Middle-earth Journeys

Iolanthe wrote:Well well! I haven't read Roverandom but I bought myself a copy at the Oxonmoot because there were quiz questions on it!!

And by another huge coincidence a group entered the costume parade dressed as these very characters - including the mermaid.

Roverandom's great fun. I'm glad you got a copy because I was beginning to think I was the only person on these forums who'd read it (assuming you do get round to reading it along with all your other books from the moot!). I'm looking forward to seeing that photo!

I started reading it today, mabreterese. We can start a discussion on it .

I should have Part 2 up soon with the photo in all it's glory but it's back to work tomorrow so I'll be short of time.

OK I don't feel so bad having not heard of Roverandom. Thanks for the challenge marbretherese.

Roverandom is an early children's story - but of course a very good one! Tolikien started telling it to John and Michael to cheer Michael up when he lost a toy dog on the beach at Filey, where the family were on holiday.

The boys both appear in the story (so does Edith) but apparently Michael lost interest once the dog's adventures didn't involve the little boys any more. John however really enjoyed it, and my edition of the book is dedicated to him.

Tolikien's watercolour of the Mer-King's palace is a Roverandom-inspired one. From memory I think Roverandom was published much later than it was invented.

See - I always wondered why he painted the Mer-King's palace. It's a great illustration, one of my favourites. It's all falling into place now (and would have done so earlier if I'd just got around to reading the Hammond and Scull book on his paintings instead of just looking at the pictures .)

I tried reading Roverandom a few years ago but it didn't catch my fancy. Should I resume the effort?

It hasn't got a great deal of depth - it's very much a children's story and I don't think it was ever intended to be more than that - but I personally enjoyed it, partly because of the real story behind it. Maybe give it another try? I got a bit bored by the man-in-the-moon stuff but I enjoyed the Mer-King's palace part (as you can probably tell! )

Just double checked my edition of Roverandom and at the time Tolkien created the story John was eight and Michael was five. And although John was the one who stuck with the entire tale, the book is in fact dedicated to Michael (not John, as I posted earlier) who originally lost the toy dog and started the whole thing off!

I just can't stay away from Tolkien! He is truly such an inspiration. I am starting what I hope is a series called Middle-earth landscapes. Here is the first attempt at a piece called Green Hill Country...two versions.

Eventually they will be offered at Rabbit Ridge Art as prints only, along with the other 12 Tolkien pieces currently only seen on the greeting cards.

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

Lovely Riv! Makes me wish I could saunter up to one of those cozy hobbit holes and invite myself in for tea!

I like the idea of a Tolkien landscape series, Riv . The painting certainly invites you in and on right through the landscape. You say this is a first attempt? If so I'd say it was a very good one!

I'm in two minds about the bright yellow border which is very acid and the cyprus trees. Somehow the round and curvy landscape needs those strong dark uprights - they are graphically very good in the painting - but they aren't very shire-like (at least if you think of the Shire as part of middle England). But then Tolkien himself quite often painted trees that shape into his landscapes so that's quite a precedent!

I think a Tolkien landscape series is a great idea, Riv! I definitely prefer the version without the border (nothing wrong with the border itself but to me it's a bit too strong for the picture). Perhaps you could use the border on something else!

Nice clouds, too! I agree that the cypress trees aren't quite right, but it seems that there should be more trees around somewhere. And I like being able to discern 'the Road' in the distance.

The greens are lovely! It will be fun to see new artwork from you, RR!

You know, they are very Tolkien like in themselves. Are you channeling the old fellah while you paint Riv?

This one was a particular challenge to create that many shades of green. There is just something pastoral to me about the cyprus trees. If those far fields are vineyards...who's to say.