From the Sketchbook - Another Lee Master Study

Here's the start of another master study from a Lee drawing. This time of Goldberry from the house of Tom Bombadil. (Used a mechanical 0.7 HB pencil on regular office paper):

Sketch Of The Day - Alan Lee Study

Monday and a new week here at Fantasytree. I do hope you will enjoy your visit.

Last week I posted a link to the famous Tolkien artist John Howe. Today's sketch is a master study of another of the most popular Lord of The Rings illustrators, Alan Lee.

It's a sketch of one of Lee's drawings of the great hall of Edoras for the Lord of The Rings movies. Drawn with HB pencil on regular office paper:

The best Tolkien artist?

Well, according to most he is at least one of the masters. John Howe, the renown illustrator is currently working on making The Hobbit look as good as it possibly can. Do yourself a favour and visit his inspiring website.

Have a nice weekend.

Heard the Latest News About The Hobbit?

Would you like to read an update on how the work with the film version of "The Hobbit" is proceeding?Then I recommend a visit at this page on the great Tolkien site The One Ring.net. There you'll find answers to almost anything you want to know about the production.

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/

10 Most Popular Fantasy Movies - October 2009 Update!

In one of the very first posts of this blog, I presented a list over the 10 most popular fantasy movies ever. I believe I'll start this new week with an update. If there has been any changes, that is.Let's see...

Here are the 10 most popular fantasy movies at IMDB (Internet Movie Database) at the moment.

(The number in brackets after placement shows the rating the movie received from the users - out of a possible 10)

Strangely enough, the leader of the first list seems to have disappeared entirely - while still remaining at the 1st place in the Sci-Fi genre.Even more strange is that Star Wars 4 and 6 are both considered "Fantasy".

Anyway, here is the list. With Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope) as number 1. 

1. (8.8) Star Wars (1977)

2. (8.8) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

3. (8.7) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

4. (8.6) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

5. (8.6) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

6. (8.4) Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (Spirited Away, 2001)

7. (8.4) Laberinto del fauno, El (Pan's Labyrith, 2006)

So far no newcomers, but then - an old b/w classic has made it all the way up to 9th place! It's Fritz Lang's dystopia Metropolis, one of the movies that inspired the young George Lucas (director of Star Wars).

8. (8.4) Metropolis (1927)

What is even more surprising perhaps, is that another movie from the 30th Century has made it into the list: Sherlock Jr from 1924 with the amazing Buster Keaton!

9. (8.4) Sherlock Jr (1924)

10. (8.3) Det Sjunde Inseglet (The Seventh Seal, 1957)

This means there are 4 movies in the top 10 (5, 7, 8 and 9) that are yet to be seen by me. Note to self. The movie that has left since last time is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Challenging the top 10 from it's 11th position is The Green Mile, based on the novel by Stephen King.

30 Min Sketch of a Lord Of The Rings Scene

The other day I did a sketch for the "30 minute sketch" thread at the ImagineFX forum.

As the topic was "A LOTR scene", I did my own improvized version of the duel between Gandalf and the Balrog in the Mines of Moria.

(pencil, HB - click for full view)

The Bridge of Khazad-dûm (2009)

Some More Frazetta Studies

Trying out my new printer/scanner, here are some more studies from one of my favorite artists, Frank Frazetta. Also ordered The LOTR sketchbook (Alan Lee) the other day.

Hope to soon have some studies from that one to show here as well.

(Drawn in pencil, click for full view)

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.

Is there a Radio Station Playing Nothing but Fantasy Music?

urely that sounds too good to be true...

But as a matter of fact there is!


Radio Rivendell is the name of this station, dedicated to playing only music suitable as background when you're playing RPGs, MMORPGs or just wish to feel a breeze from another world for a while. It's actually a great soundtrack for writing fantasy-related blog posts as well.

This is how the channel describes the music being played on the website:

The music that is being played is mainly from fantasy films such as Lord of the Rings, Conan, Willow and such, but it also features music from well known computer games such as Warcraft, Baldur's Gate, Dungeon Siege and many more.

The actual site can be found here:

But of course I couldn't resist adding a banner making it able to play the station directly here at Fantasytree. It can be found at the top of the page.

I must say that so far I am impressed by the high quality, beauty and atmosphere of the music being played.

Hopefully you will enjoy this music as much as I do.´

10 Most Popular Fantasy Movies

oday I'm going to take a look at fantasy as a genre when it comes to movies. I will do this by presenting the 10 most popular fantasy movies at IMDB (Internet Movie Database) right now. Hope you can find a movie that you've missed. Better start warming that popcorn...

(The number in brackets after placement shows the rating the movie received from the users - out of a possible 10)

1. (8.8) Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

2. (8.8) Star Wars (1977)

3. (8.8) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

4. (8.7) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

5. (8.6) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

6. (8.6) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

7. (8.4) Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)

8. (8.4) Laberinto del fauno, El (2006)

9. (8.4) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

10. (8.4) Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)

I'm happy to see that my two favorite film triplets almost have 6 out of 6 movies represented in the top 10 ("Return of the Jedi" - Star Wars VI - is on an honorable 12th place). Other than that there are three movies I still haven't seen - number 5, 8 and 9. Shame on me. Will surely be interesting to see how far up the upcoming version of "The Hobbit" can get.

The Two Kings of Epic Fantasy Metal!

pic fantasy metal, is there really such a musical genre? There sure is. Two of my favorite power metal bands have taken their leaning towards fantasy and epic storytelling one step further. I am thinking about the German band "Blind Guardian" and the Italian band "Rhapsody of fire" (earlier just Rhapsody, but they were forced to change the name due to already registered trademark issues). I will recommend one really good album by each group.

The natural starting point for a fantasy lover, especially if you are also a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, is of course Blind Guardian's "Nightfall in Middle-Earth". A concept album based on Tolkien's "The silmarillion", including breathtaking metal tunes as well as segues where different scenes from what Tolkien regarded as his most important work are depicted through narratives and atmospheric sound effects. The entire record actually starts with the sound of a medieval battle!

On then to Rhapsody's (this was before they changed the name to "Rhapsody of fire") "Symphony of enchanted lands". Taking the word "epic" one step further this marvellous album includes more orchestration, more neo-classical parts, more "Emerald-sword-wielding-hero fighting-immortal-demons-beyond-the-gates-of-infinity" (some would say more cheese, but since I'm such a fantasy geek I actually find it all quite enjoyable). If your looking for a rediscovery of the little Dungeons and dragons-heart pounding somewhere deep within you, you have here the perfect soundtrack for that nostalgic journey. This album is actually just one part in the epic story "The chronicles of Algalord", spread over several albums. Fantasy sweets, don't you think?


Blind Guardian are musically slightly more progressive (and a bit more challenging), while Rhapsody have been described as "Epic Hollywood metal", which sometimes make me think of them more like a concept than an actual band. On their latest album, "Triumph or agony" they have one track that is more than 16 minutes long (!) and features a whole bunch of actors performing spoken narratives among the different musical parts. One of these actors - also present on the album before, "Symphony of enchanted lands II" - is none less than the legendary Christopher Lee ("The man with the golden gun" in the James Bond classic, as well as Saruman in the Lord of the rings trilogy).

Labels and genres apart, I consider these two albums true musical masterpieces, and if you are curious about what "epic fantasy metal" sounds like you just HAVE to check them out. Two wonderful journeys through magnificent lands await you.