From the Sketchbook - Ink Drawing of A Hobbit (after Dixon)

A little study I drew with colored pens the other day (after Dixon):

From the Sketchbook - Alan Lee master studies

Drew these two quick studies on the commuter train the other day (0.7 HB pencil):

Just can't get enough of Star Wars and Lord of The Rings?

I was recommended these "Character interaction" charts from xkcd.com. I think they are just brilliant! I wonder how long it took to draw these. What do you think?

Link to large chart: http://xkcd.com/657/large/

Two Playstation Games I Actually Finished

Today I finished another of the few of my PS2 games that I just can't stop playing until I've followed them through. This time it was the ultra-violent but breathtakingly vast and beautiful God of War. Fantasy beat 'em up meets Tomb Raider in an epic game based on greek mythology. If you can put up with the blood, gore and sexual undertones - this is a game that has to be experienced. One of the best games I've played in a long time. But it IS brutal. Don't say I didn't warned you (recommended from 18 years). Have just begun playing the sequel...

The other one was a game for fans of fantasy RPG in general and Tolkien most of all. Some months ago I made it to the very end of a gmae that is closely connected to the three Lord of The Ring-movies: LOTR - The third age. For a fan of the films it's a sheer delight and those different armours and weapons that you upgrade your characters with are just so well made and incorporated into the gameplay. An RPG for Tolkien fans.

Recently Read: The Children of Húrin by J. R. R. Tolkien

Unable to leave the ancient Library just yet as there are so many remarkable books to keep you fascinated, the librarian seizes the opportunity and starts talking about yet another book...

(Today it is Trustdale in the 5th inquart, 0 S.D. and the sun still rules the sky this late afternoon)

ast night I finished reading the latest novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Children of Húrin. This novel - the result of his son Christopher Tolkien successfully putting together different fragments written by his father into one complete narrative - takes place in The First Age, long before the Third Age events of The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings.

I read in a review of the book before I decided to buy it, that this novel stylistically could be seen as a novel somewhere "between" the archaic prose of The Silmarillion and the more accessible books about the ring. That is actually a very good description of this book. If you don't like Tolkien's two most famous books (The ring trilogy is actually one single work), you will probably not be intrigued by this one. If you want to know more about the history of Middle-earth and experience an epic - albeit dark - story in one of the most detailed fantasy settings that will ever be created, then this is definitely something for you.

The story is not as elaborate - or exciting - as those about Bilbo's and Frodo's quests. But it's a dark high fantasy saga with captivating characters and marvellous settings. The beautiful illustrations by Alan Lee (smaller ones in black-and-white as well as some colored full-page ones) makes it an even richer experience.

Highly recommended for Tolkien fans but probably not for a more "mainstream fantasy" reader, looking for an easy-to-digest novel of a more casual style.

Fantasytree tip #5: If you have never read Tolkien before - and still haven't experienced some of the best fantasy ever written - my advice is that you to start with the two "ring-books", The Hobbit and Lord of the rings.

As a comparison I would rate these three works by Tolkien as follows:

Children of Húrin: 8 out of 10 Leaves

The Hobbit: 9 out of 10 Leaves

Lord of The Rings: 10 out of 10 Leaves (FANTASY MASTERPIECE!)

Each one of these three novels offers a fantastic experience of Tolkien's Middle-Earth though. Enjoy your travels.

Related links:

The Tolkien Society (includes a HUGE link-collection about practically everything related to Tolkien)

TheOneRing.net

The Hobbit Movie will probably be Released December 2011

Returning to the courtyard of the Citadel you once more find yourself waiting for the herald. A fanfare and again the latest news are proclaimed. They will surely cause an excited mumble among the people who have gathered below the glistening towers...

ou have probably heard that the classic work by J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit" will be adapted as a film just as the famous work that followed it, "Lord of the rings" has been. But have you also heard which of the actors from the LOTR that will also return in The Hobbit? Or that there are plans for a second movie, taking place somewhere between LOTR and The Hobbit?

These and many other questions are answered in this splendid the Hobbit Movie FAQ on the nice Tolkien fan community site TheOneRing.net. I can really recommend a visit there.