Gnóme

A Long Expected Party

...

And there was also one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceedingly, as Gandalf intended. The lights went out. A great smoke went up. It shaped itself like a mountain seen in the distance, and began to glow at the summit. It spouted green and scarlet flames. Out flew a red-golden dragon -not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, and many fell flat on their faces. The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion.

'That is the signal for super!' said Bilbo.

...

(J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord od the Rings - The Fellowship od the Ring)

Illustration of Aragorn as Strider.

„All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.“

J.R.R. Tolkien

Not all those who wander are lost...

Underpainting for the illustration of Aragorn as Strider.

When the Thrush Knock.

My little sketch of the Old Thrush and Durin's Day.🎨

...

At that very moment he heard a sharp crack behind him. There on the grey stone in the grass was an enormous thrush, nearly coal black, its pale yellow breast freckled dark spots. Crack! It had caught a snail and was knocking it on the stone. Crack! Crack!

...

J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit - or There and Back Again (XI - On the Doorstep)

Acrylic, 130x180mm

I'm trying to rework my older painting from 2021.

...

"There are the emblems of Durin!" cried Gimli.

"And there is the Tree of the High Elves!" said Legolas.

"And the Stars of the House of Fëanor," said Gandalf. "They are wrought of ithildin that mirrors only starlight and moonlight, and sleeps until it is touched by one who speak words now long forgotten in Middle-earth. It is long since I heard them, and I thought deeply before I could recall them to my mind."

"What does the writing say?" asked Frodo, who was trying to decipher the inscription on the arch. "I thought I knew the elf-letters but I cannot read these."

"The words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-earth in the Elder Days," answered Gandalf. "But they do not say anything of importance to us. They say only: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. And underneath small and faint is written: I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs."

...

Arvedui, Last King and Icebay of Forochel.

"Do not mount on this sea-monster! If they have them, let the seamen bring us food and other things that we need, and you may stay here until the Witch-king goes home. For in summer his power wanes; but now his breath is deadly, and his cold arm is long."

This is a sketch of Strider singing a song about Beren and Lúthien.

...

"I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel," said Strider, "in brief - for it is a long tale of which the end is not known; and there are none now, except Elrond, that remember it aright as it was told of old. It is a fair tale, though it is sad, as are all the tales of Middle-earth, and yet it may lift up your hearts." He was silent for some time, and then he began not to speak but to chant softly

...

(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)

This is a sketch of the Song of Eärendil (Eärendillinwë), composed by Bilbo Baggins in Rivendell.

"Eärendil was a mariner

that tarried in Arvernien

he built a boat of timber felled

in Nimbrethil to journey in..."

(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)

Cerin Amroth

...

At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was erapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had benn in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. "Arwen vanimelda, namárië!"

...

(J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring)

It is the story of the great love of Aragorn and Arwen. This illustration it will be reminder of their engagement in 2980 and Aragorn´s memories in 3019.

The Echo of the Music of the Ainur

...And it is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance else that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen...

(J. R. R. Tolkien, Ainulindalë - The Silmarillion)

Cerin Amroth

"Arwen vanimelda, namarië!"

(J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring)

Battle of Dale (War of the Ring)

I finally got back to illustrating the Battle of Dale. I didn't quite like some of the details, so I decided to redo them.🎨

I played more with the heraldry on Brand's shield, where I chose the theme of a thrush with a black arrow. Behind these symbols is fire. I added a new text to this heraldry - it is what Bard the Bowman (Brand's ancestor) says just before he shoots a black arrow at the dragon Smaug.

...

‘I grieved at the fall of Thorin,’ said Gandalf; ‘and now we hear that Dain has fallen, fighting in Dale again, even while we fought here. I should call that a heavy loss, if it was not a wonder rather that in his great age he could still wield his axe as mightily as they say that he did, standing over the body of King Brand before the Gate of Erebor until the darkness fell.

'When you think of the great Battle of the Pelennor, do not forget the battles in Dale and the valour of Durin's Folk. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor.'

(J.R.R. Tolkien, Appendix A: Durin's Folk)

"In a hole in the ground..."

It was originally supposed to be a relatively simple illustration, but it ended up being more complex than the my "Battle of the Dale" illustration. I painted this acrylic illustration for over 55 hours.

The Battle of Dale - War of the Ring

...

‘I grieved at the fall of Thorin,’ said Gandalf; ‘and now we hear that Dain has fallen, fighting in Dale again, even while we fought here. I should call that a heavy loss, if it was not a wonder rather that in his great age he could still wield his axe as mightily as they say that he did, standing over the body of King Brand before the Gate of Erebor until the darkness fell.

'When you think of the great Battle of the Pelennor, do not forget the battles in Dale and the valour of Durin's Folk. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor.'

(J.R.R. Tolkien, Appendix A: Durin's Folk)

...

The history of the Northern kingdoms is my favorite from the Tolkien universe. It's probably the most difficult painting I've ever painted. Composition, colors, but also emotions. I painted this acrylic illustration for over 50 hours.

Some sketches from The Silmarillion.

"Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow;

Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow."