Product Description

A sumptuous large-format hardback containing sketches and paintings from the illustrated Lord of the Rings, together with brand new and previously unseen material. In this large-format hardback Alan Lee reveals in pictures and in words how he created the images in the authorised illustrated edition of The Lord of the Rings. These images would prove so powerful, matching perfectly with Tolkien's own vision, that they would eventually define the look of Peter Jackson's movie trilogy and earn Alan a coveted Academy Award. The book is filled with over 150 of his sketches and early conceptual pieces to show how the project progressed from idea to finished art. It also contains 20 colour paintings reproduced in full-page glory, together with numerous examples of his conceptual art produced for the films and brand new pieces drawn specially for this book. It also includes an exclusive foreword written by Sir Ian McKellen. The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook provides a fascinating insight into the imagination of the man who painted Tolkien's vision, firstly onto the page and then in three dimensions on the cinema screen. It will also be of interest to many of the 100,000 people who have bought the illustrated Lord of the Rings as well as for budding artists and illustrators interested in unlocking the secrets of book illustration.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25074 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Review
'Alan Lee's artwork has a beauty and lyricism about it. His art captured what I hoped to capture with the films.' Peter Jackson 'Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the 20th century.' Sunday Telegraph 'An extraordinarily imaginative work, part saga, part allegory, and wholly exciting.' The Times 'A grand piece of work in both conception and execution.' Daily Telegraph

About the Author
Alan Lee was born in Middlesex in 1947. His illustrated books include Faeries (with Brian Froud), Castles and Merlin Dreams, and has worked on such prestigious films as Erik the Viking (Terry Gilliam), Legend (Ridley Scott), and the acclaimed NBC miniseries Merlin. He is best known however for his work on the books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and now the film version.

Customer Reviews

Wonderfull
Alan Lee is a wonderful man and a pencil genius.
What Alan achieved with his drawings is what Peter Jackson achieved with his movies.
I was extremely pleased with this book - although a little smaller than I thought but beautiful - the drawings are very well printed on the paper. The typesetting are gorgeous.
Marvellous forward by Sir Ian McKellen.
The intro pages with his drawing of Middle-earth are very beautiful. WONDERFUL WORK! If you are a Tolkien/Lee/Jackson fan or like very good drawings, I mean Very Good Drawings and Illustrations, please do not hesitate - This book is for you. Enjoy it as much as I do.

I really wish I could meet Alan one day...

A very good book, if not slightly small in size.
Alan Lee, along with John Howe and Ted Nasmith is a very talented artist and depicts Middle-Earth brilliantly and with ease. This book is littered with astoundingly masterful sketches and a few incredible watercolours taken from the edition of the Lord of the Rings which he illistrated about fourteen years ago. The book deals with how he illistrated the book and, with the help of Howe and other talented artists, designed the Lord of the Rings films. The sketches are massively inspirational, and demonstrate just how good an artist he is. They are sensitive and detailed, some are highly refined some are very sketchy but all are beatiful. His detailed drawings of the realms and peoples and of course creatures of Middle-Earth are great to look at.
Alan Lee also writes an interesting text to accompany his excellent artwork, which is informative and insightful.
The only thing I would say is that it would have been nice if he would have focused more on telling the reader about illistrating the book, rather his work on the film. I say this because we can find out about that on the extended edition DVD's and in neumorous other books (such as Gary Russles equally brilliant 'Art of lord of the rings books')
Also the format of the book is rather on the small size and it should have been bigger.
However, this is an unmissable book by a extreamly talented artist whom without not only would we be without a fully illistrated Lord of the Rings, but also the films wouldnt be so visually impressive.

P.S sorry for any spelling mistakes.

The Capturer of Light and Colour Alan Lea
This is an absolutely fantastic book with stunning scetches that will take you're breath away to paintings with beautiful elaborate figures and scenes. Alan Lea has the amazing ability to capture to light and colour. This is a book to treasure in your heart for the rest of your life it is wonderful whether you're a fan or not and is ideal for any age! This book is a jewel to anyone who's dream is to be an artist or illustrator or even to someone who just loves studying perfect art. The book is presented wonderfully with a protective and orgional hard cover. Anyone who buys this book won't regret buying it, I know I certainly won't. This book is perfect for a coffee table, bedside table, desk or practically anywhere. This book is irreplaceable. You just won't be able to put this masterpiece down.
This book has captured my heart and the rest of my family and has the potenial to capture yours to. For a book so wonderful the price is so little!