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GingerOpal — Galadriel and Nenya

Published: 2012-01-13 05:45:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 8757; Favourites: 281; Downloads: 0
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Description Earendil, the Evening Star, most beloved of the Elves, shone clear above. So bright was it that the figure of the Elven-lady cast a dim shadow on the ground. Its rays glanced upon a ring about her finger; it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light, and a white stone in it twinkled as if the Even-star had come down to rest upon her hand.

The Mirror of Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a tiny, magical snippet that I love that was not included in the movie when Galadriel shows Frodo her ring. So when I was given an assignment to create a book cover for The Fellowship of the Ring, I painted up this scene for it. This finished piece doesn't look nearly as cool as it did in my head, unfortunately, although I'm still happy enough with it. Seriously, this paragraph looks wicked-amazing inside my head!

Also, this is the Galadriel that was in my head before the movies were made, so no, she is not the one from the movie. I feel lucky that I totally remember what the LotR characters looked like in my head before the movies because I totally doodled them all over my math notes way back when. I still have some of them!

This was done with acrylics (primarily), ink, graphite and just enough photoshop to hide the more ghastly part of the acrylic mess I made because acrylics and I don't get along very well. Yup.

EDIT: I improved a few things.
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Comments: 68

haius [2013-07-30 07:44:02 +0000 UTC]

Her sleeve looks, like, actually 3D.

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GingerOpal In reply to haius [2013-08-05 01:04:31 +0000 UTC]

Occasionally I know how to paint well.

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haius In reply to GingerOpal [2013-08-05 02:49:29 +0000 UTC]

Occasionally my butt.  MOST of the time.  Occasionally is just when you THINK you paint well. 

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chromegoddess [2013-05-31 08:04:59 +0000 UTC]

Breathtakingly beautiful!

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GingerOpal In reply to chromegoddess [2013-06-09 05:36:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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MensjeDeZeemeermin [2013-05-06 22:01:55 +0000 UTC]

Bit more in the Brothers Hildebrand style, pleasantly intricate, good details, color and light.

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GingerOpal In reply to MensjeDeZeemeermin [2013-06-09 05:38:47 +0000 UTC]

Yep, the Hildebrands and James C Christensen were my first fantasy art influences before Peter Jackson's movies came out, and they still stick in my head better than the newer style, although I love the new style too.

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KatrineLaclyon [2013-05-06 16:24:10 +0000 UTC]

This picture is amazing! It's one of the best I've seen in days! Tumbs up and continue like this!

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GingerOpal In reply to KatrineLaclyon [2013-06-09 05:39:00 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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HankonKage [2013-05-06 13:32:09 +0000 UTC]

You painted this!? Holy crap! I thought it was done with photoshop or Paint SAI!

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GingerOpal In reply to HankonKage [2013-06-09 05:40:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Part of it's traditional and I fixed up the ugly acrylic mistakes in photoshop. Most of my art is done traditionally and digitally.

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Valkeus [2013-05-06 13:29:24 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful book cover! I love how you highlighted the ring with her pose and gaze.
I only remember my mental image of Aragorn from before the movies. As much as I love a good movie adaptation, it's a bit sad how it causes people's unique mental images to fade away or never happen in the first place...

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GingerOpal In reply to Valkeus [2013-06-09 05:42:00 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I think it's too bad when the original mental images fade when a movie comes out. I'm pretty good at keeping the original image in my head, but there have been a few that have gotten completely blocked out. I think I'd have a hard time drawing Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter without him looking like he does from the movies or from Makani's Malfoy Family comics.

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ShyGaladriel [2013-05-06 05:47:35 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful. I hope we'll be able to see some more of your LOTR characters! This certainly whets my appetite for more by you!

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GingerOpal In reply to ShyGaladriel [2013-06-09 05:42:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'll try and get more LOTR and Hobbit drawings done.

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ShyGaladriel In reply to GingerOpal [2013-06-09 15:01:47 +0000 UTC]

Coolio!

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torquesmacky [2013-05-06 05:42:25 +0000 UTC]

I noticed you go by your own name as of today. Is your pirate character dead?

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GingerOpal In reply to torquesmacky [2013-05-06 05:45:04 +0000 UTC]

Not dead, just demoted.

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Rayless-Night [2012-12-20 03:51:55 +0000 UTC]

She's so majestic here - beautiful, but also with a sense of surety and age.

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staino [2012-12-02 18:36:07 +0000 UTC]

Remarkable.

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minoana [2012-08-18 14:41:26 +0000 UTC]

This is how I envisioned that moment, too.

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NordicLynx [2012-08-01 19:44:13 +0000 UTC]

It looks like a Disney version of her

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Annathelle26 [2012-06-14 17:40:49 +0000 UTC]

I love that you drew your version of Galadriel. The movie's was great, but it's always better to see the versions people think of without having the movie in mind
I love that scene in the books. Her hand is very nice and Nenya's glow is just amazing. Also, the detail in her clothes, wow

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GingerOpal In reply to Annathelle26 [2012-08-02 04:22:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I love seeing how others envision characters, so even though I like the movies, I was also a little sad when they came out, because that seems to be the only version people can imagine anymore.

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ShyGaladriel In reply to GingerOpal [2013-05-06 05:49:19 +0000 UTC]

I totally agree. I sure wish that I could draw so I could portray how I see the characters. You're very blessed to have such a gift!

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Annathelle26 In reply to GingerOpal [2012-08-02 18:38:28 +0000 UTC]

That's why it's always better to read the books before seeing the movies. To keep our own imagination alive, even after the movies. I wasn't that lucky.
You're welcome!

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ninquetari [2012-02-22 22:12:04 +0000 UTC]

This whole scene is one of my favourites in the books.
I love the way you painted the light, and the design of Galadriel's dress is wonderful!
Also, I'm glad you still have your version of Galadriel. That's really great it hasn't been deleted by the movies.

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GingerOpal In reply to ninquetari [2012-04-22 07:34:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! Yeah, I'm lucky I have my highschool doodles of the characters from before the movies. I'm pretty good at keeping my imagination free of the movies.

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ninquetari In reply to GingerOpal [2012-04-23 22:14:31 +0000 UTC]

That's great!

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haius [2012-01-16 07:22:23 +0000 UTC]

I like the colors. So much. They are rich and bertiful. And her dress is pretty and her hair and and AND I can't believe this was done with acrylics.

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GingerOpal In reply to haius [2012-04-22 07:27:43 +0000 UTC]

THANKS MUCHLY!

Well, the photoshop is hiding the bad parts of the acrylic job.

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SapphireGamgee [2012-01-16 02:38:16 +0000 UTC]

Nothing ever turns out as cool as it is in your head (trust me, I know >__< ) , but you should be very proud of this one! I especially love the Quenya (or Sindarin? ) around the edge. how in the heck did you get it to look translucent like that?

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GingerOpal In reply to SapphireGamgee [2012-04-22 07:35:59 +0000 UTC]

The words around the edge were inked and then scanned into photoshop and translucified there. This is a seriously mixed-media piece.

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SapphireGamgee In reply to GingerOpal [2012-04-23 03:08:05 +0000 UTC]

Mixed media is awesome! I miss being able to do it myself...

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SaharaDezert [2012-01-13 23:55:29 +0000 UTC]

She is very beautiful, thanks for sharing!

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GingerOpal In reply to SaharaDezert [2012-04-22 07:36:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, and you're welcome!

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SaharaDezert In reply to GingerOpal [2012-04-22 19:51:23 +0000 UTC]

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EightDifferentSHADES [2012-01-13 22:23:32 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful!

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GingerOpal In reply to EightDifferentSHADES [2012-04-22 07:36:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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TheGreatNinjaBlu [2012-01-13 21:46:42 +0000 UTC]

<3333

I am particularly fond of any and all scenes in the book where Gimli and Legolas are arguing about something. xD
Like when they're in the caves of Helms deep - and after the battle at helms deep when Legolas goes GALLOPING over to the Ents...xD <3

My magical mind image has to be Lothlorien, though.
Whenever I read descriptions of it the image is so gorgeous my heart feels all fluttery. <3

As always, your work is amazing! <3 I miss all the time I used to have to browse through all your stuff nice and slow and sit and admire the work.... ; 3; (OH, College!)

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GingerOpal In reply to TheGreatNinjaBlu [2012-04-22 07:05:35 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, college saps all of my spare time as well. Hence why I'm commenting 3 months later! DX

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TheGreatNinjaBlu In reply to GingerOpal [2012-04-23 03:36:03 +0000 UTC]

I hear ya.... I got a tumblr ask blog too...and I'm just starting to study Quenyan...


GET RID OF ALL THE TIEM!

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antler-girl [2012-01-13 20:09:50 +0000 UTC]

cool, I am loving that dress

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GingerOpal In reply to antler-girl [2012-04-22 07:05:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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LadyOfTheWoo [2012-01-13 17:36:51 +0000 UTC]

YES.

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Mystery-Of-The-Deep [2012-01-13 17:24:13 +0000 UTC]

The dress is beautiful!

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GingerOpal In reply to Mystery-Of-The-Deep [2012-04-22 07:06:04 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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harumeau [2012-01-13 15:39:24 +0000 UTC]

It's so pretty

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GingerOpal In reply to harumeau [2012-04-22 07:06:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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LaurenGreiner [2012-01-13 15:32:36 +0000 UTC]

This looks awesome! I never would have guessed it was acrylic paint. It looks like Photoshop color.

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