EUROPEAN PREMIERE, NO LESS…
Salon International du Livre et de la Presse et du Multimédia, Palexpo, Geneva
April 30th to May 4th…
To the best of my knowledge, (unless of course somebody else has already done it without letting me know, which really does NOT make much sense…) this is the first time that original sketches for the Lord of the Rings films have been exhibited in Europe.
While it is a modest show - only a dozen pieces - it will be great to see the sketches actually framed and on a wall, rather than being pawed by countless hands, heaped in a clutter on the floor or propping up used coffee cups.
I will be there on Sunday May 4th from 4 p.m.
More information can be found at: http://www.webdo.ch/tv8/
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 17/04/03 | 11:57 AM |
Chronicles
EUROPEAN PREMIERE : Salon International du Livre
Salon International du Livre et de la Presse et du Multimédia, Palexpo, Geneva
April 30th to May 4th…
To the best of my knowledge, (unless of course somebody else has already done it without letting me know, which really does NOT make much sense…) this is the first time that original sketches for the Lord of the Rings films have been exhibited in Europe.
While it is a modest show - only a dozen pieces - it will be great to see the sketches actually framed and on a wall, rather than being pawed by countless hands, heaped in a clutter on the floor or propping up used coffee cups.
I will be there on Sunday May 4th from 4 p.m.
More information can be found at: http://www.webdo.ch/tv8/
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 17/04/03 | 11:55 AM |
Chronicles
WHERE I GO FOR X-RAYS IN LOS ANGELES…
... despite myself.
But first, the Tolkien event in Rennes was good fun, and like usual, I of course missed most of it. My apologies to those who waited absolutely ages to have their books signed only to glimpse me walking out the door. I double-checked with the bookshop people who assured me everyone had been taken care of, but as I’ve been informed by a rather disapponted candidate, several people must have been overlooked. I’m always kind of dazed after more than three hours drawing pictures and doing signatures, and rely on the organizers to look after logisitics. My apologies, I was also rather distracted by news of the national transit strike scheduled for the following day… (I did make it home, by the way, and the hike across Paris was scenic if somewhat hurried).
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 12/04/03 | 09:00 AM |
Chronicles
WHERE I FINALLY MAKE IT BIG…
After years of wishful thinking, I’ve finally made it into the pages of White Dwarf! (No, this is not a specialist mag for height-challenged caucasians, but the official Warhammer monthly… and no, Warhammer is not a radical militia group, but a table-top strategy game with little figurines.) See the article by Alessio Cavatore. I don’t paint figurines, but I have a great view of them being painted… and if I’m not allowed to watch, I can go to [url=http://www.la-tour-blanche.com]http://www.la-tour-blanche.com[/url]. (The site is in French, but if you like little fantasy figurines painted in such detail it makes your eyes water just to think about it, take a look.)
[zoom]
Christmas early…
I am now the proud owner of a reproduction of the Shards of Narsil, complete with certificate of authenticity, signed by the designer… me! I signed five thousand of the things, which is four thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine more than if I’d signed a cheque, come to think of it… But, it’s a lovely piece of work and will look great in the attic! No, I mean in the studio, sorry! (The attic is already jammed full of armour, weapons, costumes and who-knows-what.) There’s also a massive wall plaque with it, but I’m already considering how I can extract the Shards themselves and display them in a fashion closer to the movie… now if I could only get hold of that statue that’s in Rivendell…
Check out the selection at [url=http://www.unitedcutlery.com]http://www.unitedcutlery.com[/url]
[zoom]
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 01/04/03 | 11:45 AM |
Chronicles
TOLKIEN in RENNES
For those of you within driving flying walking distance of the city of Rennes in France, the gallery show is back.
From March 29th to April 5th, it will be at the Bilbiothèque de l’Université Rennes 2, Campus Villejean.
Naturally, there is not just the exhibition, but a host of conferences, round tables, debates and other events. The complete program can be found at:
http://pourtolkien.free.fr/semaine_litteraire.html
I’ll be signing books at the librairie “Critic” on Wednesday April 2nd at 3 p.m. and participating in a forum on Thursday. (I’ll confirm all these times and dates, I’m never really sure exactly what I’m doing at these events, I just go where I’m told and do what I’m ordered…)
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 01/04/03 | 11:42 AM |
Chronicles
WHERE I LEARN SOMETHING NEW…
...only to find out that it’s not true…
This seems to be illustrator interview week. Artist Interviews has recently put on line an interview done a month or so ago. Initially, in the introduction, I was very excited to find out I had won all kinds of awards and prizes throughout my career, so I wrote to ask if it was true, as it was indeed news to me. The paragraph was subsequently erased, so I guess my first prize in a high school driving safety contest remains my one and only claim to fame.
See the interview at:
http://www.artistinterviews.com/art/johnhowe.htm
A rather more informal one, (done over such a long period of time on the forum that I totally forgot it was an interview) can be found at:
http://groups.msn.com/INilioiArdanole/yourwebpage1.msnw
With another bit at:
http://groups.msn.com/AllThingsLordoftheRings/johnhoweinterview.msnw
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 28/03/03 | 06:52 AM |
Chronicles
BOY, HAVE I GOT NEWS…
Unfortunately, I can’t really share it with you…
Just returned from London where I had the immense treat of seeing the Two Towers in the lo-o-ong DVD version.
Naturally, it was an unfinished cut, and while I can’t tell you what’s in it, it’ll certainly be worth waiting those extra months. Of course you must run to the shop in August and refresh your memories with the theatrical release on DVD or video, but you MOST definitely will want the extended version in November. Trust me.
Time to stop before I get carried away and say too much.
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 17/03/03 | 06:36 AM |
Chronicles
SOMETHING NEW
Or: Is There a Life Away From the Drawing Board?
Well, at last there’s proof. Yes, I do drag myself away from the studio from time to time.
We’re happy to announce a new section in the portfolio, dedicated to events, exhibitions and those few times I do actually get out of the studio other than to shop for groceries or ink…
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 07/03/03 | 10:36 AM |
Chronicles
TOLKIEN in RENNES
For those of you within driving flying walking distance of the city of Rennes in France, the gallery show is back.
From March 29th to April 5th, it will be at the Bilbiothèque de l’Université Rennes 2, Campus Villejean.
Naturally, there is not just the exhibition, but a host of conferences, round tables, debates and other events. The complete program can be found at:
http://pourtolkien.free.fr/semaine_litteraire.html
I’ll be signing books at the librairie “Critic” on Wednesday April 2nd at 3 p.m. and participating in a forum on Thursday. (I’ll confirm all these times and dates, I’m never really sure exactly what I’m doing at these events, I just go where I’m told and do what I’m ordered…)
It seems to be contest season (must be the imminence of spring, mounting sap and all that). I’ve foolhardily agreed to be a judge on a Lord of the Rings Fan Art Contest. You can find out more about it here: http://www.lotrfanart.net/fanclub2003
Also up-and-coming, a Lord of the Rings Sword Design Contest, for those of you who feel the films just don’t quite have it, you can design a blade (or blades) of your own. I’ll post the url when the site is ready to receive entries.
By the way, I don’t accept bribes, and flattery doesn’t work either…
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 05/03/03 | 08:30 AM |
Chronicles
OUT AND ABOUT
Or There and Back Again (Again)
Just returned from a bit of a safari to rather colder climes, which made returning to Switzerland feel positively springlike. After several amusing episodes involving visas and border guards, missed planes and queueing in consulates, it’s good to be back at the drawing table.
The BAFTA ceremony was enormous fun, and watching a fantasy film like The Two Towers walk away with three awards was a tribute well deserved. I keep promising to post photos, and will promise again to post a few of the party afterwards. (As usual, watch this space.) I’ve received a CD of photos from the gallery show in Paris, so will sort those out first.
I also apologize for perhaps missing many questions on the forum. Please don’t think I’ve ignored any, it’s just that I have overlooked them, so do post again.
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 27/02/03 | 11:00 AM |
Chronicles
IMAGES OF MIDDLE-EARTH
The poster collection Images of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth is scheduled for reprinting
I’ve just received news from HarperCollinsPublishers that the long-out-of-print and much-sought-after poster collection (by me too; I don’t have any left myself!) will be reprinted in the near future.
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 14/02/03 | 04:55 AM |
Chronicles
THERE AND BACK AGAIN
John’s Big Day Out… or a Few Days in Middle-Earth.
Just returned from New Zealand. Had a free day in Wellington, and the privilege of seeing the Lord of the Rings Exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand. (Unless my memory is totally shot, “Te Papa Tongarewa” means “Our well loved repository and showcase of treasured things and people that spring from Mother Earth here in New Zealand.” )
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 13/02/03 | 04:15 AM |
Chronicles
TOTALLY FORGOT TO MENTION…
MYTH & MAGIC, THE ART OF JOHN HOWE
HarperCollinsPublishers, London
This book of my work was published in the autumn of 2001, but has not been available in the U.S.
You can now find it in the pages of the Lord of the Rings Fan Club Official Movie Magazine or you can order it online at [url=http://www.lotrfanclub.com]http://www.lotrfanclub.com[/url]
(Quite frankly, I suggest subscribing to the magazine. With one issue every two months, the editorial team have the time to treat subjects in depth, do interviews, publish lots of new material. The layout is classy and it’s only going to last as long as the films are coming out, so subscribe now! The latest issue has a wonderful interview with Chrsitopher Lee.)
If you missed my interview - issue number 3 in June last year, I’ve received permission to put it up on the site, so keep your eyes peeled.
The catalogue of the exhibition: JOHN HOWE - SUR LES TERRRES DE TOLKIEN (Editions L’Atalante, 120 pp, hardback) is, for now, only available in France.
Limited prints are in the works. More on those when we have a few more to choose from.
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 30/01/03 | 05:43 AM |
Chronicles
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS
Perhaps I have gravely underestimated the excitement in the life of the basic illustrator. A week’s water under the bridge, and not many ripples or eddies to show for it…
Here goes anyway…
On the Drawing Board…
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 29/01/03 | 05:32 PM |
Chronicles
NEWS
Or the Foolhardy and Resolutely Ambitious Weekly Chronicle of an Illustrator’s Progress
Welcome to the news module. This is my very first attempt at doing this sort of thing; you’ll have to bear with me. Hopefully, this will be a chapter I can update constantly, not necessarily with what is customarily considered news, but with my thoughts and general two cents worth on a variety of subjects.
Read the whole entry - Posted by John on 22/01/03 | 12:43 PM |
Chronicles
