The Art of Alan Lee and John Howe

“Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron, or Gorthaur the Cruel. In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aule, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people. In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part,  and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself. But in after years he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void.” - The Silmarillion Paintings by John Howe

"Not far from the mouth of the Forest River was the strange town he heard the elves speak of in the king’s cellars. It was not built on the shore, though there were a few huts and buildings there, but right out on the surface of the lake, protected from the swirl of the entering river by a promontory of rock which formed a calm bay. A great bridge made of wood ran out to where on huge piles made of forest trees was built a busy wooden town, not a town of elves but of Men, who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon-mountain." - The Hobbit - A warm welcome - JRR Tolkien Top illustration by Alan Lee

Caudimordax and Egidio by Alan Lee.

Sketch of Moria Architecture by Alan Lee

"Full on the town he fell. His last throes splintered it to sparks and gledes. The lake roared in. A vast steam leaped up, white in the sudden dark under the moon. There was a hiss, a gushing whirl, and then silence. And that was the end of Smaug and Esgaroth,…"  The Hobbit - Fire and Water - JRR Tolkien "Fairy tales are more than true — not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.” - Neil Gaiman llustrations by Alan Lee

Illustrations by John Howe for The Lord of the Rings

Rivendell, by Alan Lee. Such an amazing painting, definitely…

John Howe, Dragon’s Milk

Fun facts: This video is the reason why I decided to be a set designer.

by Alan Lee

SOURCES: That commentary/interview video that I mentioned. Seriously, can’t remember which one. But it’s one of the, like, 8 hours of interviews included with the LOTR Extended Edition DVDs…

"It’s kind of like being a little kid again. You get to sit at the table with the edge of the table under your arms."—John Howe on the set of Beorn’s house [x]

Alan Lee

John Howe Concept Art

by John Howe