"Wild Yak"

2022

Wild Yak (Bos mutus)

Really underrated bovids. They are really huge, bigger even than African buffaloes, a fact I was reminded of when I saw a video circulating of a wild yak mingling with a herd of domesticated ones, and it towered over them.

I don’t normally do other artists’ OCs unprompted, but this sea elf from @dartxo caught my eye

Mordor's Call by Dartxo

Mordor's Call - by Dartxo

And Minas Morgul answered. There was a flare of livid lightnings: forks of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into the sullen clouds. The earth groaned; and out of the city there came a cry. . Behold! Mordor's own war beacon of sorts; immense, sorcerous, and terrible.

I really like how in the film the signal from Minas Morgul is discernible all the way from Minas Tirith, striking fear and anxiety in its inhabitants about the attack they know its coming. Notably this is also the scene in which my man the Witch-king makes his spectacular entrance, so what's not to love? When I first watched the film in cinemas almost twenty years ago, the volume was turned way up for every Nazgûl scene, so when Frodo and Sam cover their ears when the Witch-king screeches...yeah, I felt that too. And I know I wasn't the only one, because I've seen people commenting about it online. 

Minas Morgul also holds the distinction of being my favorite of all the evil places of Middle-earth. Not only because it is the abode of my beloved Nazgûl, but also because the aesthetic of the place is just amazing, in a creepy sort of way. It's not barren like the plains around Barad-dûr and Mount Doom, for it has a river and meadows of flowers; but the water of the river is undrinkable, and the flowers are terrible to behold, and give up foul vapors. If ever a place can be described as neither living nor dead, it is the Valley of Morgul... just like its lords are. 

Count Dracula

Just as I had come to this conclusion I heard a heavy step approaching behind the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam of a coming light. Then there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of massive bolts drawn back. A key was turned with the loud grating noise of long disuse, and the great door swung back. Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver lamp, in which the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation:— "Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!" He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed as cold as ice—more like the hand of a dead than a living man. Again he said:— "Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was speaking; so to make sure, I said interrogatively:— "Count Dracula?" He bowed in a courtly way as he replied:— "I am Dracula; and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in; the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest."

By Dartxo

Forest Maker by Dartxo

Here is a great looking colored pencil drawing that shows a mighty packy walking through the jungle. Specifically, it’s the rare African Forest Elephant variety of packy, & the artist did a great job making it look so mighty & majestic!

Picture found here.

"Samwise the Brave"

2022

'...Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam...'

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Last but not least in my countdown of favorite Two Towers scenes is Sam's speech to Frodo in Osgiliath. A scene that isn't really in the books, but that embodies and enhances the spirit of Tolkien beautifully. It's a perfect, comforting resolution to Frodo's moment of complete despair earlier, and accompanies perfectly the simultaneous moments of triumph at Isengard and at Helm's Deep. And I'm sure I'm not alone in saying this, but it's also a scene I turn to when I find myself sad and despondent at the state of the world. A true testament to Sam's role as a support and a rock, not just for Frodo, but for the readers and viewers as well. 

"Cretaceous Sunset"

2023

T.rex (Tyrannosaurus rex)

My favorite dinosaur, inspired by Prehistoric Planet, but with a few tweaks in the coloring. 

"The Nazgûl and his Prey"

2021

It's interesting to realize that the Witch-king was one of the main architects of the decline of the Dúnedain, not just in the North, but also in the South with his conquest of Minas Ithil and the killing of the last King of Gondor before Aragorn.

It's a sentiment I wanted to convey in this piece: the Lord of the Nazgûl as a scourge and bane of the Realms in Exile.

"Smaug"

2020

"Avatar Aang"

2020

"Shadowfax"

2024

Shadowfax is my favorite Middle-earth horse. Majestic, clever, loyal, and brave, he was the only free horse of the world that could endure the terror of the Nazgûl, and did so many times. One of my favorite little details from the (extended edition) films is how he tries to protect Gandalf from the Witch-king and his fell beast. And they sure did pick a breathtakingly beautiful horse to play him.

Done for Day 9 of the Tolkien Art Challenge by Allan Whincup. 

"I Can Carry You"

2023

...and so Sam struggled on as best he could, having no guidance but the will to climb as high as might be before his strength gave out and his will broke.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", by J.R.R. Tolkien

A scene that probably is a favorite for many; one that epitomizes more than any other the power of friendship; and in my opinion, Sam's most heroic moment.

It brings me back to the first film, when Saruman mocked Gandalf for thinking hobbits could ever contend with the will of Sauron. This scene proves that Gandalf was right, and Saruman wrong: in their own way, the willpower of hobbits IS strong enough to shake the foundations of evil itself.

"Viserys' Last Stand"

2022,

A little tribute to my favorite House of the Dragon character. I wholeheartedly agree with the consensus that Paddy Considine's portrayal of King Viserys vastly surpasses his counterpart in the book. He infused the character with a sense of tragedy and sadness, but also unexpected strength and dignity that was an absolute delight and a privilege to watch. I shall miss him.

"Eye of the Dragon"

2021

"The Eye"

2020

The Eye: that horrible sense of a hostile will that strove with great power to pierce all shadows of cloud, and earth, and flesh, and to see you: to pin you under its deadly gaze, naked, immovable.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien

One of my favorite concepts or design ideas introduced in the Hobbit Trilogy was having the actual silhouette of Sauron appear as the pupil of the Red Eye.

I tried that idea here but with the original design for the Eye from the LotR Trilogy.