Faramir Fiction Archive

HEEHEEH, I ´m delighted you like the curious horsey! :D I found the picture somewhat boring before, until it popped up and demanded to be part of it! Not that the scenery would be even half as cheerful in reality – erotic intercourses in a stable might lead to various incidents of which an unexpected encounter with soft, inquisitive nostrils might be a rather harmless one! XD

And it´s so amazing what you can do with only two colours! I´ve just started to read about painting again, and I´m struck with awe by how easily you can improve your results once you know how! ;) (Sounds silly, I know. But generally I don´t even read manuals, and though my shelves are stuffed with books about art, I mostly stick with looking at the pictures. XD)

I´m positive they´re related! Given the very close relationship between the riders and their horses… okay, perhaps what Tolien actually MEANT was a rather spiritual one – but you never know! X)

Now that you´ve mentioned it… indeed, there are remarkable resemblances between the Tolkien horses and their riders! X) Unfortunately there are not so many explicit human/perissodactyl relationships (as you said Gandalf/Shadowfax and Sam/Bill are the most distinctive ones) but there should be at least hints that allow a little elaboration… XD

And since it just fits in: I know you prefer the book version of Faramir, yet there is a little story about ROTK (the movie) you might enjoy nevertheless. It´s told by David Wenham, in the audio comment and it´s about the horse he rides in the film. So, according to what he says, it wasn´t long until he got the feeling their communication suffered of a little disorder, and since he generally got along rather well with horses, he finally consulted the stable master in order to find out what was wrong. Well, the answer he got was approximately like that: “Why yes, was quite a cheap horse. Cost us not more than 200 Dollars. No idea what´s wrong with it, but I figure there must be a reason” Whereas he decided to just integrate the given circumstances in his role, like: Hey, maybe it was a present of Denethor. Cheapest horse, only 200 bucks, just give it to Faramir!” So yes, coincidence of happenings…

Oh dear… here you have me rambling again and instead of stopping me you even fuelled the conflagration. Soooo, wanna talk about art? ;)

First and most important. I don´t think I can hand over anything way too helpful. Just refer to a few books I found helpful – and perhaps an advice I´ve recently got.

One of my all-time favorite books of reference is Facial Expressions by Gary Faigin:

http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Complete-Guide-Facial-Expression/dp/0823016285

After all even the most emotional expression is a result of muscle contractions and the book explains which muscles are involved and how you can depict it on paper. It´s very easy to consume and you can flick back and forth, depending on what you need, without working through the whole book. Also, it´s amazing that sometimes a simple trick suffices to depict a highly complex emotional state!

Furthermore I´ve just read a book about Water Colours by Colette Pitcher:

http://www.amazon.com/Watercolor-Painting-Dummies-Colette-Pitcher/dp/0470182318

Again, rather laid back, not too scientific descriptions and lots of practical tips. There´s also a section about room arrangement and perspective.

And I´ve just found a rather voluminous book, Drawing by Andras Shunyoghy:

http://www.borders.com.au/book/the-big-book-of-drawing/24564843/

It covers each section from the basics (perspective, room, the usual suspects) over anatomy, architecture and and still life to the depiction of animals (horses!!!). There are certainly books that go deeper into the single subject, but it gives a good overlook over the topics and again, you don´t need a diploma to read it.

And last but not least, and I hope I won´t fuck up the explanation: A couple of weeks ago a drawing teacher told me something I find immensely helpful. Actually she referred to a pencil depiction that consisted only of lines, neither shadows nor colour, but I think in any case it´s a method to get an idea of the dynamics of a body. It´s actually vey easy, but a bit difficult to explain, when you cannot show it.

So let´s say… well, take Faramir´s arm in this picture, (that one that reaches out for the horse). Now, in which direction does this movement lead? The upper arm (the one that does the “raise”) goes upwards, which is to the left side of the picture. So, given, you had no other stylistic devices than the outer lines of the arm, you could emphasize the one, that goes into that direction (the left one), by making it bolder or darker, for example. The lower arm instead stretches towards the horse, which means it goes into the opposite direction, so you could emphasize the right line, to show the motion. It´s a kind of “where does the energy go”. Meanwhile I´m trying to do this, even when I have the support of colour and shadow, because it gives me a better feeling, for, well, body masses and spaces (I´m afraid I lack a better term here. And I hope you can make anything out of this rather incoherent description XD).

I also wrote myself a little schedule of things I should be aware of before I start a draft. Like: Where does the light comes from? Where am I standing (means: the onlooker)? How is the position of the characters to each other? Are the “masses” well-balanced? Maybe I should point out that all these are attempts (and rather poor ones) to find a way through the jungle. ;) Sometimes things work, and many times they don´t, so… if YOU have any tips/advices/tech support for me – please let me know! I´M EARS! :D

Woops, when did this turn into a comment fix? Are you still alive? Not died of boredom yet? (nudge nudge) December? Could you wave a flag or something..?

Oh no no no, please don´t feel intimidated/dilettante/bad in any way ever! The detail I haven´t mentioned yet is that I spent years buying all these books, but never really read them (okay. I looked at the pretty drawings. Perhaps that counts… X) ). It was not until I decided to apply at a private art school this autumn that I thought it might be a good idea to learn some basics about anatomy and composition and stuff. X) And if I may take the opportunity to completely ruin my reputation: The use of colours is a book of seven seals to me, so I rather prefer to stick to two or three of them. It´s just safer for me… XD

Большое спасибо for the inspiration you sent my way! I checked them both and I say; what would we do without internet? Only a couple of years ago nobody would have even seen these artworks! About Phobs I love the way he depicts a character and their mental state by nothing but a few lines. A certain look, a special way to walk – it´s incredible what he can express with one tiny motion. And for Anndr – heheh, oh yes, I know what you mean! There is an epical atmosphere in her works that would easily fit into the Tolkien universe. And since you brought it up before I can mention it with clear conscience: Indeed I have noticed the kyrillic letters in the comments and it didn´t surprise me at all. ;) I hope it won´t come across in the way of a prejudice, but I often think there is a special emotional quality in the works of Slavic artists you cannot find anywhere else. And with artists I mean authors and composers as well. It´s a special kind of warmth and richness that gives me a strange feeling of familiarity – don´t ask me why. I suppose it´s either a case of reincarnation, or a way more interesting family tree I could possibly imagine – or just simple fondness, who knows?

Heheh, well, I think I WILL take your advice and scribble around a little bit more – and I will not give up hope for more of YOUR art! I remember some beautiful works and where there are two there might be more… ever thought about addition to the family? (nudge nudge)

My oh MY!!!! (sic!) Eora, dearest, you spoil me completely! All those wonderful, flattering (and entirely undeserved) feedback! All the time you invested! How could I ever repay you? A breakfast in Minas Tirith´s best tavern? Dwarven beer? A daisy chain?

First: be prepared to get letters of protest from my work-mates who I startled to death by bursting into cascades of Homeric laughter. All those vivid notions you put into my mind, each of them holding the seed of a story of its own..! Why yes, I wouldn´t wonder if Éomer had trained his favourite horse to give mouth (better hoof) in case of unwelcome disruption. Or, since Faramir has a knack with animals, he might indeed have arranged a little something… so many delightful suggestions! :P

I might not be way too familiar with horses, but I´m sure there is a LOT of massaging involved. Aching muscles, ankles, backs… thinking about it I´m quite sure Éomer has developed some special qualities here – and he shall be glad to use them for making his guest, err, comfortable… X)

No no no, do not envy me! I spend half of my time envying other people´s skills (that is, when I´m not busy detecting the mistakes in my own stuff)! My knowledge is about as narrow as the edge of a Gondolin blade, so to say, and you have no idea how long it took me to get something (halfway) right! Once a friend posted a tutorial about drawing in Photoshop and I went green, I tell you, GREEN! X)