Middle-earth Journeys

I love ALL of your illustrations for the 2010 calendar, Riv. MeJ's youngest member Meliel (also known as The Elder Miss L, who just turned 13 last Friday -- I now officially have a teenager in my home -- pray for me!) has thoroughly enjoyed her 2009 calendar and has already put in a request for a 2010 wall calendar for her room.

Here's my latest Tolkien-related piece. It's much larger than my others - I enjoy working at a larger size but the downside is that it's too big for the scanner I generally use at the office (this photo doesn't really do it justice). So it might never get submitted to Mallorn - which is a shame! It's also my first foray in paint into the Unfinsihed Tales. I just love Tuor and Ulmo!

I really love it . It's got really dynamic lines in it with the swirls of the conch, peaks of the waves and the billows on Tuor and Ulmo's cloaks. Is that a Rossbeigh Beach wind coming off the sea? I like the reflection of Tuor's sword on the wet sand too. I can practically feel the icy spray . Lovely colours too.

It's very Marbretherese. I'm going to stick it straight in the gallery for you .

I like it very much as well, marbretherese. One of your best. I think it is a great item for Mallorn. Can you find a place with a large scanner (FedEx/Kinkos here in the States)...a place that scans blueprints?

marbretherese, I really wish I could see the original! There are so many lovely details -- particularly the reflections in the water -- that I would love to see on the larger original. Ulmo rising out of the water is such an iconic moment. Well done!

It's WILD!

Thanks for your comments! At some point I will try and find somewhere with a large scanner because I really do prefer working to a larger size. It's much easier, somehow!

The bits which I think have turned out best are the sky, which I painted first, and Tuor's chain mail which I added in a hurry at the end because I wanted to get it finished I'm also really pleased with the touches of gouache - the white of Ulmo's hair and the crests of the waves, and the blue of the sky and Tuor's shield.

I've also managed to disguise the place where I damaged the surface of the paper with masking tape , hence the moody post in the sea to the left of the painting. I won't be using masking tape again on that particular paper!

I think the sky works really well too! I'd forgotten about the paper tearing incident. Glad you plodded on with it despite the annoyance - I was wondering what the post was.

It looks a bit like a ghostly Isenguard rising from the waves .

I love the latest M. The colors and style are terrific together. You say the image doesn't do it justice I'm sure you're right. Are the original colors light?

thanks Philipa! yes, the original is lighter and not quite as blue - Ulmo's kirtle, for example, is greeny-blue.

Ah, those subtle shades of blue - pesky little rascals, they just don't want to show their true colours!

The New Series

A new start for 2010. Change of medium to be sure. The first three of twelve.

Click to enlarge.


Lothlorien Elanor.
Image Riv Res.
© Rabbit Ridge Art™.



The Gladden Fields.
Image Riv Res.
© Rabbit Ridge Art™.



Rose-Brambles.
Image Riv Res.
© Rabbit Ridge Art™.

They're really lovely Riv - you have such a great eye for design and colour that they really look stunning. I particularly love the iris . How are you going to use these? Are they going to be cards?

Beautiful, Riv! what medium are you using for these?

marbretherese wrote:Beautiful, Riv! what medium are you using for these?

Markers/ink