"Sunkissed"

"Sunkissed"

2024

Not a very easy drawing to render considering I'm struggling through an art block, but it came out alright.

Inspired by @pascualnico98 on Instagram.

"Self-portrait"

2024

Figured I'm due for a self-portrait. Featuring a beautiful black and gold keffiyeh that I got at a pro-Palestine protest earlier this month.

"Smile"

2024

Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)

Geladas are among my favorite monkeys, but all that fur sure is a pain to draw.

"Spring Workout"

2024

A bit beefier dude than what I normally draw.

I'm in a bit of an art block lately, so I'm glad this came out as well as it did.

Referenced from local12156 on Flickr.

"For Frodo"

2023

The Men of the West were trapped, and soon, all about the grey mounds where they stood, forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel. 

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", by J.R.R. Tolkien

There are two great, epic battle charges in Return of the King: the Ride of the Rohirrim is the first one, and this is the second. The Fellowship of the Ring, gathered with what little remains of their forces, making one last, defiant stand in what can only be described as the gates of Hell itself. Not for themselves, but for Frodo and his Quest at the heart of the Enemy's land. 

I have seen some book purists complain that Mount Doom and Barad-dûr should not be discernible from the Black Gate, but I for one love this change. It makes it more daunting to have the Dark Tower loom high above Aragorn and his army, with the Eye of Sauron staring right at them. Subsequently, it makes their charge right towards it all the more brave, and epic, and badass. 

"The Grey Havens"

2023

... the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.

-"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", by J.R.R. Tolkien

My tribute to the Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy ends, fittingly, at the shores of the sea. The Grey Havens scene has become the epitome of bittersweet endings everywhere; it's breathtakingly sad, but also wholesome, tender, and comforting in its sadness. And it is elevated by one of the most beautiful yet underrated musical themes in the films, which is also melancholic but carrying within it a powerful sentiment of hope. And I don't know how, but Howard Shore made this tune sound like the sea, if that makes any sense.

This scene also notably contains one of my very favorite LotR quotes ever, uttered by none other than Gandalf himself: "I will not say 'do not weep', for not all tears are an evil."