonderful! I love the Strider sketch as well -- closer to Daniel Day Lewis, who I had originally imagined as Aragorn, until Viggo exploded on the screen and stole my heart.

Parmastahir · Post by **Parmastahir** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:20 pm

I posted a new CotM on:

www.tolkiencalendars.com

It is an interesting calendar in that it is not supposed to exist!

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:35 pm

That's interesting - I suppose it was supposed to be part of movie promotion and merchandising? Maybe this was a proof copy (though they're not usually cut and bound

) or a teaser for suppliers. I actually really like the August illustration with Dori clinging to the eagle and Bilbo clinging to Dori with his eyes tight shut! The February picture is straight out of Disney...

It's great that you can now feature your new calendars in this prominent way

. No missing them now!

Art & Artists Inspired by J.R.R.Tolkien

NEW TOLKIEN CALENDAR WEBSITE!!!

Thanks!

New Calendar of the Month