Middle-earth Journeys

Very, very lovely Riv. Can't wait to see how you decide to assemble and present the entire collection, juggling all those wonderful colors.

A little something new...

Moonrise Over the Green Hill Country

Oooooooooh! Something new indeed. A very different and more stylized approach. I really like this!

Yes, this is a different approach for you, more conceptual, maybe. (At least, this is the way our art students describe conceptual art.) It makes one think a little more. What was your inspiration for this?

Merry wrote:What was your inspiration for this?

This was a first for me. It actually took form and the concept came as I was doing it (although Tolkien is always in the back of my mind). I began with shapes on the paper. When using markers, you have to commit to colors from the very beginning. Marker colors are, for the most part vibrant and it is difficult (if not impossible) to make gradual color transitions (say...light blue to dark blue) the way you can with watercolors. This is a good format for me to challenge myself because I am timid with color when I do watercolors and my pieces most often come out quite light and pastel. Markers force me to make a decision and go with it, and the results are quite vivid

I use ChartPak markers and they have a great pallet of colors and they go down very uniformly on the paper. The only drawback to them is that they are pretty stinky.

I knew I wanted to work from a celtic perspective and the shapes lend themselves to that quite nicely.

I didn't realise this was Tolkien inspired when I saw it at V-W. It's a really beautifully designed piece Riv! But I wouldn't have had you down as 'timid with colour' from all your other wonderful watercolour pieces .

Why don't you try gouache? You can get very intense colours with it and you can also dilute it like watercolour to get subtle washes. Some of the colours are opaque and some transparent (the codes on the tubes tell you which is which) and they can be used mixed with watercolour as they are both water-based paints. You'd get the best of both worlds, the ability to blend and gradiate colours and intensity where you need it. I use it all the time!

Another one with markers...

Gathering Storm Over the Bruinen

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

OK, Riv. Now you're going to have to do TWO calendars. This is wonderful! More!

I love the little detail of the foamy bubbles at the bottom, Riv. I didn't spot that last time I saw it!

I've finally done my painting of Treebeard so now I need to get it scanned so I can post it here. It's been hanging over me for nearly 9 months and I just never got around to starting it. I think I've been almost afraid of doing it!

Treebeard! Finally!!!!!! It's only taken me a year to get around to painting him .

I love him Iolanthe!! Well worth the wait. I love all the detail too.

This is wonderful, Iolanthe! I would love to see a new edition of LOTR with your illustrations some day!

I've seen the original and I think it's fab. You must show it to Fangorn, Iolanthe!

Thanks everyone . I'm just glad to finally commit him to paper. I did the initial drawing such a long time ago - before the Fimbrethil drawing and painting - but got very nervous about actually painting him. Ents are so very difficult to visualise! In the end I realised that I couldn't see him any other way so it was time to 'pin him down' so to speak.

It is possible to lay awake at night worrying about Ent legs.....

Oh, my. I suppose one has to suffer for one's art. The legs do look a bit arthritic, or maybe I'm just projecting.