The other day I was sitting and thinking what scene from the Hobbit I would find niggling if it had been missed from the latest film. So, I flicked through the book and my mind turned to the scene with Bilbo returning home as it really was ‘back again’. I’d planned to paint the scene, but in the end pen & ink won for speed. I won’t comment as to whether the scene is in the film, you’ll have to watch it for yourself to find out 😉
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In the Shire
I was planning to work on a large illustration from Tolkien’s Middle Earth, however things kept going wrong and I was becoming more and more frustrated, so I decided to make a quick visit to the Shire with my watercolours to relax.
Read MoreThria Dimensio Transferer
Just in case you were wondering, I discovered how the 3d concept art by John Howe and Alan Lee which was featured in one of the ‘making of’ videos was actually made. There has been a fair amount of speculation online has to how the 3D concept art was created, so I decided to put stop any further speculation and reveal the machine John and Alan used. The Thria Dimensio Transerer was developed in New Zealand in 2008, though it took a year or so to get the gremlins ironed…
Read MoreScearpran Penicillus Mekhos 6200A
Sat beside the drawing board of many professional illustrators these days is the Scearpran Penicillus Mekhos 6200A, a handy machine for keeping a steady supply of super sharp pencils on hand. Another Heath Robinson ‘thing’ for the theme of the month over at john-howe.com 😉
Read MoreThe Elydoric Graminoid Adroitness Contrivance
Everyone wonders how some artists and illustrators paint grass so well. Okay, not everyone, a few folk do anyway. There’s even guides on how to paint grass (link) for those of us who can’t figure it out (or even do it with a guide). But the truth which all these artist and illustrators who can realistically paint grass don’t tell you is they use a machine. The Elydoric Graminoid Adroitness Contrivance was invented in 1983 by John Howe and he’s kept it hidden for years locked away in his attic…
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