Archive of posts filed under the The Silmarillion category.
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The Enderi – Middle-days of the Elvish solar year

Posted by  on 25 September 2012, 7:16 am
Enderi written in Tengwar

‘Enderi’ written in Tengwar

Today is the first of three enderi on the elvish calendar. The Enderi, or middle-days, mark the middle of the elvish loa, or solar year, and also signal the transition from a time of growth to a time of fading. They are nestled between the seasons Yávië and Quellë. In elvish leap years, occurring once every 12 years, the enderi are doubled to a total of six. This doubling does not occur however when the leap year occurs at the end of a yén, an elvish year consisting of 144 loa.

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Anarya, 26th of Yávië – Today in Middle-earth History

Posted by  on 27 August 2012, 6:45 am

Third Age 2: Isildur starts the long journey north to Arnor from the city of Minas Anor (later known as Minas Tirith) in Gondor with the One Ring.

Isuldur journeys north with the One Ring

 

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Return of the Ring event takes place this weekend

Posted by  on 17 August 2012, 8:34 am

Return of the Ring logoThe Tolkien Society is having a five day event called the Return of the Ring to celebrate 75 years of The Hobbit, and also mark the 35th anniversary of The Silmarillion. It will be “a harmonious blending of the artistic, creative, musical, fandom, academic, and partying with the opportunity to renew fellowships.”

The event, held at Loughborough University, England from Thursday August 16 through Monday August 20, will feature an art show, auctions, special guest talks, banquet, live music, and much more.

Festivities kicked off on Thursday with an art show  showcasing the works of many famous Tolkien artists such as Ted Nasmith, Cor Blok, Anke Eissmann, Ruth Lacon, and Jenny Dolfen. The art show will run the entire weekend.

From the Return of the Ring website:

Cor Blok has achieved notoriety in recent years with the most recent Tolkien Calendars and his book A Tolkien Tapestry, whilst Ted Nasmith is already very well-known to Tolkien fans through his illustrated Silmarillion. Anke Eissmann creates some beautiful watercolours and ink drawings whilst Ruth Lacon makes use of bold colours and forms in her very unique artwork. The sheer amount and range of artwork means there will be something here for everyone and give people the chance to have a look at some artists’ interpretation of scenes from The Hobbit before Sir Peter Jackson’s epic film comes out later this year. You can view a sample of their artwork by going here: http://www.returnofthering.org/events.php#artshow.

Other guests at the weekend event include J.R.R. Tolkien’s grandson, Michael Tolkien, himself an author and poet, authors/acedemics Tom Shippey, Brian Sibley, Verlyn Flieger, Corey Olsen, John Garth, and Colin Duriez, as well as entertainers Charlie Ross “One Man LOTR,” progressive-folk band Methelgin, Anglo-Cetic group Tinkercuss, and many more. For a full line-up of guests see the Return of the Ring’s Guest page.

The last night of the event will feature a large banquet filled with food and entertainment where attendees can feast like a hobbit, elf, dwarf, or whatever Middle-earth race they belong to.

For more information on the Return of the Ring event, see their website at http://www.returnofthering.org/

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Dynamite to reissue classic ‘The Tolkien Years of the Brothers Hildebrandt’

Posted by  on 12 July 2012, 3:10 pm

Official press release:

July 10th, 2012 – Mt. Laurel, NJ – The million-selling Lord of the Rings calendars created during the ’70s by renowned fantasy artists Greg and Tim Hildebrandt are now considered artistic masterpieces.  This coffee table art book, ”The Tolkien Years of the Brothers Hildebrandt”, collects all that fantastic art, while telling the untold story behind the creation of those cherished illustrations, written by Greg Hildebrandt, Jr.!  Be sure to pick up this book in September for only $29.99!

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the work of two renowned fantasy artists, written through the eyes of Greg’s son. The Brothers Hildebrandt art provided Tolkien-lovers with a fantastic treasury of Lord of the Rings art…the movies of which have now grossed billions worldwide!  This is the perfect time to get the book, with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit motion picture coming out in December 2013!

Written by Greg Hildebrandt, Jr., Greg Hildebrandt’s son, this book tells the story through the eyes of young Gregory when, at ages five, six, and seven he posed for the various “little people” characters known as the Hobbits. Gregory reminisces about his key role in the development of these calendar paintings and the unique creative ingenuity of his father and uncle.

“From 1975 through most of 1977 my brother, Tim, and I focused primarily on our art for our three J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings calendars,” says LIVING LEGEND GREG HILDEBRANDT!  “We painted these for Ballantine Books. We were obsessed with this art. It consumed us.  Since the last calendar was published in 1978 we created additional art based on Tolkien’s Ring.  This expanded edition of our Tolkien art book is the most comprehensive compilation of that art. The book in itself is a labor of love as it took almost a year to put together and design.  If you are a Lord of the Rings fan or a fan of our art this is a really great collection. One that I am proud of and I hope one that you will enjoy for years.  This updated and expanded edition includes all new pages with commentary and exclusive material.”

“As a long time fan of Greg and Tim’s work, and a fan of the original book it is my honor that Dynamite Entertainment will publish the newest version of this acclaimed book,” adds Dynamite Entertainment President and Publisher Nick Barrucci.  “Greg and Tim Hildebrandt are legends and it is my honor that we can help add to their legacy!”

Also, in July 2012, we have advance solicited The Tolkien Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt 2013 Calendar for October shipping!  Once more, from the magical world of Middle-Earth. Greg Hildebrandt has chosen 14 pieces of original art from the 1976, 1977, and 1978 J.R.R. Tolkien calendars originally created for Ballantine Books. 37 years ago, Greg and Tim dove into Tolkien’s epic The Lord of the Rings with all the enthusiasm they could possibly have mustered. Their art set a standard for what the world saw as The Lord of the Rings. This art is loved world-wide. This calendar represents an excellent look at some of the best of The Brothers Hildebrandt Tolkien art.

 

For art and more information, please visit: www.dynamite.net

About Dynamite Entertainment:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Shadow, The Boys, Green Hornet, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, Game of Thrones and more!

In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Avon Oeming, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Jae Lee, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent!

DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles – including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s PROJECT SUPERPOWERS – have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. Several of their titles have also hit The New York Times Best-Sellers list: The Boys, Vampirella Archives, Robert Jordan’s New Spring and Wheel of Time graphic novels. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). Dynamite recently won the Diamond Gem Award for Best Publisher Under 4% of market share for 2011! The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

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Anarya, 32nd of Lairë – Today in Middle-earth History

Posted by  on 22 June 2012, 6:30 am

First Age 498: Túrin weds Níniel in Brethil.
Third Age 2941: Bilbo and the Dwarves leave Rivendell and set out towards the Lonely Mountain.

Martin Freeman as Bilbo

Martin Freeman as Bilbo in The Hobbit

Third Age 3013: A Free Fair is held on the White Downs, Will Whitfoot is re-elected as Mayor.
Third Age 3018: Gandalf meets Radagast near Bree, he is given a message from Saruman.
Third Age 3019: Aragorn weds Arwen in Minas Tirith.

‘The Marriage of Aragorn’ by The Brothers Hildebrandt

…Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfilment.

[The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 5, The Steward and the King]

Third Age 3020: Frodo Baggins resigns the post of Mayor of the Shire, Will Whitfoot is restored.
Fourth Age 6: Sam Gamgee is elected as Mayor of Michel Delving after Will Whitfoot resigns.
Fourth Age 55: At the Free Fair on the White Downs, Samwise Gamgee resigns as Mayor of the Shire.
Fourth Age 61: Death of Rosie, Sam Gamgee’s wife.

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Artist Creates Hand-bound Copy of ‘The Silmarillion’

Posted by  on 3 April 2012, 1:43 pm

Back in August I did a post on the ‘Edel Silmarillion’ as created by Benjamin Harff, a recently graduated German art student, who decided to create a hand illuminated version of The Silmarillion for his final project.

Now another artist is lending their touch to The Silmarillion.

Heather Stevick fell in love with the art of bookbinding after taking a History of Print class at Carleton College and has since moved on to the North Bennet Street School where she has learned more about the importance of books through history. Her love for the craft of and skill in bookbinding clearly shows in a hand-bound copy of The Silmarillion that she has posted about in her blog over at BookwyrmBound

Hand-bound copy of the The Silmarillion by Heather Stevick

Hand-bound copy of the ‘The Silmarillion’ by Heather Stevick

The leather cover of her copy of The Silmarillion features the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin, each done in silver leaf and imitation gold leaf respectively. The fruits of each tree, however, are created using palladium and gold, materials that will not easily tarnish over time as the silver and imitation gold will. This was done deliberately.

“When I re-read the book in preparation for binding it, I was struck by the theme of decay, and so I wanted that to be represented in my binding. I decided to make use of materials that will tarnish over time…

…Over time, the book will literally enact the destruction of the Two Trees. But the flower in Telperion’s branches and the fruit in Laurelin’s are tooled in palladium and gold, respectively, so they will stay bright. In the book, this last fruit and flower become the Sun and the Moon.”

But she didn’t stop there. Heather Stevick also incorporated the theme of the Silmarils along the three edges of the book: “one in the airs of heaven, and one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the deep waters” as written by Tolkien.

Decorated edge of a hand-bound copy of The Silmarillion created by Heather Stevick

Decorated edge of a hand-bound copy of ‘The Silmarillion’ created by Heather Stevick

To see more photos of the book and how she created it as well as how she created the tools to write “Silmarillion” in elvish Tengwar on the spine, please head over to her blog at BookwyrmBound

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