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Earn $59,000 as Rings researcher

It is a $59,000 a year job many fans of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings will want – but they have to base themselves in Aberystwyth, at the University of Wales. Does that sound like your dream job? Read about it at Stuff.

Ents of Fangorn TCG

The third The Two Towers™ expansion set, Ents of Fangorn, brings to The Lord of the Rings TCG a new force to be reckoned with – Ents, led by a new Treebeard and bent on vengeance against Saruman’s destruction of their kin. Add in new versions of many companions and allies like Merry, Pippin, and Elrond, a new Witch-king and other Ringwraiths, hordes of orcs and much more – the stage is set for a showdown at Orthanc!

Interview with Paul Gregory

Interview with Paul Gregory for the Council of Elrond

1.Which is your favourite of Tolkien’s books or your favourite scenes and why?
Of his books I’ve read, “The Hobbit”, “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Silmarillion”, I found them all visually stimulating. But I think it has to be “The Hobbit”, as this book introduced me not only to Tolkien, but to the Fantasy genre, for which I’m eternally grateful.

2.I understand that you did several pictures on large canvas’, can you tell me a little of how they came to be… the paints you used, how you design your work (sketch’s etc)
My original idea was to paint a series of large paintings for eventual exhibition over a period of years to see how my work developed. The medium I use is oils. When painting large canvases I spend as much time sat looking at the paintings as I do painting them, so oils is an ideal medium, as drying times are never a problem. As for composition, once I’ve the basic idea, I do several preliminary sketches which I then usually stick on the canvas or the wall for reference, sometimes I may do an oil sketch.

3.Have you done any other Tolkien art besides the canvas, for instance calendars?
I have no plans to produce a Tolkien calendar, but there will be a book of my Tolkien inspired paintings, possibly including my album art.

4.Which is your favourite of the Tolkien work you have done and why?
I don’t have a particular favourite. My usual reply to this question is ‘the next one’.

5.I notice that in one of your paintings (designs of Melkor – centre) Melkor appears to be stepping out of the picture frame…can you tell me why you decided to do it that way?
Are there any other of your paintings you wish to specifically comment on?

I painted the inner frame to this painting and the idea to place Melkor’s foot on the edge of the frame came to me after looking at the painting for a long time. It wasn’t part of my original composition. Perhaps there’s some deep subconscious reason or some subliminal influence at work? I think it purely helped the composition, or do I!

6.What are your artistic influences especially with reference to your Tolkien work?
Music, books, as for painters there are to many new and deceased painters to mention, so as not to offend by omission, I’ll decline that one. As for influence re my Tolkien work, Tolkien.

7.What do you think it is about Tolkien’s work that makes so many people want to draw or paint it?
It’s a great tale, Tolkien wrote visually, and from the heart. It’s no wonder so many people have been influenced by this classic piece of work.

8.Did you enjoy the films?
As I’m still working on my series of paintings I don’t wish to be influenced by this epic depiction of Tolkien’s work, so as yet, I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing them. Perhaps I’ll wait for the full box set on DVD.

9.And of course the most important question…. When can we expect any further Tolkien art from you and can you tell us anything about what you are planning?
Amongst other things, I’m currently working on two new large Tolkien inspired paintings. These have both been commissioned by The Leicester Galleries in London and will be completed this year. The only thing I can tell you about them, is that one of the subjects is from ‘The Two Towers’ the other from ‘The Return of the King’.

10.Is there other information you would like to add?
As you’ve given me the opportunity to add something, albeit unrelated to Tolkien or my paintings, the other great love of mine is music, not as a musician I hasten to add, but as a promoter. A joint venture with my
business partner Vince Brotheridge has culminated in ‘BLOODSTOCK’ THE best Heavy Metal Festival in the UK. (www.bloodstock.uk.com)

And on that note, stay heavy!

With thanks to Paul Gregory. Edited by k

Be sure to visit Paul Gregory’s gallery at CoE here.

LOTR caption contest winner

Last week’s LOTR cartoon caption contest is finished with the winnning punchline decided. The cartoon had all the Moria orcs fleeing in terror from a scary red glow at the end of the hall. Gandalf explains what they’re all so afraid of. Check out the final cartoon with the winning punchline at the cartoon page

WETA’s Richard Taylor sure showed them

Hollywood may be in awe of his talents, but double Oscar winner Richard Taylor was not deemed good enough to get into a polytechnic design course when he first applied 16 years ago. Read more.

Happy Birthday, Gandalf!

May 25th is Sir Ian McKellen’s birthday. He was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK in 1939.

Picture perfect

New Line Cinema has cleaned up the spoiler pictures from The Return of the King. They really do look a lot better–high resolution, download-able–what more could you want? If you would like to see them…click here! And remember–don’t look if you don’t want to know!

Fun times in New Zealand

At Stuff, read about a fun tour of New Zealand, and see Japanese folks in hobbit-garb.

World Premiere date released!

TVNZ, a television network in New Zealand, has released the date for the ‘Return of the King’ World Premiere: December 1st in Wellington.

JK Takes on JRR in Top Book List

KEEN readers in Wycombe reckon it’s going to be a war of the wizards as to who will scoop the top spot in a national book survey. Lord Of The Rings and the Harry Potter series were tipped for the top in the run-up to the national survey of the top 100 books of all time! To read the rest, go to Buck’s Free Press.