At present I am in the midst of painting a newer version of a work published in the 2003 Two Towers Tolkien Calendar called The Stranger in the Forest. I'm calling the new work simply Gandalf Returns; it is a private commission, and will show this key scene from a different vantage point. It will be followed soon by a painting depicting Frodo's first full view of Lothlorien from a flet, looking toward The Great Tree of Caras Galadhon.

At this date I am waiting for confirmation of additional castle illustrations for the George R.R. Martin concordance project I have been involved with since this time last year. The original commissioned series of thirteen works was completed in early March, and the originals were exhibited in England at my exhibition (see blog entry 'Castles and Conviviality'). I will inform readers of news on the book's publication as soon as I know more; I believe it is to be released sometime later this year. 

I have also been toying with the idea of doing a new car painting; simply a vanity project. I've always liked the 1962 Pontiacs, and the official advertising illustrations, and hope to steal some time in the next few weeks to create a '62 as new homage to the genre. 

As these and other works are completed, I will try to post them.

Lastly, I have just signed off on the colour proofs for the 2009 Tolkien Calendar, so remember to look for it and the accompanying Diary when they are published this summer. The Diary will feature a piece written by me about the illustrations, along with a few of the colour roughs. That's it for now!

We were also very pleased to have been able to display a small number of important artifacts courtesy of Chris Tolkien of nearby Evesham. Chris is the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien's brother Hilary, and still operates the family garden nursery business. He kindly loaned us copies of letters and other memorabilia, allowing visitors a glimpse into this largely unknown aspect of Tolkien's life. We thank Chris sincerely for his time, interest and support.

The 'conviviality' of the title refers of course to the meals and general 'pubmooting' we all enjoyed so thoroughly after hours. The Bell Inn (aka The Prancing Pony) again was the venue of choice for our special Saturday evening dinner, along with less formal gatherings the other evenings.

The 'castles', on the other hand, are the subject of the newest paintings of mine being featured. These non-Tolkien works will be published in a book to be published soon titled The Complete Guide to the Ice and Fire Universe. It will be a concordance for the 'Song of Ice and Fire' novels by George R.R. Martin, arguably among the greatest post-Tokien fantasy writers alive.

This exhibition included two additional artists besides me and Ruth Lacon; Georgia-based Jef Murray and Cornwall-based Roger Garland. Jef's distinctly colourful Tolkien works in oil nicely complimented the other work, and we appreciated having him and his wife with us. Roger Garland's extensive variety of limited prints of his well known Tolkien illustrations rounded things out very nicely. We were disappointed that Roger was unable to attend on the Sunday as planned, however, but a volatile weather system bringing snow and dangerous driving conditions in its wake blew through early Sunday morning, unfortunately.

It takes a team of helpers, both paid and unpaid alike, to put on such an event, and I wish to thank you all very much! Most of all, thank you to Andy Compton as always for his organizing, generosity, promotion, and so much hard work in order to prepare this extraordinary event. And for his goodwill, humour, patience and overall passion and devotion to the promotion of Tolkien-inspired arts and crafts. I believe I can speak for Andy and say we are all very proud of the interest and loyalty our events are generating in so many of you, and thankful for the steady patronage of our work that these exhibitions help generate. See you next time, I hope! 
 

It was duly attended by some 30 of our loyal members, friends and supporters the afternoon of Sunday Nov. 25th. Drinks in hand, we began by sitting down to a delicious, hobbit-worthy meal of roast lamb and trimmings, followed by 3 or 4 choices of dessert/sweet (decisions!), all at the historic Bell Inn, local contender as the (certainly an) inspiration for The Prancing Pony itself. We then re-congregated for the meeting proper, discussing sundry items of significance, and clarifying plans for a spring exhibition at Redesdale Hall nearby. It is provisionally set for April 4th, through 7th, 2008, and will be expanded to include the lower floor of the Hall, mainly for dealer and demonstration areas, and will also introduce some other new features. I will announce these details closer to April.

I can tell you that the upcoming exhibition will include the new castle paintings I am currently creating for Random House. These are illustrations of a series of fictional castles belonging to the aristocracies of author George R.R. Martin's imaginary realm of Westeros. (Those works which have been completed are now available for viewing here on my site.) I will also include any other new works I manage to create between now and then. I have a very full agenda in coming weeks, with completion of the castles being the first priority, along with some newly commissioned Tolkien works which I will announce as they come along in early 2008. 

Along with other reports, our meeting also included a reading of the two versions of the Riddle Game passage from The Hobbit, (thanks to Tess Venus), a new Tolkien quiz (thanks to Angie Gardner), and a performance by me of selected songs from The Hidden Door. Unexpected delays prevented my long time friend Alex Lewis and partner-artist Ruth Lacon from attending, regretably, but we trust they will return, and bring their gifts of music, scholarship, and art next time. Happily, we were not the only overseas members present; collector and enthusiast Joe Kraemer of Cincinnati, Ohio also arranged to be there as part of a UK-Spain business trip! All this contributed to a renewed sense of true Fellowship among us, as was remarked by Lyn Wilshire, and seconded by Angie and all of us.

Heartfelt thanks to Andy Compton for making the arrangements and composing the agenda, and also for being a constant, thoughtful and generous host during our stay in Moreton.
 

Calendar collector extraordinaire Phil Goss along with daughter Megan have generously volunteered their time designing it, and orders can be placed at: www.herenistrarion.org Here's the thing; the calendar will feature unpublished and recent new Tolkien artwork from me! Some of this art is presently available in limited edition giclee print form [www.adcbooks.co.uk], but this calendar, a first (but perhaps not the last), offers fans an affordable and highly collectible alternative. Thanks in advance for your support of my ongoing art, and the non-profit scholarly work of Heren Istarion.

Each summer I tend to have the cherished wish that I'll somehow overcome the constant pressures of life and work in order to actually slow down and enjoy this prized season of hot, torpor-inducing, beer-in-hand leisure time before it inevitably passes into fall. And each summer I tend nonetheless to feel shortchanged in this regard, grappling as I do with a complex number of demands and options in my free lance career or home life! Normal people (i.e. those with conventional jobs/careers) can generally expect to be able to schedule a vacation of about 2 weeks duration (or more) at least, but we who enjoy the advantages of free lance careers, also must tolerate its constraints, one chief one being the way there just aren't definite lines between work and other obligations, and personal time. Ah well--'join the club' I hear you say!

I certainly doubt I'll generate much sympathy by complaining about any 'obligation' involved in the fabulous invitation last month to the Count's Castle at Diez, Germany, for instance. I can only express great appreciation for the wonderful welcome and experience I had while among members of the German Tolkien Society during their annual gathering, and appreciation for the opportunity it gave me to see a little of rural Germany and its unique charms, too. My sincere thanks go to long time  acquaintance and GTS Chair Marcel Bulles, as well as to his able committee in such persons as Christian, Nina, Alex, and Alex, et al. Thanks also and greetings to the various GTS members I was able to get to know a little, and who welcomed me so heartily, as well as the established friends/acquaintances I enjoyed seeing again on this occasion. 

Among the highlights, it was especially gratifying to have such a truly enthusiastic reception for my musical offerings. Even the noon chiming in the castle's bell tower couldn't spoil things! To you who wonder what I mean here, I will explain: I was called on to offer an encore, but the noon chiming had begun during the previous song. On any Sunday it tends to go on beyond 12 strokes however, the traditional call-to-worship, it was explained. In a bit of quick thinking I'd never have imagined myself capable of, I quickly realized that the metronomic rhythm of the bells was fairly close to the song's tempo, and that it was sounding the note 'E', which happened to be in key. Thus I did my best to incorporate the bells into a song describing the ominous approach to Angband by Beren and Luthien as bat and wolf!

While not travelling to Europe, I've been busy doing my best to maintain a schedule of painting, and am busy these days working mostly on a series of castle depictions for a concordance to be published next year (by Dell Books/Random House) on the fantasy world in which the novels of George R.R. Martin are set. In Germany, during a slide presentation of mostly Tolkien artworks, I shared slides of two of the Martin works. I intend to post those and the two newest works here in the near future, I've decided. It is a wonderful project, and a refreshing (if temporary) departure from the Tolkien works. The latter continue as and when I can get to them, too, with a list of new works I'm committed to over the coming months.

And with that I'll conclude for the moment, in order to get over to the studio and carry on; the more diligent I am, the more I'll be able to enjoy that elusive summer idyll I once again fear is slipping away too fast. 

There have been previous invitations in recent years, but my busy travel schedule prevented me from accepting, so I was glad when Society Chair Marcel Bulles once again asked if I was available. I much appreciate this honour, and am looking very forward to my first trip back to Germany since I was a very small child.

Leaving the Shire

Visit the music page for details on how to order the CD and to listen in full to four sample tracks.

I also wish to formally thank Rob Huston again for his excellent service and advice as the site's original designer, builder and webmaster. I'll miss working with you, Rob, but our friendship has by no means changed, and I wish you well in your new adopted life in America.

In the next days and weeks we will be adding the newest artworks, changing some of the old ones, and generally catching up with things which have been held up during this transition. I very much appreciate everyone's patience and continuing support.

It's here! Just a few days ago I picked up the cartons of CDs, as soon as they were delivered to Silverbirch Productions. The Hidden Door; Songs in the Key of Enchantment is now available from me in this region, or from either Andrew Compton (www.adcbooks.co.uk) or Malcolm Lindley (Tolkien Society Trading; details pending) in the UK and Europe. In the next day or so I'll post information on price, including shipping.

I'll also post sample tracks as soon as possible, but am just in the process of updating the website in general (see accompanying announcement).  

Among the new titles of prints, we are now offering: 

• Bilbo at Bag End
• Tol Brandir
• Eowyn and the Nazgul
• Turin Discovers Nienor at the Mound of Finduilas
  

Bilbo at Bag End is noteworthy in that it has never before been published. It was a private commission, and is as the title suggests, a version of the illustration by Tolkien from The Hobbit.

I will be again be on hand throughout the event, as will Ms Ruth Lacon, my co-exhibitor and guest artist.  We are also thematically celebrating the publication of the exciting new book The Children of Hurin, and it is our great pleasure to announce the appearance of Mr. Alan Lee, the book's illustrator, during the Friday evening private viewing, and during the first day of public viewing, Saturday the 21st (I will clarify this further shortly). 

My new and patiently awaited first music CD The Hidden Door; Songs in the Key of Enchantment, will also be available at the exhibition, and I will be performing selections.

For further information do contact either myself or Andrew Compton [through adcbooks.co.uk.]. We anticipate a fantastic event, all in all, and hope you will try to join us!

Once recording, sound editing and final mix down were accomplished in early January, I set about illustrating the cover, and then after checking the notes and other information I'd written up previously, I investigated the need for graphics and typography. My friend and artist colleague Paul came to my aid, setting up a suitable layout and working with me to create the right look. About 2 weeks later we were ready to send all that and the master copy to Silverbirch Productions for printing and manufacture.

If you're interested, you can listen to a sample and pre-order now through www.adcbooks.co.uk.

No I haven't retreated into a cabin in the Northern Forests--well yet at least (but now that I write it...hmmmm). No, but an artist can have a tendency to get distracted easily--all that inner ranging, and a kind of 'efficiency-challenged' nature, I admit. And then my little website gets neglected at times (along with paying bills and book-keeping).

Anyway, I've been enjoying something of a lull lately, after the wonderful exhibition of my art held in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire in September. There are no new trips planned until about next March (The Silmarillion Conference--details pending), and I've been able to settle into an extended period of painting, drawing, and continued work on the CD project.

The latter is getting to the final stage quickly now, but of course it's been in production since February, and I've realized that my provisional deadlines have been off by months. However, the good news is that the work has been steadily progressing, aside from my busy summer travel schedule. I am working with a talented sound engineer, Robin Short, and we have been refining the songs, tweaking and trimming as needed. And just today, Bruce Nasmith added some more recorder lines to Where Beauty Dwells, and some live violin to To the Woody End. 

I am also fast becoming conscious that I must hurry to get the graphics done or I'll have a CD without notes or artwork soon! If it isn't finished and available by Christmas, it will be very soon in the New Year, I'm sure.

Otherwise, the drawing and painting has produced several (mostly) LotR sketches, and I just completed Elves in the Woody End, a beautiful depiction of this very magical scene in the Shire with the three hobbit companions happening upon Gildor and his company at night. I've been intending to paint it for many years. Other new works include Tol Brandir, The Blue Wizards Journeying East  Gandalf and the Balrog Upon Celebdil and Green Hill Morning. [Note: These and other new works have not been added to the artwork on the site mainly because I'm in need of a new webmaster since August, and admit I haven't made it a priority. I do sincerely apologize.]

Beyond those, I've taken on a few new automotive commissions, and expect more of these in the near future.

Lastly, I am negotiating with Random House regarding a large commission for some landscape paintings of the various castles for a planned book of art inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. It is expected to be published in spring 2008. It will represent a major project in fantasy not connected with Tolkien, and I welcome it.

I'll also be travelling to England in April for my next exhibition in Gloucestershire (details pending), and we're planning it to coincide with the publication of The Children of Hurin. We've approached none other than Mr. Alan Lee to appear and exhibit his illustrations at the exhibition, too, and I beleve he has accepted.

Cheers for now!

As was the case in May, I will be on hand to greet and converse with visitors, as will Ruth Lacon, whose work will again be showcased too.  Admission is free, and refreshments will be available free throughout opening hours. Although the performance time varies, Alex Lewis, Maddy Anderson and I will break into song at some point each afternoon with original Tolkien-inspired music. [Some songs are soon to be available on my first CD.]

Please join us in the heart of The Cotswolds, and be sure to give yourself time to explore a little of the countryside which bears several place names Tolkien incorporated into his fiction! For more detailed info, go to: www.adcbooks.co.uk