Tag Archives: art

Observing an Anniversary: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (2013)

I first walked into Middle-earth in the mid-70s through a brand-spanking-new paperback copy of The Hobbit. Bilbo’s unexpected adventure was playful, sharply drawn, and rooted in a storyteller’s wink. Decades later, Peter Jackson invited us back again, but with a different tone, different scale, and (for many of us) a different set of expectations. Today I’mContinueContinue reading “Observing an Anniversary: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (2013)”

The Hobbit That First Opened My Door to Middle-earth — Celebrating the 48-Year Legacy of Rankin/Bass’ Hobbit

I met Bilbo Baggins when I was thirteen years old, standing in the hallway of DeRidder Junior High. The library door carried a poster that stopped me in my tracks. A curious, round fellow stood in his front doorway, pipe in hand, sending smoke rings lazily into the air. The art looked like watercolor washedContinueContinue reading “The Hobbit That First Opened My Door to Middle-earth — Celebrating the 48-Year Legacy of Rankin/Bass’ Hobbit”

Observing an Anniversary: Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings (1978)

I first stepped into Tolkien’s world through a boxed set of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings sometime in the mid-70s. Taking on the larger-in-scope-and-theme Lord of the Rings was daunting, but I made it through and was captivated by the characters and the story. Today I’m marking the 47th anniversary of a film that left a mark onContinueContinue reading “Observing an Anniversary: Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings (1978)”

Fingolfin challenges Morgoth at the Gates of Angband, by Pete Amachree

Re-sharing this stunning depiction by artist Pete Amachree, paired with the passage it brings to life — a glimpse of the high, mythic tone that runs through Tolkien’s writings beyond The Lord of the Rings. Digital artwork inspired by Fingolfin’s final ride and his courage meeting shadow at the very gates of darkness. This sceneContinueContinue reading “Fingolfin challenges Morgoth at the Gates of Angband, by Pete Amachree”