Middle-earth Journeys

Philipa wrote: Even if I found a suitable place in my house to put up a canvas or lay down a sheet of cold pressed watercolor paper someone would need something.

I sympathise, Philipa - it's almost impossible when both time and space are an issue. I'm lucky enough to have a small corner of a spare bedroom where I keep my painting materials out all the time, so I can pop in and do a quick ten minutes when time allows - although I often look at the clock and realise I've been three quarters of an hour Not easy if you have family commitments as well as your job and the stuff you do online!

That's the trouble with life in general - there is never enough time. And the more hobbies and interests you have (and I know you have several) the worse it is. One day, Philipa, one day....

I've been dabbling with my paints today and come up with something a bit different:


Spirit of the Trees

© Iolanthe

Very, very nice. Something a wee bit different for you, yet it has your unmistakable style.

VERY nice indeed. The idea of reflection is inspired.

Heck if only I could dabble as successfully as you. This is lovely Iolanthe.

Thanks!

I've made a few subtle changes - I thought the branches in the golden tree were too strong and I've toned them down. I also decided I didn't like the white 'flowers' on the green and have washed most of them over with yellow. I think the picture is more balanced now.

The picture also works the other way up .

Iolanthe wrote:The picture also works the other way up .

So it does! (she says, straightening up with difficulty ). It's lovely, Iolanthe, and I see how you came to cover your dining table with speckles . . .

It's covered with even more speckles now . I tried the 'put a bit of paint experimentally on a sheet and see what it looks like' technique and found myself staring at Glaurung in the ruins of Nargothrond .

I've always been terrified and fascinated by the idea of dragons (rather like Tolkien) and no painting I've seen really scares me enough. I've rather overworked the painting but have come up with a dragon that makes the T-Rex in Jurassic Park look like a pussy cat.

I haven't posted it yet - in fact I might not at all - because it's a complete jumble. Probably due to not drawing/planning it beforehand. And also because it scares the living daylights out of me .

In the meantime, here is the Tree painting the other way up to save mabreterese's (and everybody else's) neck :

That painting works for me either way Iolanthe!

Anticipating the coming of the dragon.

If you don't post that dragon painting after hyping it like that you'll have a mutiny on your hands.

Yes! I want to see the dragon too! I'll post my drawing of a dragon...to smooth the waters for you a bit.

Ok, I did this drawing in high school. This is only a piece of it, as I've never found a scanner large enough to scan the whole thing! LOL

It's about 3 foot by 3 foot or so. The top part of the drawing is cut off, it's the continuation of the arm/hand that is coming out of the desolate ground and it is holding a globe (much like a palantir!!! this was before I was introduced to LOTR) and the landscape/castle scene inside the globe is in color while the rest of the drawing is in black and white. It's all pencil.

Oh, and annabethblue is my dog's name, I tend to use it as a screen name online...so that's why it's on the drawing. It's not part of the drawing. lol

....ok, for some reason, the file won't attach...so I'll post the Photobucket link. Hope that is ok!

© elentarivarda

That's wonderful, elentarivarda! And you drew it at high school? Do you still draw/paint? It would be great to see some more Tolkien art on this forum from another artist . What a pity it's too huge for a scanner and we can't see it all (including the intriguing pre-LotR crystal ball). Alan Lee also makes huge drawings, just keeping going and adding more paper.

I had another look at my dragon today. I think I was trying to talk myself into posting it yesterday but it's still scary. Maybe if Peter Jackson wants a dragon to out-terrify the Balrog he can give me a ring. I swear the thing just emerged out of the swirls on the paper. The head is very overworked - the result of not planning or drawing it beforehand. Seen from below it looks a bit strange.

Anyway, here goes. Imagine you are in a cave at Nargothrond and this thing came round the corner, looming above you, with fire before it and smoke pouring out of it's nostrils.

Boo!


Glaurung stalks the caves of Nargothrond

© Iolanthe

Told you it was scary . I won't be exhibiting it at Oxenmoot 2008 .

And then there be dragons.....

Varda love the drawing of your dragon. As I read you had drawn this in H.S. it made me think of all the doodlings I did on notebooks, desks and report covers. Maybe I'd be famous today if I'd kept them.

Iolanthe, good choice... don't want to scare those Oxenmoot folks to death. That thing is more frightening than PJ's balrog for sure.

WOW!! Both are uniquely different and both are wonderful!

EV, (depending on where you live) I take my larger pieces to Kinkos to scan to disk. It is about $20 to create the disk, but worth it if it is a piece you have worked hard on and love. I would say your dragon is a powerful piece.

Iolanthe, I think your Glairung is superb...and definitely NOT over worked. The use of color is magnificent and it reminds me of the first impression I had when I saw that dramatic Chagall piece at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC.

Your Glaurung is scary, but you can't run from the brilliant colors.

thanks everyone! yes, i do still draw and paint...although most of my supplies are in storage right now, due to my move across a few states.

I've got pencils and a drawing pad though, so I'll have to start up some Tolkien drawings to share!

Oh, Iolanthe! I LOVE it! I like art that scares me/moves me/surprises me...it's invigorating!

I love the color in this one...very vibrant.