SILMARILLION by ArlenianChronicles (full project)
1. I’ve started a new project, as you can see! I was inspired by my Beren and Luthien project to illustrate the whole Silmarillion XD It’s going to be a heck of a while before it’s done, but I hope you guys enjoy following along on the journey!
So here we have part 1 of my Silmarillion project. First is the Ainulindale, featuring Eru Iluvatar, the Ainur, the creation of Arda, and the standoff between Manwe and Melkor for the dominion of Arda.
2. The second part of my Silmarillion project, Valaquenta. Here are the top three Valar, Manwe, Ulmo, and Aule; the top three Valier, Varda, Yavanna, and Nienna; their Maiar, Eonwe, Ilmare, and Olorin; and the Enemies, Melkor and Sauron.
3. The third part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 1 to 4! I’ll be posting one part each instead of two at a time from now on XD This part features the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion; Aule and Yavanna creating the Dwarves and Ents; five of the first Elves, Elwe (Thingol), Olwe, Finwe, Ingwe, and Nowe (Cirdan); and the lovers, Thingol and Melian. Phew, lots of Elves to draw!
Also, some Tolkien fans might notice that Elmo and Lenwe are missing from the drawing of the Elves that awoke at Cuivienen. That’s because I forgot, and then there wasn’t enough space!
4. The fourth part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 5 to 8, featuring King Finwe of the Noldor, High King Ingwe of the Vanyar (and all Elves in Valinor, and King Olwe of the Teleri; Feanor and Melkor, representing two events of the chapter; Feanor and the Silmarils, and the destruction of the Two Trees by Ungoliant and Melkor.
5. The fifth part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 9 to 12, featuring a bloody Fëanor after having fought the Teleri Elves; Melian creating the Girdle (magical barrier) around the realm of Doriath; the Maiar Arien and Tilion holding the last fruit and flower Laurelin and Telperion (all respectively lol); and a family of the first Edain (mortal men).
6. MASSIVE CREDITS TO CHRISTOPHER TOLKIEN FOR THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE MAP OF BELERIAND. My copy of the Silmarillion has a map, which I scanned and traced over in Paint Tool SAI so that it’d be high res. Tracing all those words was what took me so long!
The sixth part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 13 to 16, featuring Feanor fighting balrogs (not shown lol), and Fingolfin crossing the Grinding Ice; the Map of Beleriand; Melian attempting to learn more from Galadriel about why the Noldor left Aman; and Maeglin and Aredhel escaping Nan Elmoth (his birth home).
On the map, the words in red are the names of the lands, and the pale words are the Elven lords (and lady) ruling over hose lands. So for example, Thingol and Melian are presiding over Doriath, and Caranthir is presiding over Thargelion.
7. The seventh part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 17 to 20, featuring Finrod’s meeting with the Edain; Fingolfin and Morgoth during the Dagor Bragollach; Beren, Luthien, and Huan, with Beren’s severed hand holding a Silmaril; and Fingon surrounded by balrog whips during the Fifth Battle.
Originally, the Silmaril in Beren and Luthien’s illustration was supposed to have a horizontal line to complete the geometric effect, but since it cut across their faces, I had to take it out. Also, I know that Finrod’s meeting with the Edain technically took place in the middle of the night, but I have a lot of nighttime backgrounds in these illustrations already, so I wanted to do a dawn-like background!
8. The eighth part of my Silmarillion project, chapters 21 to 24, featuring Turin, Nienor, and Beleg, with the sword Anglachel; Melian and the death of Thingol, along with the Feanorian banner (to represent the Second Kinslaying); Tuor, Idril, and Earendil, along with a dragon climbing the King’s Tower in Gondolin; and Earendil and Elwing with the Silmaril, while their sons Elrond and Elros are taken by Maedhros and Maglor in the Third Kinslaying.
The stories of Turin Turambar and the Fall of Gondolin are large stories, so I decided to go with portraits of the main characters, especially with Turin’s chapter. I feel like I could’ve done something a bit more creative with the Fall of Gondolin, but I’m pleased with this one nevertheless XD
Also, I’m really happy I managed to squeeze in my favourite Tolkien family – Maedhros and Maglor with Elrond and Elros hahahahaa (If only showing their hands lol)
This part concludes the Quenta Silmarillion, which I forgot to mention began at chapter 1. There are now two parts left in the Silmarillion to illustrate!
9. The ninth part of my Silmarillion project, Akallabeth, featuring the Door of Night through which Morgoth is banished; Elrond Halfelven, his twin Elros Tar-Minyatur – who is crowned the first king of Numenor – and Nimloth, the White Tree of Numenor; Sauron in the guise of Tar-Mairon, councillor to the last king of Numenor, Ar-Pharazon; and Manwe with Iluvatar, the latter of which sends great waves to destroy Numenor.
So I was looking back at part 8 of my project, and I have to say that the illustrations for Turin Turambar and the Fall of Gondolin are the ones that I am least satisfied with. I mean, I wish I had added a few more beakers around the King’s Chemistry Beaker of Gondolin (cuz it looks like one, the way I drew it lol), to make it look more like a city XD
So I hope this part makes up for that, at least with regards to visual interest
Just one more part left to go!!
10. The tenth and final part of my Silmarillion project, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, featuring Celebrimbor and Annatar (another of Sauron’s forms) crafting the rings of power; two of the Istari, Saruman and Gandalf (there are three others, not just these two lol), and the Eye of Sauron; Samwise Gamgee carrying Frodo Baggins up Mt. Doom to destroy the One Ring; and the last (but not really the last XD) white ship sailing into the West.
So we’ve finally come to the end! I want to thank all of you for sticking with me and supporting me through this big project! It took two months – from June 10 to August 12 – to finish! I’m very proud of my work, and also relieved that I was able to finish it, in a way XD I’m so happy that I was able to share this project with you all! I learned quite a bit about composition and lightning and shading in this project.
For any who were wondering, I think my favourite illustrations out of them all are parts 4 and 7. I especially like how I drew the light of the Silmarils in those ones XD I feel like I could’ve done better on part 8, but I still like that one If you like, let me know which ones you liked the most! I would love to hear your feedback!
Now is the time for a little break, in which I will finish up some other things. Then I can announce the next project that I’ve planned (which will hopefully be soon lol)!
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