Alaska’s Pretty Bright Once You Crack Her Lightless Shell

@i-did-not-mean-to commissioned me to draw Feanor being sad about people saying mean things about him on the internet, with an optional Nolo trying to comfort him. Now, Nolo is smart enough to not try to get to close to angy Feanor, so he tries talking him out of it instead. It works Extras:

And to IDNMT: Thank you so much for your support and kindness, not only for me, but for so many other people. You are amazing.

The seven sons of Fëanor were Maedhros the tall; Maglor the mighty singer, whose voice was heard far over land and sea; Celegorm the fair, and Caranthir the dark; Curufin the crafty, who inherited most his father’s skill of hand; and the youngest Amrod and Amras, who were twin brothers, alike in mood and face.

Feanorian Week - Day 2: Maglor

Maglor moodboard

The Silmarillion characters: (18/?)

Characters’ moodboards: (178/?)

Lúthien & Huan (2022)

Little homage to one of my favorite tales. <3

'The necklace stays on'

The WIP title of this was "Finrod in red" because Curufin likes that because it symbolizes Curufin's growing influence over Nargothrond (and its king?). Also made 2 alt versions because I'm not Curufin and usually prefer Finrod in blues and greens.

Ok so I've been working on this for like half a year and set myself a deadline to finish this in time for @silmsmutweek when I saw how well it matched some of the prompts, but well…I failed.

But in case it still counts, here is a super late Curufinrod submission for @silmsmutweek - day 6 (complicated relationships, jewellery, hair, politics, oaths)

Feanor

"Éowyn was slender and tall, with a grace and pride that came to her out of the South from Morwen of Lossarnach, whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen."

(Appendix A "The House of Eorl")

Éowyn with Shadowfax in the lush meadows of Rohan @megarywrites @sotwk :)

“The Old Forest”

The seventh of eleven new watercolours depicting places in Middle-earth (and Númenor) for an upcoming book.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of the times Tolkien mentioned Finwe's love for Fëanor. I think there are no other fathers in the legendarium whose love for their son or daughter is as talked about as is Finwë's love for Fëanor.

In that time was born in Eldamar, in the house of the King in Tirion upon the crown of Tuna, the eldest of the sons of Finwe, and the most beloved. Curufinwe was his name, but by his mother he was called Feanor, Spirit of Fire; - The Silmarillion, Chapter 6, Of Fëanor and The Unchaining of Melkor

All his love he gave to his son; for Fëanaró was like his mother in voice and countenance, and Finwë was to him both father and mother, and there was a double bond of love upon their hearts. - Morgoth's Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Laws A

...Yet the shadow of Miriel did not depart from his heart, and Fëanaró always had the chief share of his thoughts. - Morgoth's Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Laws A

... And in spite of all that later happened his eldest son remained nearest to Finwë's heart. - The Peoples of Middle-earth, The Shibboleth of Fëanor

Thither also came Finwë the King, because of the love that he bore to Fëanor. - The Silmarillion, Chapter 7, Of The Silmarils and The Unrest Of The Noldor

There is a different version of the last quote in Morgoth's Ring which I personally prefer to the one we got in the published Silmarillion. The way it is worded gives a clear answer to the question why Finwë followed Fëanor in exile to Formenos.

With him went his sons, and Finwë his father, who would not be parted from him, in fault or guiltless. - - Morgoth's Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Later Chapter 6, Of The Silmarils and The Unrest Of The Noldor

Finwe did not follow Fëanor in exile because he felt like his authority as King of the Noldor was diminished by the Valar and they got involve in a situation that should have been Finwë's to handle.

He also did not follow Fëanor in exile because of some sort of guilt related to the fact that he is Fëanor's only parent and his son has nobody else left.

No.

Finwë willingly followed Fëanor in exile because he would not be parted from him, in fault or guiltless. It was never about Fëanor being right or wrong in this particular situation or any another. That is irrelevant to Finwë and it does not effect his decision. Finwë would follow Fëanor always regardless of whether his son was guilty of any transgression or not.

It's worth pointing out that Finwë did not hesitate to part from his kingship, from his people, from Indis, from his and Indis' children. But there is only one person Finwë never wants to be parted from and that is Fëanor.

... and I love that!

"Aredhel the White was younger in the years of the Eldar than her brothers; and when she was grown to full stature and beauty she was tall and strong, and loved to ride and hunt in the forests. There she was often in the company of the sons of Feanor, her kin; but to none was her heart's love given. Ar-Feiniel she was called, the White Lady of the Noldor, for she was pale, though her hair was dark, and she was never arrayed but in silver and white."

—The Silmarillion, Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie

I actually made two palette versions and can’t decide which I like better: above is “sunset” (more dramatic), and below is “twilight” (softer).

After doing a few quite illustrative, stylised paintings recently I think I may move back towards doing some realism for a bit

I’ve never really enjoyed sticking with one style of painting for too long - it’s more fun to switch around between stylised, realism and painterly imho :)