Middle-earth Journeys

That's exactly what I thought, too, Iolanthe, although I haven't noticed the line before, sadly. This is what a good illustrator does! In this part of Gandalf's reawakening, he can't remember some things and his looking right at the sun seems to suggest that the origin of his rebirth is, shall we say, cosmic?

One of the things I have noticed recently about Anke Eissman's work is that the palette is usually somewhat restrained and that gives the work a quality that I don't know how to describe, bu that I like very much. Alan Lee also does it, but not John Howe. Your Gandalf has it, too. I wonder if it is related to the 'northern-ness' that Tolkien describes--cooler and clearer, somehow. But like Sam, I'm sure I'm wide of the mark, if you take my meaning.

I think it's one of the properties of using pure watercolour. The medium itself (which Lee and Eissmann use) gives very soft and subtle tones. The more colourful and less realistic ones I've done were a mixture of watercolour and (for the stronger toned bits) gouache. I'll probably do some more like that again in the future when I've got these more realistically drawn ones out of my system - next stop Eowyn... or maybe an Entwife .

Oh. I think the Entwife, Iolanthe, we know how much Fangorn would like to see an Entwife!! Glad you finally had a chance to post the Gandalf painting, I've been waiting to see it on this thread since I saw the original. It's a lovely moment in the book and you've captured it perfectly. I'm enjoying your 'realistic period' very much!

Like Merry, I find paintings which use a restricted palette extremely atmospheric, and when doing a painting I find it integrates the colours more successfully, somehow, if I only use a handful of colours!!

Oh Io! Another painting I'm going to have to add to my collection. Just lovely!

Another beautiful painting Iolanthe.

I sent it to Andrew at Amon Hen and it will be the March cover . I just need to do some appropriate lettering to go over the top.

That's great news, Iolanthe! it looks like they are going to print my Lothlórien poem at some point, too - perhaps we'll both be in the March issue!!

Wouldn't that be cool . MeJ'ers rock!

What fabulous news ladies! Congratulations!

Our members really are making names for themselves--congratulations!

Good job to you both.

Iolanthe, I was wondering if I could use this image to post an introductory entry on my blog Thoughts from Eryn Losgallen. I think this coming year I will be shifting the focus to just Tolkien oriented entries. I'd like to post the image and do a small write up to include your blog and site links.

I don't know if you noticed but I have a hit counter on the blog and those numbers go up when I add a post. It would be good exposure for you.

Post away . I think that's great! I've discovered that Tolkien blog posts do get picked up easily on searches so it's definitely worth posting them!

I think this is the final on this one...framed.

© Rabbit Ridge Art™

Starting to work on a new idea.

Love the little bee hive. Very good work Riv. As I go slowly updating this Tolkien blog of mine, you'll find RRA making it's appearance soon.