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Published: 2014-11-11 01:09:01 +0000 UTC; Views: 5996; Favourites: 158; Downloads: 38
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'It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch, but Aragorn joined him. The others fell asleep. Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it. The breathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard. The swish of the pony's tail and the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises. Sam could hear his own joints creaking, if he stirred. Dead silence was around him, and over all hung a clear blue sky, as the Sun rode up from the East. Away in the South a dark patch appeared, and grew, and drove north like flying smoke in the wind.
'What's that, Strider? It don't look like a cloud,' said Sam in a whisper to Aragorn. He made no answer, he was gazing intently at the sky; but before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching.'
JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring: Book II , Chapter 3: The Ring Goes South
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Comments: 46
I really love what you did with Sam and his hair.
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Thanks! I might be said that it's not curly enough, but perhaps he washed it recently and it's not quite flicked into shape yet
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Glad you approve - it usually gets a mixed response in light of the movies.
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You're welcome! I'm actually trying to picture the LotR characters in a different way from the movies (particularly Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, and Denethor) but when it comes to the hobbits it's just really difficult!
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Well I'd love to know what you think of my other depictions, when or if you have the time.
Re these four characters, its really funny but I only pictured Boromir with a small beard and the rest beardless. And then I found out much later that the high-Numenoreans were typically beardless, and lo and behold, Aragorn, Denethor and Faramir are the three Men left in M-e who have the truest blood of Westernesse flowing through them. Of course Boromir did too, but its stated many times that he was less high than the others, and more forward in battle rather than lore. Re the hobbits, my main problem was with Frodo. He looks too young, and acts too young. I actually picture him as a hobbit version of 'Aramir' (Aragorn and Faramir) - obviously relative to his stature, but definitely a little elevated/distant from, and maturer than, the rest of the hobbits, even from the beginning. I think that's made pretty clear in the text - all three hobbits looks up to him, because he is elven wise and learned for a hobbit (Bilbo's influence). It was a shame that this was missing in the movie.
Again many thanks for commenting, it's greatly appreciated!
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You're very welcome, my friend! That whole 'Dudes with high Numenorean blood are beardless' thing is a major reason as to why I am trying to re-imagine my mental image if certain characters! Dang it I actually imagined Imrahil as a bearded Liam Neeson when I read RotK! Not to Mention that Imrahil seems to have another Elvish ancestor. 
P. S. I picture all the high Numenorean descendants as eventually growing beards in later life (like Elves); probably in their equivalent of late middle-age and early old age!
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One of my favourite Tolkien artists, Anke Eissmann, depicts Imrahil with a very thin moustache - so maybe that could be a concession! You may be right about Numenorean beards in later life though, but I'm not sure Tolkien is explicit on the matter.
Re Frodo, I'm pretty sure that his elevation above Bilbo in particular occurs because of the Quest, rather than in spite it. Before 'The Ring Goes South', I'm pretty certain Bilbo is still at the top of the 'hobbit hierarchy' between the five. For example, Frodo is enraptured by wonderment and amaze during his first stay in Rivendell, whilst Bilbo is thoroughly acclimatised, talking and jesting with the High Elves as if he is 'one of them' (again, relative to his stature). He is also fast friends with Aragorn and probably was acquainted with Arwen, if not even friends with her too. Frodo cannot claim to be anywhere near Bilbo's stature at this stage. Subsequent events changes things though, of course.
Interesting point re Frodo's favour among the Vala Irmo, Estë, and Nienna. This is probably to do with the fact that Gandalf, as Olórin during his youth, dwelt among the former two and often visited the latter's halls. I would add Manwë himself to this list also, Frodo being a particularly important instrument of providence and deliverance.
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Imrahil with a mustache? Maybe... 
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But this is the whole point, in my view, and connects again with why Manwë chooses Olórin personally -- almost as an afterthought -- to go to M-e with the other Istari, he being the one most learned in the ways of 'pity and patience', who was perhaps the most ostensibly 'weak', and who therefore 'feared' Sauron the most. It's by these means that Olórin discerns something in the halflings that others do not see ...
'Many are the strange chances of the world,’ said Mithrandir, 'and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.' (Silm: Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
... and as such it is therefore he who fulfils most faithfully the Valar's wishes, or more pertinently Ilúvatar's, by acting as the conduit by which the flow of providence, or grace, can come to fruition:
[Aragorn]: 'Let none now reject the counsels of Gandalf, whose long labours against Sauron come at last to their test. But for him all would long ago have been lost ...' (LotR: 'The Last Debate')
Re Anke's work and mine, I insist that she be the better artist 
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As others have already mentioned, I love Aragorn's expression. There's a bit of restrained tension in the scene, which I would expect from a seasoned Ranger like Strider. He seems alert, yet composed. Excellent work! I'm truly enjoying your pieces.
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Thank you so much - these are the small, and to some irrelevant, details that I hope can be discerned in my works. When I view illustrations, its this sort of thing that I pick up on. So it's nice to read that others do so in mine too 
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This is fantastic! I love Aragorn's eyes and that Legolas has brown hair.
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Ah, I'm glad you approve of my non-film interpretations 
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Of course! The innate magic of a book is that everybody is allowed to imagine their own interpretation. In this case, I'm sick of blond elves and I like your creativity!
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Have you noticed that they all have exactly the same hairstyle as well??
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Jup. That's a really sad example of how movies can hem in your imagination...
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Ah well!
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One of the main things I love about your art is you always know how the characters are truly feeling, whenever they are tired, weak or sad your always spot on. I see how restless Aragorn and Sam are. I'm not kidding when I say I hope a version of the Lord of The rings gets printed with your illustrations in it, that would be brilliant
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Ah this is a real compliment, so thanks so much. I've always thought that my figures/anatomy/human emotions needed improvement, so I've been striving to do so recently. Comments such as these really make me feel as if I'm on the right track. As for a copy of LotR with my images - I think that's every Tolkien fan's dream if they happen to paint the scenes too! I don't expect it to happen anytime soon, if ever!
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It certainly is a dream to see our art in a book, I don't have a particular thing
I like to draw lately so I can't picture exactly the kind of books I would like to illustrate.
But anyway... I think your human anatomy overall is truly VERY good, but sometimes
some sections of the illustration can look more 2 dimentional and others more 3D, unless that was your intent,
theres always room for improvement but but besides that which is no biggy.
As I said in previous comment It's the emotion that comes through your art that is the winner for me.
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Aw, thanks so much
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I mean just generally.
But only a little bit, it doesn't affect the quality of the artwork whatsoever.
these are interpretations or illustrations after all. Photo realism isn't necessary.
I would never suggest you change anything about your work, it is brilliant just the way it is
I always aim for photo realism in my artwork but that's just my style.
Artists wouldn't survive without the inspiration of others who have such different styles.
your artwork shows the love you have for Tolkien works and that is a beautiful artwork in itself
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What a nice thing to say - you're way too kind! Thanks a lot
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amazingly crisp and colorful. you did a great job!
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I thank you very much indeed!
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very beautiful drawing as always. The man sleeping in the background reminds me of Thorin lol but it must be boromir. I wonder if you have ever seen the movies? I like the way you capture them from your own mind.
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It is indeed Boromor, since Boromir is a man unlike Thorin 
Anyway, many thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. It's easy for me to demarcate between Tolkien's world and the movies, they're pretty much completely separate entities in my view
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Beautifully depicted scene! Painted to tiniest details, as usual, and I love it! I really like how you made Aragorn, because he looks almost exactly as I would always had imagined him if there were no movies. Great work!
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No need to change your imagination to accommodate the film(s)
Thanks, as ever. Further to our discussion about the virtues of masking fluid, the bush to the left of Aragorn's face was depicted using this technique
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I was just thinking about the bush
I knew the films before the books, but the movie V. Mortensen- Aragorn seems to me well chosen. And yours is just perfect!
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I don't think Mortensen looks nor acts kingly enough, or rather the transition from Ranger to King does not seem convincing enough for my tastes. He looks closer to my image of a First Age man of the House of Beor, but the heir of Elendil? Hmmm. But then again, the whole character is totally different; in the film he is reluctant, echoing the post-modern perspective, while in the book his whole life has been building up to this moment, and there is absolutely no hesitation.
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I definitely have to re-read the trilogy.
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Yeah, never hurts to pick it up again every once in a while
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Some of the letters I've read, some of them again and again, because there are some really interesting theological relationships and connections. I'd give it to PJ and then I'd say: "Read it 100 times otherwise you can't go home"
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And then tell him to read it again for homework
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so beautifully done <3
their look perfectly expresses their emotions and thoughts^^
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Wonderful to read, as ever! Thank you so much!
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Nicely done my friend! I love the colors and expressions.
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As ever, a comment from you is particularly nice to read and receive
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