One thing TROP2 did at prestige TV level and stood out from other productions or even its own precedents was the thematic definition of “goodness” as not necessarily a set of visceral or purely consistent actions but *persistent* and *repetitive* attempts for each new day, moment

Galadriel said this about Celebrimbor’s proposal btw

Tolkien’s Elves did kill animals and cut trees btw; this whole “we’re vegetarian and we don’t touch trees” thing is very much an extreme cinematic exaggeration of the caution they have against untamed consumerism in the lore. They’re “respectful” and restrained, not abstinent. +

Let me dissect what this might mean, with a timeline. Gandalf (via Aragorn) begin his search for Gollum in TA 3001 when Frodo is 33 yo. In the film, this is when Gandalf leaves after Bilbo’s bday and comes back with potential answers fairly quickly but it’s actually 17 years +

*prof creates an entire universe to tell the story of unending calamities caused by the earthly desire to resist change and passage of time unnaturally* His fans a century later: I DON’T WANNA SEE ANYONE ELSE PLAYING ARAGORN OR LEGOLAS USE AI DO WHATEVER TO CATER TO MY NOSTALGIA

"[The Elves] thus became obsessed with ‘fading’, the mode in which the changes of time [...] was perceived by them. They became sad, and their art (shall we say) antiquarian, and their efforts all really a kind of embalming[...]" — J.R.R. Tolkien, in a letter to Milton Waldman, 1951

slowly but surely going to move some of my art here. i’ll start with my absolute fav, my dearest elwing 🕊️ #silm #silmarillion #tolkien #elwing #lotr #art

Making of ‘The Dream’, a small portion of which is coming up with the image, and mostly me changing my mind about things until what I see feels right. Accompanied by Gregson-William’s ‘A Narnia Lullaby’ which enchanted me, unironically, as a child.

Lúthien sprang into the air, and her voice came dropping down like rain into pools, profound and dark. She set upon Morgoth a dream, dark as the Outer Void where once he walked alone. Then Beren drew forth the knife Angrist; and from the iron claws that held it he cut a Silmaril.

A reflection on this: They won’t be able to make everyone happy with the parts they have to make up, particularly regarding Galadriel and Celeborn during The Last Alliance. Their involvement in this climactic event is unclear and they’ll have to be full-on creative about it.+

The Stranger Things discourse joined by the bitter memories of GoT’s final seasons is making me feel thankful that TROP has been planned as 5 seasons from the get go with an overall story in mind instead of a “let’s see how it goes” approach to scoping the end-to-end project

Yet another Christmas passed…

The impenetrable home literally and metaphorically was that of Galadriel btw which is why Sauron was fixated on her just saying

I love the creative cross-contamination of John Howe’s Witch King (top-left) transforming into PJ’s Sauron, and his Morgoth (bottom-left) turning to PJ’s original Witch King (bottom-right) which was replaced with the one in the final cut bc audiences could mistake him for Sauron

You can tell that LotR was written by an academic because Gandalf disappears for like 20 years doing research to answer a single question.

“[Sauron] visits Eregion and is rejected by Galadriel and Celeborn. He sees that he has met his match in Galadriel; he dissembles his wrath, and gets round Celebrimbor.” “And he endeavoured to placate [Galadriel], bearing her scorn with outward patience and courtesy.” ‘Gift’ 🎁

Some Ainur sketches I haven’t touched in years

Thinking thoughts: Eärien revealing the Palantír before Míriel’s coronation served as the final scandalous event that Pharazôn needed to capitalize on in order to seize the sceptre for himself, therefore substituting for what otherwise would be his unlawful wedding to the queen

*war of wrath begins* everyone:

Doing things 3 months late due to the person I am but hey still doing it

It’s almost the awards season

Screaming sobbing throwing up and above all understanding Elendil here

This is FANTASTIC. It really epitomizes Elendil's struggle, how the draw between Gil-Galad and Miriel is also between death and life

Míriel, the last faithful ruler of Númenor, & Elendil, heir to the Lord of Andúnië, would be anchors to each other maybe but Gil-Galad saw only one rise above the raging seas. How Elendil’s heart was torn into two is a lost tale to me. ‘The Pearl and The Golden Leaf’

Hello Free Folks, I've updated my print shop to include my latest Tolkien illustrations, as well as others that I made in the past but never made available. I also adjusted the lighting of old ones for better print quality. You can get prints at: www.inprnt.com/collections/...

"Galadriel went not to Nargothrond, for in Doriath dwelt Celeborn, and there was great love between them.” I tried to imagine how Galadriel and Celeborn first met in the cavern-city. What if he asked for a dance; and it felt as if they were the only ones the lamps illuminated.

There are some people here who are not depicted very obviously to be someone. Was there anyone you were unsure of and then made your own decision? I’d love to hear about it because there are no wrong answers. I even left some open to interpretation.

A family portrait for the House of Finwë Portrait includes the spouses of Finwë and his sons but not the grandchildren. I’ll post a monochrome photograph version below (couldn’t help myself) along with a name list but it’s totally up to you to decide who is who when in doubt +

“‘I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. And he gropes ever to see me and my thought. But still the door is closed!’” I realized a dream project. 1/4

Once I made this meme of Morfydd standing in front of the collapsing Barad-dûr and she posted it on her IG. Then last month when I couldn’t go meet and take a selfie with her bc I was sick, I added myself to the meme and she signed it for me with lovely words ❤️

The sons of Finwë, each a prince once, each a high-king, each with a life full of tragedy: Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin. Last week in a museum I’ve been looking at ancient busts, cracked, missing bits and pieces, very beautiful and also grotesque at times. 1/2

Hi Folks! Share with me (in replies) any Tolkien character, event, scene, concept (canon or headcanon) what you wish to see illustrated in my style. Doesn’t need to be a detailed suggestion, any little thought or wish is welcome. Will add it to my inspiration list ✨

Great Wave took Míriel; the last legitimate ruler of Númenor was devoured along with her realm. Her cry is the last thing heard in the island kingdom. Was it fear, begging to be spared or sadness? In this illustration I suggest it together but surpassing the others it was: Rage

Love reading The Children of Húrin bc no matter how bad my day is, this guy is likely having an even worse day than me #TúrinTurambar

The speech Galadriel gave at Fëanor’s funeral… More touching that tears of Nienna

“… Galadriel went with Elladan & Elrohir to recover Celebrían and she brought down the fortress she was being held in much like Dol Guldur centuries later.” said oomf of an au, and I said hold my beer. ‘Mother’s Wrath’

The 180° angle view that was the og sketch

“But Túrin tearless turning suddenly on the corse cast him, and kissed the mouth cold and open, and closed the eyes.” “Thus ended Beleg Strongbow […] at the hand of him whom he most loved; and that grief was graven on the face of Túrin and never faded.” My latest work 🏹 🖤 🗡️

I think my *first-born* Uruk-hai ended up being a tad bit too unconventionally pretty, leading people to ask me what’s Adar doing there… My take on Uruk recently (in Pelennor and here) in general is less beast-like and more of human or elf nature but desaturated and tormented

#tolkientrewsday celebrating fan art means celebrating art by @gilestelscanvas.bsky.social, @cilyra.bsky.social and @jennydolfen.bsky.social framed on my wall!

“Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?” My poster/cover art for The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers. Again, following the book as closely as possible. ‘Great Tales Never End’

UNGOLIANT is such a great name like just pronouncing it screams HAIL THE EMPRESS OF COSMIC TERROR BEYOND COMPREHENSION and then she had a granddaughter who was named… SHELOB. Yes, she-lob… No wonder she stayed in a cave and ate whomever walked in

You had to be there

I made this edit before Rings of Power Season 2 came out but then abandoned it basically… Charlie Vickers as Espresso the Admirable ☕️

Maedhros: "So the attire for Fëanor's funeral is very formal and simple, either plain black or red if you want to honour his fiery soul - but Galadriel, nothing else, OK? Don't be petty, don't make this about yourself." Galadriel: "Got it" Galadriel at the funeral:

Eärendilcore 🌊 🙂‍↕️

We all know (agree/not) the creative & technical reasoning behind the decision for Arwen to deliver Frodo to Rivendell + wash away Nazgûl with the river flood in shape of horses instead of Glorfindel, Elrond & Gandalf respectively I'll talk about a result: A glimpse of Lúthien +

I think it’s very Tolkien of me to draw 40 distinct trees for the Two Towers poster Only for nothing but their tips to be visible like a dense sponge once I organize them…

There’s this technique where you shoot a scene with higher number of frame per second so that later when you slow down the motion it still flows smoothly, and then the actor reads her lines following the tempo of the final clip which, merged together, creates the Galadriel effect

Fingolfin: “Love of my life, my soulmate, mother of my children… You will rebel against Valar and follow me and our kids to Middle-earth, right?” Anairë: