The Old Forest

” ‘They do not like all that about ending and failing,’ said Merry. ‘I should not sing any more at present. Wait till we get to the edge, and then we’ll turn and give them a rousing chorus!’ ”
—The Old Forest, Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

 – I just learned that this will be the cover of the Tolkien Society’s annual publication: the ‘Mallorn’! :)

The first in a series of landscapes inspired by both Britain and Middle-earth – this one based on the forest of Padley Gorge in Derbyshire. Though I think the trees there are less likely to eat you.

Acrylics, pencil, pastel, gouache, tea, cat hair, and the withered deathless malicious and malignant soul of a really evil tree – on paper (also made from trees, maybe evil), and then some digital colouring and fannying about.
A3 / 12×17 inches
Prints available here.

Work in progress and details:

Old Forest, work in progress 1

Old Forest, work in progress 2

Old Forest, work in progress 3

Old Forest, detail: Tree faces

Old Forest, detail: Merry and Frodo