"Collide"

"Collide"

2021

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

"The Mexican Nazgûl"

2021

Self-portrait as a Nazgûl.

This was surprisingly difficult to make. It was a struggle to draw the face haggard and wraith-like and still make it recognizable as me. I am very happy with the result though.

"The Moon's Guardian"

2021

...but Tilion was a hunter of the company of Oromë, and he had a silver bow. He was a lover of silver, and when he would rest he forsook the woods of Oromë, and going into Lórien he lay in dream by the pools of Estë, in Telperion’s flickering beams; and he begged to be given the task of tending for ever the last Flower of Silver.

-"The Silmarillion", by J.R.R. Tolkien

"Minds the Dead Have Ravished"

2018

These are men whose minds the Dead have ravished. Memory fingers in their hair of murders, Multitudinous murders they once witnessed.

-"Mental Cases", by Wilfred Owen

I did this series inspired by shell shocked soldiers of the First World War back in 2018, in time for the 100th anniversary of the armistice. Let us all strive to live in a world free of the ravages of imperialism and war.

"Gandalf's Wisdom"

2021

"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", by J.R.R. Tolkien

Next in my countdown of Fellowship of the Ring favorite scenes is perhaps one of the most iconic, important dialogues of the series. And though the "all we have to decide..." line is very poignant and has been shared and reshared countless times, I actually think Gandalf's comments on pity, mercy, and fate, though perhaps not as widely shared, carry more weight as to what pertains to some of LotR's core themes and values.

It's a scene that establishes kindness and empathy as powerful forces in their own right, and mercy as a life affirming action able to turn tides and rule the fate of the world. Bilbo, and later Frodo, took pity on Gollum, and by granting him life instead of death they allowed his role in the grander story to play out. Mercy, in its connection to life, offers pathways, choices, possibilities. Apathy, cruelty and death offer none.

I think it's also sweet how Gandalf, after Frodo laments the Ring coming to him, reminds him how of all people, the One Ring found its way to him. If fate would have it that the most powerful and treasured weapon of the Dark Lord fell into the keeping of a pure-hearted, brave little hobbit, then they should feel encouraged that something good might come out of this Quest after all.

One of the (many) strokes of genius in these films that were an improvement on the source material was to have this dialogue moved to the Mines of Moria. It makes more sense for Frodo to lament his situation at this stage, after already having gone through a lot, than at the very beginning of his journey. And its a nicer, more impactful setting for Gandalf to offer words of wisdom, encouragement and hope in a quiet moment amidst one of the darkest and scariest places in Middle-earth, shortly before the grief and devastation of the Fellowship losing him.

"Sal Mineo"

2021