The Lady of Lorien by Annie Stegg (Galadriel from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings)

The Lady of Lorien
18x24
Oil on Belgian Linen

At first I'd envisioned a commission with Galadriel in her swan boat. Annie suggested the scene you see here and blew me away with her proposed sketch. The swans, the ring, the long golden hair, the pointy ear poking through, the timeless beauty of the elves... I consider it a successful painting independent of whether the viewer picks up on these visual cues and understands the subject matter. Sometimes it pays to let go of your idea and trust the artist's vision, I think!