Middle-earth Journeys

I think that's a good idea! We have some real gems on this thread .

The latest addition to the Riv Res gallery.

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

That's great, Riv, you've done the Gaffer's garden . I love the half-door and the curtain blowing through the window, and the ladder in the orchard with the basket of apples. I also love the persepective of the vegetable plot which really works very well.

One thing though - the top of the tree coming over the top border has an odd effect of pushing it forward somehow. It's because everything else in the border is near us (the big flowers) yet the tree is far away.

Iolanthe wrote:One thing though - the top of the tree coming over the top border has an odd effect of pushing it forward somehow. It's because everything else in the border is near us (the big flowers) yet the tree is far away.

I think you're right about that Iolanthe. It is almost like that tree is floating. I am going to try arcing that interior frame around it see if that pushes it back visually. Wish me luck.

It's great to have somebody who understands perspective, isn't it? I woulddn't have been able to tell what the problem was. I love the detail here, too--down to the little blue boots at the door. The whole thing just makes me happy!

I think the perspective on this one be a little better.

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

Here is the big version so you can see the details...

http://www.middle-earth-journeys.com/we ... ferbig.jpg

After a absence that has lasted too long I'm so pleased so find so many new wonderful artworks posted! They are truly beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.

I love the hollyhocks and the sunflowers framing the garden, Riv - it looks just like a rural English landscape!!

I do like the change in the trees perspective Riv. Gaffer sure had a nice garden.

Just lovely, Riv! And we know that many of those plants are "roots and taters," the Gaffer's specialty.

Lindariel wrote:Just lovely, Riv! And we know that many of those plants are "roots and taters," the Gaffer's specialty.

Actually Lindariel, you can't see it on this small version, but there is a small sign that says Taters in front of the two rows of po-ta-toes.

That's it! Much better, it looks right now . I hadn't noticed the little boots and the brush and spade. So much detail to enjoy!

Here is the result of more random dabbling. I wanted to try sprinkling washes with salt after marbretherese discovered the technique at her art class. I also wanted to try another tree picture as I seem to be obsessed with Tolkien's trees at the moment!

I quite like the result but I see this as a sketch for another landscape watercolour that will have better control and balance. For a start I'll put the salt in a more sensible place - at the time I didn't know where the effect would work best or how big the tree would be in the picture. At the moment it looks like a winter snow scene, but I suppose there is no reason why we shouldn't have the Tree of Gondor in mid-winter!

The White Tree

© Iolanthe

There is a fundamental boo boo in this picture (another reason to do another version) but I'm not going to tell you all what it is as it will spoil it and, well, I still like the way it looks really .

Well, I don't know about fundamental flaws, but I like this. There's something very much alive about it, even in winter. And I like the little guard for context.