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Description
Wonder at the Waking of the World
Graphite on Paper, 10"x20"
6 February 2011

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"...It is told that even as Varda ended her labours, and they were long, when first Menelmacar strode up the sky and the blue fire of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world, in that hour the Children of the Earth awoke, the Firstborn of Iluvatar. By the starlit mere of Cuivienen, Water of Awakening, they rose from the sleep of Iluvatar; and while they dwelt yet silent by Cuivienen their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven. Therefore they have ever loved starlight, and have revered Varda Elentari above all the Valar.

In the changes of the world the shapes of lands and of seas have been broken and remade; rivers have not kept their courses, neither have mountains remained steadfast; and to Cuivienen there is no returning. But it is said among the Elves that it lay far off in the east of Middle-earth, and northward, and it was a bay in the Inland Sea of Helcar; and that sea stood where aforetime the roots of the mountain of Illuin had been before Melkor overthrew it. Many waters flowed down thither from the heights in the east, and the first sound that was heard by the Elves was the sound of water flowin, and the sound of water falling over stone.

Long they dwelt in their first home by the water under stars, and they walked the Earth in wonder; and they began to make speach and to give names to all things that they percieved. Themselves they named the Quendi, signifying those that speak with voices; for as yet they had met no other living things that spoke or sang...."

JRR Tolkien, from the Quenta Silmarillion

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I really like the beauty and the imagery of Tolkien, and that which he's imagined and put to paper; furthermore, his myths and legends have a framework and cohesiveness that is often lacking in others, especially those that have amalgamated over centuries or millenia from varrying sources. His creation myth, the Music of the Ainur, is both simple, and yet explains so much about the way things are and how they came to be, that is more intillectually gratifying than others I have read.

Anyways; I was truely inspired while browsing the account of *faestock Miss Jessica Truscott. The look, and the feel, and the overall emotion of the image really made me think back to this passage, and to innocence and first-time experiences of the world in general. I'm saddened that her stock account has left us, but it just brings to mind another Tolkien passage, to the effect of that which exists and is beautiful is admired in its time, but little is written or told of it when one can expereince it firsthand. Only then when it is lost does one record it in tale and in memory. And so we miss her contribution here on DA.

Anyhow, hope you enjoy! See the framed and bordered version here: [link]

Description
Wonder at the Waking of the World
Graphite on Paper, 10"x20"
6 February 2011

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"...It is told that even as Varda ended her labours, and they were long, when first Menelmacar strode up the sky and the blue fire of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world, in that hour the Children of the Earth awoke, the Firstborn of Iluvatar. By the starlit mere of Cuivienen, Water of Awakening, they rose from the sleep of Iluvatar; and while they dwelt yet silent by Cuivienen their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven. Therefore they have ever loved starlight, and have revered Varda Elentari above all the Valar.

In the changes of the world the shapes of lands and of seas have been broken and remade; rivers have not kept their courses, neither have mountains remained steadfast; and to Cuivienen there is no returning. But it is said among the Elves that it lay far off in the east of Middle-earth, and northward, and it was a bay in the Inland Sea of Helcar; and that sea stood where aforetime the roots of the mountain of Illuin had been before Melkor overthrew it. Many waters flowed down thither from the heights in the east, and the first sound that was heard by the Elves was the sound of water flowin, and the sound of water falling over stone.

Long they dwelt in their first home by the water under stars, and they walked the Earth in wonder; and they began to make speach and to give names to all things that they percieved. Themselves they named the Quendi, signifying those that speak with voices; for as yet they had met no other living things that spoke or sang...."

JRR Tolkien, from the Quenta Silmarillion

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I really like the beauty and the imagery of Tolkien, and that which he's imagined and put to paper; furthermore, his myths and legends have a framework and cohesiveness that is often lacking in others, especially those that have amalgamated over centuries or millenia from varrying sources. His creation myth, the Music of the Ainur, is both simple, and yet explains so much about the way things are and how they came to be, that is more intillectually gratifying than others I have read.

Anyways; I was truely inspired while browsing the account of *faestock Miss Jessica Truscott. The look, and the feel, and the overall emotion of the image really made me think back to this passage, and to innocence and first-time experiences of the world in general. I'm saddened that her stock account has left us, but it just brings to mind another Tolkien passage, to the effect of that which exists and is beautiful is admired in its time, but little is written or told of it when one can expereince it firsthand. Only then when it is lost does one record it in tale and in memory. And so we miss her contribution here on DA.

Anyhow, hope you enjoy! See the framed and bordered version here: [link]