This is one out of two finished watercolour paintings I did in the mid-eighties (around age 18, 19) that have a Tolkien theme - the other one is "Cirith Ninniach", which is inspired by the story of Tuor from the "Unfinished Tales". At the time I was deeply involved in Tolkien's imaginary world - and I did quite a large number of paintings and drawings illustrating Middle Earth, some of which you can find here - sadly, some never quite got finished (there is a painting of Aragorn and Arwen on Cerin Amroth that I still want to pick up again some day...) and most of the others are just really rough sketches, which were really meant to relieve myself from the images invading my brain, rather than being finished works of art.
This painting of Caras Galadhon, the city of the elves in Lórien, has turned out quite well though - it is only the second in quite a large series of A2-sized watercolour paintings I did throughout the late eighties - before I picked up oil paint in about 1988 - and I still think it's one of my best, certainly of that period.

Here is the passage from "Lord of the Rings" that inspired it:

"The sun was sinking behind the mountains, and the shadows were deepening in the woods, when they went on again. Their paths now went into thickets where the dusk had already gathered. Night came beneath the trees as they walked, and the elves uncovered their silver lamps.
Suddenly they came out into the open again and found themselves under a pale evening sky pricked by a few early stars. There was a wide treeless space before them, running in a great circle and bending away on either hand. Beyond it was a deep fosse lost in soft shadow, but the grass upon its brink was green, as if it glowed still in memory of the sun that had gone. Upon the further side there rose to a great height a green wall encircling a green hill thronged with mallorn-trees taller than any they had yet seen in all the land. Their height could not be guessed, but they stood up in the twilight like living towers. In their many-tiered branches and amid their ever-moving leaves countless lights were gleaming, green and gold and silver. Haldir turned towards the Company.
"Welcome to Caras Galadhon!" he said. "Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lórien. But we cannot enter here, for the gates do not look northward. We must go round to the southern side, and the way is not short, for the city is great."

There was a road paved with white stone running on the outer brink of the fosse. Along this they went westward, with the city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left; and as the night deepened more lights sprang forth, until all the hill seemed afire with stars. They came at last to a white bridge, and crossing found the great gates of the city: they faced south-west, set between the ends of the encircling wall that here overlapped, and they were tall and strong, and hung with many lamps.
Haldir knocked and spoke, and the gates opened soundlessly; but of guards Frodo could see no sign. The travellers passed within, and the gates shut behind them. They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall, and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees. No folk could they see, nor hear any feet upon the paths; but there were many voices, about them, and in the air above. Far away up on the hill they could hear the sound of singing falling from on high like soft rain upon leaves."

From: J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", book II, chapter VII "The Mirror of Galadriel"

© 2002, 2003, 2004 Asni

all artwork © Asni

last updated: 12 January, 2004