The Latest Tolkien Calendar

[Maglor]

I'm curious if I'm the only one who makes sure to get the Tolkien calendar every year. I've been getting them religiously for at least 10 years. It seems that most of them in recent years have been illustrated by Ted Nasmith. He has a very realistic style (to realistic for me actually) and is very attentive to every little detail from the source material, but but I am always excited when it's a different artist. I love John Howe and Alan Lee.

This year we have a very unexpected choice in Cor Blok. I have been a long time fan of his work. It's the absolute opposite of Nasmith. He is highly stylized and often the details are wrong (he even admits this). But his art has a compelling timeless quality to it that makes me want to look at it for a while. I even have 4 small prints of his paintings framed for my dining room.

Cover

The Oliphaunt







Introduction

In the Golden Hall







January

The Journey On the River Anduin







February

The Chamber of Mazarbul







March

The Ford of Bruinen







April

Frodo's Vision On Amon Hen







May

The Ents Marching On Isengard​

 

[Maglor]

June

The Cross-Roads







July

The Orcs Carrying Frodo Off







August

The Battle Of the Hornburg






September

The Slaying of the Nazgul







October

The Stairs of Cirith Ungol







November

The Forbidden Pool







December

The Cow Jumped Over the Moon​

I think my favorites are probably:

• "The Ford of Bruinen" Really scary, and Frodo looks so miserable.
  
• "Frodo's Vision On Amon Hen" This is one of the ones I have in my dining room.
  
• "The Orcs Carrying Frodo Off" Love the elven projection of Sam.
  
• "The Slaying of the Nazgul" Probably my favorite of the bunch, despite the fact that she is using a spear instead of a sword.
  
• "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" Heartbreaking. (But Gollum does look like Donald Duck...)

 

[The Ringer]

Can't say that I really like those interpretations. I went with TTT movie calendar.

 

[Maglor]

Well Cor Blok is not for everybody. He is a bit abstract.

I think what I like is that they convey emotion with so few lines. They are not focused on accuracy as much as the feeling they give you. Also, I don't think you have to be a Tolkien fan to enjoy them, which is why I saw fit to frame a few of his pictures for the dinning room.

 

[The Ringer]

So they come out with a new one of these every year featuring a different artist?

 

[Maglor]

Correct sir.


They've been doing it since 1969.

https://www.tolkiencalendars.com/1969_1977.html

 

[jasa73]

I believe these were done in the 60s? These would look good with my Eames furniture. I think i'll get this calendar.

 

[The Ween]

Blah.....I'd rather have movie still calenders.

 

[Maglor]

I believe these were done in the 60s?

Not sure when Blok painted these... if that's what you're referring to.

These would look good with my Eames furniture. I think i'll get this calendar.

WHen I first read that I thought it said "Eames figure" as in the guy from inception. And I was like: ?????


Just googled "Eames furniture" and I agree. Blok's work would totally fit the style.

 

[choopie]

Extremely interesting, simplistic interpretations. I actually like this.

 

[Maglor]

Blah.....I'd rather have movie still calenders.

I've never been interested in the movie calanders. I always feel like it would just be pictures of actors on my wall.

I'm a Tolkien fan before I'm a LOTR by New Line Cinemas fan.

These calendars were in my family long before there was even a hint of the movies being made.

I distinctly remember this one from my childhood:

The Hildebrandt Brothers have a distinctly 70's style, but I really liked some of their stuff.

 

[Maglor]

I just found some high-res scans of that 1978 calander. Really brings back memories. Many of these were on my wall when I was growing up... actually, probably all of them at some point:

 

[Maglor]

Love this one. ^^^ Still have it in a frame somewhere...

This one I have laminated and rolled up somewhere. It was like a centerfold.

 

[choopie]

Hildebrandt artwork I never really cared for. Too "folksy" for my tastes.

 

[Maglor]

Yeah I tend to agree. Just good childhood memories for me.

 

[The Ween]

I like those last ones, but the first ones you posted I don't care for at all.

 

[Maglor]

Well, as I said. That style is not for everyone.

Do you like John Howe and Alan Lee's stuff because they have both been featured. I really liked the Alan Lee Calendar from 2008:

It's the same art that you may have seen in the Children of Hurin book, but it was nice to see the pictures larger. And The Children of Hurin was a nice change of pace in terms of subject.

 

[cstojano]

I love these. Do you have information on where prints of these may be available? I have found little online. Thanks

 

[rushmore223]

I was buying these calendars for about 15 years until 3 years ago. The illustrations just seemed to lose their impact on me.

This calendar makes it clear that i will NOT be buying it again this year.

I can appreciate different interpretations and different styles, but these do no justice to the stories.

Edit ~ referring to pics from first post.

 

[Maglor]

I love these. Do you have information on where prints of these may be available? I have found little online. Thanks

Sorry, I wouldn't know where to look other that googleing "Cor Blok + Tolkien + Prints".

The pictures I have framed are taken from a book of Tolkien art, gut the size of this calendar is large enough to frame some of these pictures. Because of the minimalistic nature of these pieces it's hard to gauge the scale, which makes it easier to justify framing a small print.

I was buying these calendars for about 15 years until 3 years ago. The illustrations just seemed to lose their impact on me.

This calendar makes it clear that i will NOT be buying it again this year.

I can appreciate different interpretations and different styles, but these do no justice to the stories.

Edit ~ referring to pics from first post.

Do you like Nasmith? If doing justice to the story means preserving accuracy then I would think you would like him. However his painting tend to leave me feeling flat. It's almost like he's just going through a checklist to make sure he's got his facts right on the canvas. I'm pretty sure 2010 is Nasmith. (I'm at work so I can't check... funy I can't remember...)

Cor Blok is not "accurate" but is full of feeling. For the record Tolkien liked Blok's work and Block is on the cover of the Trilogy in a Eouropean edition.