The Initial photograph.
Just North of Tirau
In August 2011 I had decided to start creating artworks that reflected my interest in fantasy worlds.
A hill, just north of the town Tirau in the central Waikato caught my attention as a possible Hobbit town location. It's compact and rounded shape seemed perfect and with the large trees and small road I could just imagine a Hobbit like village existing there.
Recent success including the first sale of a painting also helped me to begin this challenging task.
I took the photo on a typical, cool autumn morning.
A hill, just north of the town Tirau in the central Waikato caught my attention as a possible Hobbit town location. It's compact and rounded shape seemed perfect and with the large trees and small road I could just imagine a Hobbit like village existing there.
Recent success including the first sale of a painting also helped me to begin this challenging task.
I took the photo on a typical, cool autumn morning.
Only Concept Drawing
My first and only drawing started with an emphasis on placement and colour of specific items. I jotted this drawing on the bottom of a school newsletter sitting in our staffroom listening to the morning briefing. I was obviously not thoroughly engaged.
Checking Shade and Tone
Made black and white using the wonderful and free Paint.net
As I have attended more and more art classes in Cambridge NZ, our teacher Jos Coufreur (click for his site here) has often emphasised the importance of using tonal values to increase the impact of shading, minimum use of colour to help bring a painting to life. I wanted to make sure that I kept the light coming from the right and I showed the terracing on the hill caused (of course) by wandering sheep.
Painting Starting to take shape
Although, the hill leans in a different way, this is not an issue, as the emphasis of the painting is to include features from a fantasy setting. The first hobbit hole is in place, as is the first tree using the Jos Coufreur "plastic bag" method. I have forced more light into the painting and hope to 'lift' by adding many, many flowers. I may even try adding a row or two of vegetables as well. A dry stone wall may even appear.
A week later...
The painting is now starting to take shape. Note the second hobbit hole is completed and the third and closest on the left has had the foundations set.
I have considered adding a dry stone wall and a standing stone. My family and I visited the 'Merry Maidens', a stone circle in Cornwall some years ago and it would be nice if I could add that historical and personal touch. I would dearly like to add a lone hobbit walking on the road however I am struggling to find a rear view of a hobbit. I have some ideas though...
I have considered adding a dry stone wall and a standing stone. My family and I visited the 'Merry Maidens', a stone circle in Cornwall some years ago and it would be nice if I could add that historical and personal touch. I would dearly like to add a lone hobbit walking on the road however I am struggling to find a rear view of a hobbit. I have some ideas though...
The finished product... apart from the Hobbits shadow.
I am quite pleased with the result. I added a standing stone, a dry stone wall and even a wheelbarrow.
Note: I got the rear view of a Hobbit by running The Two Towers Peter Jackson movie on my laptop and paused it when Gollum started leading Frodo and Sam towards Mordor. I paused it at the appropriate scene then used the 'snipping tool' that comes with Win7. I then altered the image to oil painting using paint.net. I printed the picture out in colour and black and white to show tonal values.
Note: I got the rear view of a Hobbit by running The Two Towers Peter Jackson movie on my laptop and paused it when Gollum started leading Frodo and Sam towards Mordor. I paused it at the appropriate scene then used the 'snipping tool' that comes with Win7. I then altered the image to oil painting using paint.net. I printed the picture out in colour and black and white to show tonal values.
