Thank you Ladys
well, I will try to tell you this marvellous day, but I kindly request to you by advance to forgive me my errors
, and especially do not hesitate to ask to me whether you wish precise details
I am not given yet from my emotions : I met, considering, spoke, exchanged with John Howe and Alan Lee, the Gods of the drawing! . I was in Middle-Earth!
We arrived towards 10h40 at St-Ursanne, it is a very little medieval city full with charm.
As of the entry one is grabbed by Fantastique environment, thanks to the banners* representing drawings of John Howe, immense sculptures ** on various frontages
*Banners
All banners have the same size of approx. 100 cm x 350 cm. About 30 illustrations or drawings by John Howe, several of which from “The Lord of the Rings”. Digital print on cotton (300 gr./m2).
**Sculptures
The 12 sculptures were designed and drawn by John Howe. With the exception of the weathervane (metal) and the spear (wood) all the sculptures are built up identically : a metal frame, glued and moulded polystyrene, plaster, exterior acrylic dispersion and oil paint.
In the Cloister we immediately bought the tickets for the exposures of the drawings *** of John Howe
***Reproductions
All reproductions have the same size of approx. 100 cm x 70 cm. They represent 5 stages of the development of illustrations by John Howe, among which the one for the event « St-Ursanne la Fantastique ! ». Digital print on synthetic paper, laminated between plexiglas and forex.
We received at the same time the tickets for the dedications which were to begin at 14h. No the chance: only the 20 first would be bekam to a drawing, we were with the n° 97.98 and 99.
We saw a film of 45 mn (choice of slides used usually by John Howe like scene during his conferences.)
with the music of the LOTR, an environment very Tolkien thanks to the magic of the place in more and one its private individual in the "museum lapidaire… and then we saw the film of 26 mn “the lord of the castle - To the sources of Heroïc Fantasy” a film of Alexis and Yannis Metzinger (France, 2007), John Howe takes us along to discovered of the Castle of Haut-Koenisbourg to Alsace. This medieval castle shelters treasures such as the frescos of Leo Schnug, and its visit with John is the occasion of an introspection around Fantasy. (I live with only 1h30 approximately this castle in Alsace)
Then we went to walk, visit in particular the
Caveau with An exposure of paintings at honor of Saint-Ursanne…, a permanent gallery placed in an old cellar of the City, which accomodated an exposure of original works of John Howe, of which the drawings inspired by “the Lord of the Rings”, and other in new or seldom exposed works, in particular a series beginning again of the elements of the architectural heritage of St-Ursanne, such as the Castle or the St-Jean Bridge.
Then to lunch at the “Restaurant des 2 Clefs" (the 2 keys) where oh surprised, left Alan Lee there! My heart started to beat very quickly! We found ourselves on the bridge with him, from where I took several photographs besides, but without never annoying it, it would be inconceivable for me.
Our numbers having only to pass between 15h and 15h30, towards 14h20 thinking that the dedications had started, we decided to go for another littlel walk, in particular to the bookshop of the village. What was not our stupor to cross again Alan Lee accompanied this time by John Howe! New cardiac arrest!
(Oh they were late!
)
Very quickly, slightly impatient, we are turned over to the cloister, to take seat in the
queue, we was going to wait but at least we was at the ideal place for long waiting, more especially as the cloister is a very beautiful place. And in spite of the many poeple, we succeeded in making photographs of John Howe was drawing. Grreat!!
16h and finally our turn!
Alan Lee is quite simply adorable! terribly soft, attentive, and full with charm, John Howe nice and patient, both smiling, you looking at really and not only one simple distribution of signatures.
I could make sign my 2 books by each one, my daughter has his notebook of sketch of signed too, and they agreed to also sign for the 2 best friends of my daughter who unfortunately could not come.
My Husband offered to me an original lithography* of John Howe, signed by him, and numbered.
I am with the angels!
And of course I have the dvd
*here an exemple of the lithography :
© John Howe
and click to enlarge:
photos © Cheyenne Angel
you want more pics?
