The Wonder of Tolkien

This is from the first chapter of LOTR:

"About midnight carriages came for the important folk. One by one they rolled away, filled with full but very unsatisfied hobbits. Gardeners came by arrangement, and removed in wheelbarrows those that had inadvertently remained behind."

The invitation to Christopher Tolkien’s 21st birthday.
Love the bottom lines. Just like a good Hobbit family.

YouTube video by The Wonder of Tolkien How Tolkien Created Middle-earth in a World at War | John Garth

I sat down with Tolkien scholar @johngarthwriter.bsky.social to talk about his amazing book, Tolkien's life and the research needed to represent the Professor well.

I'm so thankful I got into Tolkien 5 years ago - it has changed my life and opened up a whole new world of creativity, beauty, poetry, literature and relationships!

Friends: What's your retirement plan?
Me:

Tolkien, The Artist Over 30 stunning pieces from the Professor

I’ve gathered over 30 of my favorite illustrations and paintings by Tolkien all in one place - some you’ll recognize, others you might see for the first time.

This is loyalty and love - and also what we are called to do for one another.

“He put Frodo in front of him now, and kept a watchful eye on every moment of his, supporting him if he stumbled, and trying to encourage him with his clumsy words”

- Tolkien, The Two Towers

Thankful to God for these little glimpse of beauty and wonder. (sound on!)

Drawing Frodo with my son.
Yes, that's my version.

I’m becoming the type of person who is more excited about a used bookstore than a new movie, and more worked up over trees being cut down than the latest controversy in the headlines.

We saw The Fellowship at the SF Symphony last year (a surreal experience) and we just got tickets to see RotK next April!

Added some more images to the post with Tolkien's art (now 30)! So fun to see his imagination spread across so many different styles.

Sabbath readings...

Tolkien, The Artist The sketches and illustrations of J.R.R. Tolkien

I compiled some of my favorites here:

We need a museum dedicated to Tolkien's art!

Tolkien, The Artist The sketches and illustrations of J.R.R. Tolkien

I compiled a collection of some of my favorite Tolkien sketches and paintings for people to admire and enjoy!

Never get tired of seeing this…
Tolkien has a way of enchanting hearts like few do.

Here is also another beautiful sketch from Tolkien with the same title.

‘High Life at Gipsy Green’
One of Tolkien’s playful and whimsical sketches.

Middle-earth (by Pauline Baynes).

Lake Town - drawn by Tolkien.

YouTube video by The Wonder of Tolkien A Book on Narnia illustrated by Pauline Baynes #narnia #books #illustration

A beautiful book from Brian Sibley on the world of Narnia - with beautiful illustrations from Pauline Baynes.

Yes it was I think the circles - he said Minas Tirith was almost exactly as he was thinking.

A beautiful map of Middle-earth illustrated by Pauline Baynes.

Tolkien wrote to Baynes: ”Some of these pictures agree remarkably with my own vision: especially the first four on the right”

Thanks friend.

I’m writing more frequently — poetry, short articles, etc. They are on beauty, creating, Tolkien, myth, stories, wonder, imagination, nature, etc. My aim is to stir up your heart towards the beauty of this world.

I would be honored if you subscribed.
Link: www.christopherstites.com

Call It Good The need for reflecting on what we create

This is something all creators should slow down to do…

Tolkien had an unfettered imagination.

Lewis captures something in his stories that penetrate, wound and heal. So beautiful.

Now 125 pages into this story…
The word WILD does not do it justice.