World Building and Illustration in Middle-earth

Written by Isa Krocheski

Most people know The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but there is so much more to Tolkien’s world than what’s in those books. There are essays and segments of stories that were part of the history of Middle-earth. However, they were never published during the author’s lifetime. J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, edited and put these stories into several books. They are The Fall of Gondolin, Beren and Lúthien, Children of Húrin, The Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle Earth, and The Fall of Númenor.

The events of these books take place well before The Lord of the Rings and allow readers to go into the author’s mind a little. They can sometimes be dense, but I recommend them to artists who want to focus on world-building. Everything is very well thought out, all the way back to the creation of Middle Earth. The illustrations add to these stories. Alan Lee has art in all of them. John Howe and Ted Nasmith also have illustrations in The Unfinished Tales. There are full-page, color illustrations that are environment-focused, many of which include characters in the background. The art is detailed and realistic. There are also black and white pencil drawings. These are vignettes and spot illustrations. These include props, environments, architecture, and individual characters. The art fits with Tolkien’s style and helps visualize his world well. They bring Middle-earth to life in a different way from the movies. Another critical part of the books is the map drawings. Tolkien and his son did these. They are well thought out and show how deeply the author goes into developing his stories and making them feel believable.

The HoneyDripper is the Savannah College of Art and Design’s juried comics and illustration blog, dedicated to publishing, promoting, and showcasing the finest in student work.​