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Kyriel's Featured Tolkien Artists In this section Kyriel will periodically highlight the work of her favorite Tolkien artists, from the big names in Tolkien art to undiscovered talent. You can see more Tolkien art by taking the picture tours of Middle-earth at her web site. Artists: Alan Lee  |  John Howe  |  Ted Nasmith JOHN HOWE John Howe is probably best known for his calendars (he was/is the official artist for the Tolkien calendars of 1991, 1995, 1995, and 2001) and his cover illustrations for the paperback "History of Middle-earth" series. He is also one of two artists chosen to create concept art for the upcoming Lord of the Rings films (the other is Alan Lee). Howe's paintings are colorful yet "realistic," demonstrating an eye for detail and a mastery of the use of light and shadow. His elves and humans can be a bit bland, but his hobbit faces are everything they should be: "good-natured rather than beautiful, broad, bright-eyed, red-cheeked," just as Tolkien describes them. In my opinion, however, he's at his best when working with natural settings: earth, air, sea and sky.   At the Ford This is one of the most dynamic depictions of the Ford scene that I’ve found. Everything is swirling, curling, chaotic; and Frodo himself looks likely to be drowned. Notice the horses’ heads atop of the waves (courtesy of Gandalf, as he explains later) and the half-fearful, half-defiant posture of Glorfindel’s mount. Then notice the stark contrast between black and white and the way Frodo, under the influence of Nazgul wound, seems caught between these two worlds. Old Man Willow This is one of my favorite Howe paintings. We see only a portion of the giant tree, but the gnarly, moss-covered branches give us a sense of its age - and its power. A green haze hovers over the picture, evidence of the willow’s spell; and if you look closely you’ll see Frodo face-down in the water beneath its roots. That's Sam peeking through a gap on the right. Gandalf Gandalf may be the grim "Storm Crow" of Rohan, but he is also the giver of hope and strength - as Howe demonstrates in this justly famous picture. Notice the wizard’s determined stride, even in the midst of a rainstorm, and the background that mirrors his hidden purpose. Notice also that he's carrying a sword. Minas Tirith and the Tower of Echthelion Howe’s painting of Minas Tirith is one of my favorite Lord of the Rings pictures, period. He makes the fantastical city look as solid and believable as the stone it’s founded on - without losing an ounce of its grandeur. I especially like his use of clouds and shadow here. The city looks like a giant ship riding the crest of a wave. To see more of John Howe's work, visit his gallery at Rolozo Tolkien.