Middle-earth Journeys

Good - just the effect I wanted .

I think this is terrific (in both senses of the word!), too, Iolanthe, but I like the style of some of your other work better. Maybe if you portrayed Glaurung walking through a nice garden before he incinerated it . . .

Now there's an idea . Yes - it isn't my usual style and that is part of why I had problems with it. The medium I normally use (ink and watercolour wash) doesn't (I think) suit such a dark subject - 'dark' as in dense tones and heavy colours. All that dark rock. I used more gouache than I normally do, making a different looking painting entirely and one much less 'me'. OR I should have just done what I originally intended and worked it up in pen and ink like the Denethor....

Iolanthe wrote: The medium I normally use (ink and watercolour wash) doesn't (I think) suit such a dark subject - 'dark' as in dense tones and heavy colours.

I think you're right, and it's good to experiment with different styles in any case. I like this dragon painting and I'm lucky in that I will be able to pop over and see the original to get the true effect of the colours It will be interesting to get some more feedback from the folks at Oxonmoot by showing it alongside some paintings in your usual style!

Very preliminary sketch of Cerin Amroth. Am taking some liberties. Just because Tolkien doesn't mention a pavillion doesn't mean there wasn't one.

True! Maybe - and this is just a suggestion as you are at the drawing stage - it could be the same shape but the pillars could be more organic looking? It would take it away a bit from the clash of the familiar Greco-Roman Doric look.

I'm glad you're tackling Cerin Amroth .

I tried that Iolanthe, but it came out looking like something out of PJ's films, which I didn't want. Maybe there is a happy medium there somewhere.

I like the look of it very much, but it also doesn't feel like Tolkien to me yet. Maybe when it is colored--Cerin Amroth is all about the colors of the place.

I like it thus far too. Maybe what Iolanthe has in mind with the organic theme can be simply added as creating the roof and pillars of the pavilion with many vines.

I've been drawing up a storm myself but nothing Tolkien oriented.

I have reworked it a bit and added some organics and lightness...just a wee bit. I think Merry is right about needing to see the colors. Lothlorien is so unique. It is like doing an autumn painting.

I can see why you want to avoid it looking too much like the architecture in the films. The elvish stuff looks wonderful but of course you want to be original!

I can't wait to see it in colour .

Anyone have any tips of the trade for using masking fluid? I've not used it before and I have a project I may try it on.

Philipa, are you talking about a clear sealer to cover a project or is it something else?

Is this to mask out a painting area with a removeable rubber solution? If it is then the best tips I have are:

a) make sure you shake the bottle really well

b) use a VERY cheap, fine tipped brush and thoroughly rub wet soap on it before dipping it into the masking fluid. When you've finished you can carefully tease the drying masking fluid off the brush (from the handle towards the tip) in a lump. If you don't do this you have to throw the brush away!

c) make sure any paint pools on the masking fluid are dry (or blotted up) before gently rubbing it off the paper. They can stay wet longer there than on the painting and you can end up with some awful smudging.

d) when lifting the masking from large areas roll it in gently towards the centre, from the edges, with your finger so you don't get any little ripped bits on the edge of the mask. Very gently does it.

How wonderful that you have some arty stuff going on

This is the advice I was looking for Sue. Thank you so much. I needed to try this product because the area around those needed to keep white were going to be wet.

Does it matter what kind of soap used prior to using the masking fluid? Would dish soap be better than say bath soap?