Wineman:
You might find it helpful, and, possibly, enjoyable to watch the entire trilogy. You will immediately see that Middle Earth has no single architecture or design style. You could go with the Shire with it’s utilitarian, stocky look or to the Elves’ place (can’t remember the name) with it’s early art deco look. And then there is Ederas with it’s celtic style.
Maybe you can get your client to say which part of middle earth he likes best. While you will get inspiration and general feel from the movies, your own design skills will be needed to convert these to actual pieces.
It sounds like an interesting project.
Hastings
Replies
Yes just tell them there are several styles in middle earth and you need to know which one they like most.
I would start with a search on J.R.R. Tolkien - he was a fine illustrator as well as writer. His illustrations for the trilogy are, of course, the most accurate (well as accurate as a mythological place can be).
You do need the client to provide some illustrations in order to determine which illustrators ideas he likes, as well as which type.
You need a lot more info to work with.
There are the movies, the brothers Hillebrandt, several other illustrators - depending on the printing of the book the client is most familiar with, and of course Tolkien himself.
Mike
I built this portable shed for the sawmill site/stack yard freehand without any plans, apparently not too long after watching the first Lord of the Rings movie, although I wasn't really thinking about the movie when building it. What I was thinking about was an occasional refuge from our 60 inches of cold winter rain.
A couple months later the oldest son and daughter-in-law see it for the first time, and jointly exclaim "Rivendale!"
“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.
Edited 8/4/2007 8:26 pm by BobSmalser
It would be a bummer if he liked Orcish....
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http://www.drawingwithlight.smugmug.com
Indeed. Or, late Mordor Imperial.Joe
LMAOHastings
As a rather avid Tolkien fan who has read the entire trilogy and the appendices to same several times, I found the movie styles to be off the mark. Tolkien's own illustrations are in some editions of the books, and there is also a paperback publication devoted to his drawings. His descriptions in the books are also pretty good guides.
The thing to remember is that he wrote the novels as straight-up stories, not once-upon-a-time fairy tales. If you deviate into cute fairy-tale styles, you will blow it.
As others have already pointed out, you have many choices. Setting aside Mordor and Orc/Goblin stuff, and also the truly indescribable like Bombadil's residence you have:
* The Shire, which has an 18th/early 19th century English village feel;
* Rivendell -- ancient, sophisticated and beautiful with reserve and dignity
* Beorn's house -- very early medieval like the wandering tribes of Beowulf's time
* Rohan -- Germanic or Norse mead-hall style
* Gondor -- a variety of imperial styles of great antiquity and dignity
* The Dwarf lands -- stone and metal of the highest quality and refinement with the feeling of power
* Lothlorian -- kind of indescribable organic and etherial
There are others as well, such as the wood elves, the lake-men, etc. but what the heck.
ALl that said, I would guess that your client wants Shire hobbit-style.
Joe
Being asked to build a cabinet is in itself nothing unusual but when the client asked for it to be in the Middle Earth style, well that’s threw me. You see, he’s big into J.R.R. Tolkien, you know, the Lord of the Ring and the Hobbit. So trying to oblige him I have been searching the web for any photos that might have some resemblance to this style but I’ve been coming up empty handed.
Anyone have an idea where to find this material?
It's nice to know pot is making a comeback.
Lee
" It's nice to know pot is making a comeback."
Lee,
Do I take your comment to mean that its Ok to try a little Tolkien? I suppose its ok if you don't make a hobbit of it.....
-Jerry <Gr>
I found your reply to be quite 'punny'.
So, I guess if you do a little "Tolkien" and don't make a "hobbitt" of it, then that would make you an "orc-casional" user whenever you "de-Shire". Ay?
Chris.
Edited 8/5/2007 10:18 am ET by CarvinChris
Since there are several different illustrators who have interpreted the Tolkien universe differently I would ask the client for examples of what he want or which illustrator he prefers.
For example Tolkien's own illustrations of the Shire reminds me more of southern France but I think all other illustrators has aimed for rolling english hills.
And as said above you also need to know what Middle Earth style (orc, elf, men, hobbit)he wants - I'd sure like to know what an orcish cabinet looks like so please go for that! ;-)
FHB had a few pictures from a hobbit inspired build a few months back:
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/inside-hobbit-house.aspx not any cabinets in sight but it's something.
Will that be hobbit scale, human, or something else?
Interesting thought. I hope you'll post pictures and drawings.
J
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