Middle-earth Journeys

I always wondered what the city built by the Númenorean Kings would be like when not under attack by Sauron...in times of peace. It must have been full of all the good things of Middle-earth...food...music...culture...art. And the people who lived there must have done something to brighten up all that formidable white stone and contrary to what Ghân-Buri-Ghân stated, I think the people there did not eat 'stone for food'.

Peter Jackson certainly stuck with the theme of gray in his depiction of Minas Tirith and its people in the films...and after all, it was beseiged by Sauron. I would think that the people who lived there would have done everything possible to brighten up the city and add color to the trim of those white stone buildings.

Maybe this is what Minas Tirith looked like on Coronation day...

And the City was filled again with women and fair children that returned to their homes laden with flowers; and from Dol Amroth came harpers that harped most skilfully in all the land; and there were players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver, and clear-voiced singers from the vales of Lebennin...

...And when the sun rose in the clear morning above the mountains in the East, upon which shadows lay no more; then all the bells rang, and all the banners broke and flowed in the wind; and upon the White Tower of the citical the standard of the Stewards, bright argent like snow in the sun, bearing no charge nor device, was raised over Gondor for the last time.

Yes! With the words above (which I read first before looking at your image Riv) and your depiction of the streets of the white city...it all fits. Great job Riv.

You know, RR, your art is really a new take on Tolkien's world. I wonder if I am doing it an injustice to call it a feminine viewpoint. On one end, there is the fanboy type of art, all violence and extreme 'hero' stuff. You have the other side. Allen Lee is sort of in the middle. Does this make any sense?

Anyway, the fanboys have had Tolkien for too long!

Merry, I personally don't view it as feminine either, but I dare say most male artists would not approach it as I have. It, to me, is more the cozy/homey/lighter side...which is definitely present at times in Tolkien's writings.

Yes! That's the thing. I think we've talked about this before: that PJ made a mistake when he thought LOTR was a movie for boys and it was marketed all wrong. As much as it is about war, it is also about home and hearth and gardens and color and details. I think I'm being influenced by reading Campbell already when I call this the feminine side but, whatever we call it, it is there!

Merry wrote:Yes! As much as it is about war, it is also about home and hearth and gardens and color and details.

Precisely!

I must read Campbell.

Riv, I have been away on vacation and then swamped with the work that inevitably piles up when one has the temerity to actually take a vacation. Still wading through the detritus, but I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I like your depiction of one little corner in Minas Tirith. Nice view of the mountains as one looks down the main street, and lovely to see just a little of what the elves and Sam accomplished to bring some lovely plant life back to the city of white stone. Any chance the rat-catcher's stall is just around the corner?

Farmer Maggot's Kitchen

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

I like it very much especially the bacon.

Wonderful! You had to put bacon and mushrooms in there, or else it would just be any hobbit kitchen. I love all the details--in fact, my hand involuntarily moved to my touchpad, thinking that if I scrolled around, I could see more!

Actually, I like the dog. Haven't decided if he is Grip, Fang, or Wolf.

BTW...I am re-working the border (beans) background color to more of a light salmon color. The golden color behind the beans on the border, I believe turns the entire piece too yellow.

I agree. But when you do that, do you have to start all over or can you just edit what you have?

Merry, I do the borders in Chartpak ink. I just went over the yellow/gold with pink and got a lovely salmon color. If you know how to mix and blend the Chartpak ink colors, you can get some great results.

Now, all I have to do is scan it to a disc again in the next couple of weeks and then I will change the png files here.

I love the details, particularly the fact that the top half of the kitchen door is circular. And I think you're right about the border, Riv, I look forward to seeing the updated version!