Hi, guys!:)

A few days ago I've created a post telling that my artbooks collection received an update, and now includes three more books that I call "A little green round door to Tolkien world" kind of books.

It's been a while since I created my last artbook review, and now I'm really happy to re-new this tradition. The three coming reviews will all be about Middle Earth, and at the moment I even can't stop smiling while writing it.

So, hero of today post is Alan Lee. 

If you're a crazy Tolkien fan like me you know who is it. Of you don't - well, I'll tell you:)

Alan Lee is an English books illustrator. From 1980 he was illustrating Tolkien creations, twice (mostly the Lord of the Rings). Then when Peter Jackson decided to film the movies he invited Alan as a concept artist, and Lee was working with all the six movies as a concepter from the beginning to the end. A lot of his early illustrations were also used like concepts for the movie (sketches and full color finished artworks).

When I was writing a review about the "Hobbit" artbook I already showed some of his art. I will skip everything that I already did, and will jump directly to this particular artbook I want to talk about today.

I expected it to be bigger:) When it was delivered I was a bit surprised, and at the moment it's one of the smallest artbooks in my collection, but it doesn't make it worse. The paper quality is high as usual, hardcover design repeats the super cover.

I usually start with the cover, but this time I want my favorite character from all Tolkien creations to be on the preview. So, meet Gandalf by Alan Lee:

Artist: Alan Lee

The book mostly consists of pencil sketches, but sometimes watercolor finished drawings appear, and it's great to see Gandalf among them. For an artist it's always useful to look through other artists creations and seek what you may apply to your own. I'm not talking about stealing here, I'm talking about leaning. In the past times when a young person went to study art everything what he/she was doing at first time - mixing up paints, taking care of the workshop and looking how his master works. And then, slowly, he began his own attempts. 

This is how the book looks in a super cover. I don't find them really convenient, but ready to put it up if it'll make my precioussss books last longer. When you open it the first thing that you see...

A map, of course:) A map of Middle Earth.

Personaly I have two maps hanging in my house. Thorin's map to the Lonely Mountain (it came with the Hobbit artbook, as well as full Bilbo's burglar contract), and the map of Middle Earth I bought on Comic Con, really huge (I already showed them in my previous post). But I never get tired looking at these maps over and over again. Remember Tolkien saying:

-"If you plan to write an adventure book - draw the map first, or it will be too late"

Artist: Alan Lee

I'm not going to show much pages, anyway it's just a fact-finding review, but I can't skip the barrows. In the book it's one of my favorite fragments, and I still can't excuse Peter Jackson for skipping them in the movie. And for skipping Tom. May be for Jackson it was a seriously misunderstood character, I can't find another reason for skipping. But well, OK, I always can sublimate my will to wander in the Barrows in the LotR game (here - Hi to all steemit gamers:).

Artist: Alan Lee

For me (and well, for most of us, our brain just works like that) it's either positive or negative characters are interesting, no neutral, but, of course, villains look more saturated. As well as the scenes with them. Who didn't have these horripilations when nazguls appeared? 

For me the main lesson I can take from Alan's creations  is using of light in the gray-scale (I hope my English is clear enough, if not - I'm so sorry). Pay attention on how light spreads over the beast's wings, that's what I mean.

Artist: Alan Lee

And the last page I would love to show in this short review. In this one not only pencil, but ink is also involved. Have you recognized Theoden? And one more thing here I definitely have to take to my own art: this perfect perspective depiction. Something I always am too lazy to work through normally, and what absolutely worths it.

I hope you enjoyed this little journey. Would I recommend to buy this book? Of course! If you're an artist, or Tolkien lover, or, like me, you're both - it's a must have on your shelf. See you in the next review!

Once again: all the drawings are created by Alan Lee!

Here I would like to add a little message for spammers. 

Do not:

• -thank me for sharing
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I have a huge, well oiled banhammer. And I flag for all listed.

I wish you all the best and will be happy if you'll support me with vote:)

Love, Inber