The History of the Silmarils - a serialization

Post by **kzer_za** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 4:48 am

I really like Nasmith's landscapes and panoramic views. A lot of his character close-ups look odd to me, though.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:26 am

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:Unlike, PtB, I'm a big fan of Nasmith's Middle-earth art (I was even before he contacted me to tell me how much he liked Arda Reconstructed).

Sorry I wasn't clear. I like Nasmith's artwork quite a bit (especially his panoramas, and most of his structures)! Sometimes he is absolutely spot on. I just don't think he's the best out of a talented bunch. For my tastes, Alan Lee and Cor Blok are at the top of the heap.

For me, Nasmith falls down a bit with his close-up character portraits. Something off about his faces, and his costumes. For example:

http://tednasmith.mymiddleearth.com/201 ... d-faramir/

Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:37 am

I don't really try to chose among them. I agree that Nasmith is better with landscapes, panoramas and architecture than he is with character portraits. And I don't at all care for Cor Blok, though I know that Tolkien did.

However, I'll contradict myself by saying that my two favorite Tolkien illustrators are Pauline Baynes and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:54 am

I agree that Tolkien's illustration style is perfect for his own stories, and I'll take his work over my non-Tolkien favorites as well. And I think Baynes' drawings are delightful, if sometimes a little twee.

Blok evokes dark age, pre-perspective, pre-Renaissance European art forms, which I find very appropriate for Middle Earth. Next to Tolkien, he's the best, IMO.

Post by **Elentári** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:29 am

Most Tolkien artists have their various strengths and weaknesses, including Tolkien, though I love his drawings very much, ( we have a long-standing thread in Shibboleth for anyone who's interested) and I think we're all agreed on what Nasmith's are! That painting has always been a favourite of mine, so I'm glad I was able to bring to those who haven't seen it before.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:36 am

Elen....... congratulations on your completion of the epic work translating the SILMARILLION into cinema. When I think of those who fell to the wayside along the way but you were always there leading the charge - you indeed are a hero worth of Fëanor battling the Balrogs.

Now that my life is back to myself and I am in my second retirement, one of my goals is to read your work and catch myself up on what I missed out on.

Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:25 am

sf, you should definitely be proud of your contributions to this massive effort.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 4:47 am

Is it really over?

Post by **Elentári** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:32 am

sauronsfinger wrote:Elen....... congratulations on your completion of the epic work translating the SILMARILLION into cinema. When I think of those who fell to the wayside along the way but you were always there leading the charge - you indeed are a hero worth of Fëanor battling the Balrogs.

Now that my life is back to myself and I am in my second retirement, one of my goals is to read your work and catch myself up on what I missed out on.

I may have been leading the charge but you were always there supporting and encouraging everyone in your effusive and generous manner, and as V rightly says, your contributions were monumental in conceptualizing the darker side of M-e, as well as your keen eye for set design and large-scale action set pieces (a kind of Dan Hennah/PJ rolled into one) - we couldn't have done it without you!

I certainly hope you will be able find the time to indulge in catching up on the seasons you missed - and the earlier ones to relive some happy memories!

I should also give a mention to Ethelwynn who stood by my side the longest, gave us the benefit of her SCA experience, and provided the human touches that kept the rest of us grounded! Her knack and talent for characterization is most admirable and I hope that she will continue to enjoy her creative writing in the future as she recuperates from major surgery.

PtB wrote:Is it really over?

That's up to you guys - if you want to take on another project yourselves, I'd be interested in supporting you, but I think I've earned my retirement!

Post by **Alatar** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:48 am

Congrats Elen! I look forward to reading the entire series at some stage.

Post by **Elentári** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:02 am

Post by **Alatar** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am

Do you have a Word doc of the complete piece that I could convert for my Kindle?

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 11:01 am

Alatar wrote:Do you have a Word doc of the complete piece that I could convert for my Kindle?

I want that, I do!

Post by **Elentári** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:02 pm

Alatar wrote:Do you have a Word doc of the complete piece that I could convert for my Kindle?

Yes, I can send each episode individually or in chunks - I thought I had already sent you Seasons 1-4 a couple of years ago?

Post by **Alatar** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:15 pm

You had, but I wasn't sure if they had been updated! If you want to send me in episodes or chunks, I can combine indo one Doc and convert to a few Ereader formats if anyone else is interested?

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:44 pm

Elentári wrote:
sauronsfinger wrote:Elen....... congratulations on your completion of the epic work translating the SILMARILLION into cinema. When I think of those who fell to the wayside along the way but you were always there leading the charge - you indeed are a hero worth of Fëanor battling the Balrogs.

Now that my life is back to myself and I am in my second retirement, one of my goals is to read your work and catch myself up on what I missed out on.
I may have been leading the charge but you were always there supporting and encouraging everyone in your effusive and generous manner, and as V rightly says, your contributions were monumental in conceptualizing the darker side of M-e, as well as your keen eye for set design and large-scale action set pieces (a kind of Dan Hennah/PJ rolled into one) - we couldn't have done it without you!

I certainly hope you will be able find the time to indulge in catching up on the seasons you missed - and the earlier ones to relive some happy memories!

I should also give a mention to Ethelwynn who stood by my side the longest, gave us the benefit of her SCA experience, and provided the human touches that kept the rest of us grounded! Her knack and talent for characterization is most admirable and I hope that she will continue to enjoy her creative writing in the future as she recuperates from major surgery.

PtB wrote:Is it really over?
That's up to you guys - if you want to take on another project yourselves, I'd be interested in supporting you, but I think I've earned my retirement!

Many thanks for the kind words to both you and Voronwë. I guess I did find my niche in the darker side of Middle-earth. I wonder what about that attracts me?

But it was you Elen - it was you who pulled this off and you should be very proud.

And I will read everything!!!!!!

Post by **Elentári** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:08 pm

sauronsfinger wrote:But it was you Elen - it was you who pulled this off and you should be very proud.

And I will read everything!!!!!!

And you helped me find the motivation and inspiration - thank you, my friend!

Alatar wrote:You had, but I wasn't sure if they had been updated! If you want to send me in episodes or chunks, I can combine indo one Doc and convert to a few Ereader formats just in anyone else is interested?

I don't think anything was changed any further back, but I'll resend Season 4, just in case, with the latest two - Thanks.

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:37 pm

Alatar wrote:You
had, but I wasn't sure if they had been updated! If you want to send
me in episodes or chunks, I can combine indo one Doc and convert to a
few Ereader formats if anyone else is interested?

I am intetested!

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:24 pm

I am still interested in the work!

Post by **Alatar** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:27 pm

Sorry! I promise I will get to it. RL (TM) has been taking all of my time!