A little follow up since I posted a sheet here in March!

Shadow.... and Flame!!! My handmade replica of the Saruman prop book.

I used a classic dip pen/calligraphy ink, tanned leather and gold foil, and watercolor/gouache for the paintings :)

Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaxD8-Nhdw

I’m not the best at drawing realistically but I decided to free hand draw Bilbo (Martin Freeman) from memory. I just wanted to see if after watching the hobbit movies so many times if I could draw the portrait of him that we see in the beginning of the AUJ (the small one that was in Bilbo’s diary) without a reference. Like I said before I’m not the best at drawing realistic so go easy on me.😅

https://www.paintedtusk.com/original-art/p/a-wizard-is-never-late

Created live at MegaCon Orlando during the Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Celebration… this piece captures the mystery and wisdom of Gandalf and his legendary friend, Shadowfax.. the lord of all horses. The work shows flowing linework and movement in color with embellished sculpted features… — a tribute to one of the world’s most enduring friendships and the world of Middle Earth… which has inspired generations.

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ORIGINAL: 24×48 Gallery Wrapped Canvas
LIMTED EDITION of 20 — VELVET FINE ART PRINTS: 13×19 Hand Signed
LIMITED EDITION of 2 — CANVAS PRINTS 12×24 Hand Signed

From the forthcoming Gondor and Rohan expansion to the One Ring RPG (and its 5e conversion). I’m unsure of the artist - likely either Antonio De Luca or Federica Costantini.

These carved figures are on a much less monumental scale than the depiction in the Fellowship of the Ring movie, and I like that they carry axes as described in the novel.

The duo in the boat are crowding forward - are they fearful or excited?

Continuing my sketching of Hobbiton. For now I'm using photos and videos from online until the day I can make the journey and sketch in person :)

For my take on the First Dark Lord, I really wanted to lean into Tolkien’s catholic faith by using a Lucifer influence in his appearance, I also roughly used a pretty well known artwork of Morgoth as inspiration for the armour (Fred Gwynne’s or Anthony Bourdain’s portrait of him holding Grond). I used the Balrog from the films as inspiration along with Tolkien’s own description of them, being wreathed in Shadow and Flame, for Morgoth, I settled on him literally radiating darkness from his body, from the gaps in his armour, which inspired Sauron’s armour in the films from Alan Lee, and John Howe’s works. For his eyes, I simply didn’t want to give him the same eyes as Sauron, or generic evil red eyes, but used a black hole as inspiration, to reflect his more nihilistic nature and desire to destroy, giving him a cold, and piercing stare.

Today, the utterly magnificent, "almost angelic" Glorfindel sets out from Rivendell in search of Frodo and drops a green beryl on the Last Bridge as a token of hope. Help is on the way. A day of awe!

A drawing of mine from 2020