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Ted Nasmith is a Canadian artist, illustrator and architectural renderer. He is best known as an illustrator of J. R. R. Tolkien's works; The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
In 1972, Nasmith mailed photographs of some of his paintings to J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien
responded by letter a few weeks later, both praising the work and making the comment that the rendition of Bilbo Baggins seemed a little too childlike. Still a teenager at the time, this early feedback from Tolkien encouraged Nasmith to strive for a more literal interpretation of Tolkien's works.
In 1972, Nasmith mailed photographs of some of his paintings to J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien
responded by letter a few weeks later, both praising the work and making the comment that the rendition of Bilbo Baggins seemed a little too childlike. Still a teenager at the time, this early feedback from Tolkien encouraged Nasmith to strive for a more literal interpretation of Tolkien's works.
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/2/3/24238383/7390933.jpg?328)
In this heroic painting, you can see a wizard with a long beard on a white horse, using his magical powers he strikes the dragon ahead of him, bolting him in the chest. Around them are other knights and warriors on horses. This scene, taken from J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, captures the idea of myths and legends immediately. Nasthe mith has used mostly dark blues, greys and blacks in this painting, having an overwhelming feel to it. However the dramatic white lighting striking the dragon makes you see it immediately striking you too as a viewer.
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/2/3/24238383/3383239.jpg)
In this painting, you can see the White Wizard with his arms in the air, summoning the eagle coming forth, who picks him up and takes him away to safety when needed. You can also see the Two Towers collapsing in the background, which plays a big part in Lord of the Rings. The massive dark cloud is overwhelming in the painting, insinuating doom. The thick grey clouds of smoke are coming from the bright orange in the far background. A fire is burning and is the only bright colour in the painting, the thick clouds are covering most of it, showing that it's dominating, and darkness has taken over.