Lord of the Rings - Gandalf vs the Balrog (Charles Vess)
Artist: Charles Vess (All)
25 Comments - 473 Views - 14 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionAs a kind of follow-up to my previous post in my CAF Gallery, this is Charles Vess's take on the battle scene between Gandalf and the Balrog. It is a beautiful piece, done in Vess's inimitable style. The fine detail on this piece of artwork is truly amazing. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Marcus Wai 
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
The age of this is very important to note as there hadn't been a big screen vision of this before in 1977 and this look, like other artist's depiction of this scene, comes from the imagination faithfully taken from the text of the book.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Marcus Wai wrote:
The age of this is very important to note as there hadn't been a big screen vision of this before in 1977 and this look, like other artist's depiction of this scene, comes from the imagination faithfully taken from the text of the book.
Spot on again, Marcus! And Vess is such a marvellous and gifted artist!
M L
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
What a sight this must be in person! The way Vess has carved light out of darkness is astonishing! Congrats!
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 10/27/2023
M L wrote:
What a sight this must be in person! The way Vess has carved light out of darkness is astonishing! Congrats!
Many thanks, Mikail! Yes, it looks absolutely gorgeous in person.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Rick W wrote:
Executed with authority! Fantastic early Vess!
Many thanks, Rick! Vess is such a wonderful artist and this piece was so intricately crafted.
Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Gorgeous! Love the intricate work here
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan wrote:
Gorgeous! Love the intricate work here
Many thanks, Duke! Intricate is an excellent description for this piece.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 10/27/2023
David Mandel wrote:
I just love this!
Many thanks, David! And I believe that it was quite early in Charles's career as well.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 10/27/2023
Brian Norton wrote:
Man that is a gorgeous piece.
Many thanks, Brian! It is really extremely detailed indeed.
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Wow! His crosshatching techniq was already at such incredibly high levels even this early on in his career! An incredibly beautiful work of art by a fantastic illustrator! Congratulations on owning this "companion" piece, ot certainly goes well with the other one!
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 10/27/2023
Ruben DaCollector wrote:
Wow! His crosshatching techniq was already at such incredibly high levels even this early on in his career! An incredibly beautiful work of art by a fantastic illustrator! Congratulations on owning this "companion" piece, ot certainly goes well with the other one!
Many thanks, Rubén! Yes, I had forgotten how young he was at the time. Talent, as they say, is timeless.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
2 - Posted on 10/28/2023
F M wrote:
Fantastic. Pointillism at its finest.
Many thanks! Now that's a word that one doesn't hear often - but it's more cross-hatching instead of dots, I think.
F M
Member Since 2005
Posted on 11/2/2023
Comicart Boston wrote:
Many thanks! Now that's a word that one doesn't hear often - but it's more cross-hatching instead of dots, I think.
I was more refering to the perceived artistic result on the page than the actual technique :)
Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 10/28/2023
Classic and gorgeous. The brush strokes, no one can do it like Vess.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 10/28/2023
Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor wrote:
Classic and gorgeous. The brush strokes, no one can do it like Vess.
Many thanks as always, Nick, for your kind words and encouragement! What you've said is very true indeed!
Ron S
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 11/2/2023
Vess is so great on the fine details. What a wonderful piece!
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 11/2/2023
Ron S wrote:
Vess is so great on the fine details. What a wonderful piece!
Many thanks, Ron! Indeed, the detail on this piece is even more impressive in person and to think that he was such a young man then as well.
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 11/4/2023
Ian Saint wrote:
You Shall Not Pass!!! Great piece!
Many thanks, Ian! Vess's linework is so detailed and wonderful.
ilia georgiev
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 12/21/2023
I always think of Vess in color. This is a meticulously executed pen and ink. All of the line work in the figures is mindboggling until the background is examined. The work on that and the wings blows my mind. Vess was possessed by th obsession to detail. Congrats!
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
Posted on 12/21/2023
ilia georgiev wrote:
I always think of Vess in color. This is a meticulously executed pen and ink. All of the line work in the figures is mindboggling until the background is examined. The work on that and the wings blows my mind. Vess was possessed by th obsession to detail. Congrats!
Many thanks, Ilia! This is very early Vess, but, as you say, the characteristic amount of detail was already so evident in his work.
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