TORONTO – November 12, 2002. Ted Nasmith, world renowned for his richly detailed realistic paintings depicting the fantasy worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien, announced today the opening of his new internet web site at www.tednasmith.com
The new motion pictures by Peter Jackson based on The Lord of the Rings have created an unprecedented interest in the mythical realms of J. R. R. Tolkien. Long before the films, Ted Nasmith was bringing the extremely visual worlds of Tolkien to life in paintings, with finely detailed work depicting the rich landscape and unique characters of Middle-earth. “The fans are very interested in the idea of faithful interpretations, but at the same time there’s a wide tolerance for a diverse range of styles and interpretations,” says Nasmith.
Early in his career, Nasmith sent copies of some of his Lord of the Rings-inspired paintings to Tolkien himself and was greatly encouraged by the author’s positive response and constructive suggestions. First published in the yearly Tolkien Calendar of 1987, Nasmith’s work has now been featured in more Tolkien Calendars than any other artist.
“Discovering Tolkien had a very profound effect on me, and helped lead to much that I now count most dear. It opened up in me a dormant love of lost and misty times, myth and legend,” Nasmith says. “Not since childhood had I felt such a sense of ‘home’ — the excitement of depicting Middle-earth never seems to diminish.”
He is currently hard at work on the paintings for his third Tolkien Calendar in a row, featuring artwork inspired by The Return of the King, for 2004. “I have set out to create a combination of major and minor scenes that will complement my earlier artwork as well as enter new places not well trodden,” says Nasmith. Visitors can now find a special sneak-peak of this and other projects on Nasmith’s new official web site.
In the mid-nineties, Nasmith was asked by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins to create a special series of paintings for a new edition of The Silmarillion. Artwork based on this period of Middle-earth’s history is rare, and Nasmith’s work — in a signature style that echoes the Luminist landscape and Victorian neo-Classical schools of art — has greatly helped bring this important book to life for legions of Tolkien fans.
Although illustrating Tolkien’s extensive works is Nasmith’s primary love, visitors to his web site will also find samples of his automotive paintings and architectural renderings, and gain a new appreciation for the wonderful work of this important contemporary Canadian artist.
More than a hundred and fifty paintings, as well as information about ordering prints and other publications, can be found on Ted Nasmith’s web site at: www.tednasmith.com
