Tolkien, the Artist

Well ... am I to join in this long list of praise?
Yes, I think Tolkien knew how to handle his pencils and he made quite some nice drawings.
What I do not agree with is the high amount of detail that was mentioned. He drew well enogh to give a quick impression of what he wanted to show. If you really look closely, though, his illustrations sometimes contradict his writings (example: Laketown) and are confusing rather than helpfull for any attempt to make a serious "realistic" approach.
I doubt that we should take the Prof. more serious than he would have, himself. He was not an artist, not a geologist, not an architect nor archeologist; he was a linguist who made some exzessive doodles that some people started to like.

*waiting to get flamed ......*

[littlemanpoet]

This tree looks positively Hindu! It defies gravity. What's that in the bottom right, a mountain? Does anyone know what this picture is of? I'd include it here, but I'm sure it would be a memory/space hog.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

LMP, that's the 'Tree of Amalion' - I mentioned it in post #12 as my least favorite picture in that chapter. According to Hammond and Scull's comments, it represents the 'Tree of Tales' which Tolkien refers to in Of Fairy-Stories and is related to the Tree in Leaf by Niggle. Tolkien's own comments:

...elaborated and coloured and more suitable for embroidery than printing; and the tree bears besides various shapes of leaves many flowers samll and large signifying poems and major legends.

He said he drew it "regularly, at those times when I feel driven to pattern-designing." It is dated August 1928.

Yes, those are mountains are the bottom right.

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by Thorgis

Well ... am I to join in this long list of praise?
Yes, I think Tolkien knew how to handle his pencils and he made quite some nice drawings.
What I do not agree with is the high amount of detail that was mentioned. He drew well enogh to give a quick impression of what he wanted to show. If you really look closely, though, his illustrations sometimes contradict his writings (example: Laketown) and are confusing rather than helpfull for any attempt to make a serious "realistic" approach.
I doubt that we should take the Prof. more serious than he would have, himself. He was not an artist, not a geologist, not an architect nor archeologist; he was a linguist who made some exzessive doodles that some people started to like.

*waiting to get flamed ......*

Sometimes your mind can run away with the paint...

As for pencils, they are the best thing next to smoked fish. Wonderfully adaptible and can convey any shade and depth. Something that is wonderful in illustrating Tolkien's world, something he proably would agree with as well. Plus they come in a variety of colours now!

~ Ka

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Let's continue discussing Tolkien's artwork with "Art for Children", Chapter 3 of the book. I just bought his "Letters to Father Christmas" so that I can see all of the illustrations, inclucing those not put into this book. Since Chapter 3 begins with those as well, let's start there before moving on to his other children's books.

The tradition of writing Father Christmas letters to his children began in 1920; his 3-year old son John received the first one. We can see how JRRT used calligraphy, imitating an "old" shaky handwriting. Besides the rather traditional depiction of Father Christmas himself, the second part of the picture shows his house, a very fanciful structure, a little like an iglu, with spires that are typical of his style.

The letters continued until 1943, when Priscilla was 14. I hope those of you who have one or the other book will post your impressions; I shall come back with more later on as well.