Fantasy Art   Edward Frank
  Mar 24, 2006 17:16 PST 

ENTS,

I have been looking at images of trees drawn by fantasy artists.   There is an amazing variety of styles found on the web for the subject. I have enclosed a series of links to some specific galleries and images. I would like to hear your impression of how trees are portrayed in fantasy art and literature, and perhaps provide some links to some of your favorite images. The last two links refer to sites dealing with "The Tree of Life" a popular image in art, both religious and fantasy.

Mushroom Fantasy 


It is hard to select favorite images from this group. If I were to pick four, they would be:
Grove Guardian, Mushroom Fantasy, treelife, and Thought

Ed Frank
------------------------------


Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists
http://www.asfa-art.org/

Rob Alexander
· Bonecarver http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/alexander/image1.html

Mark Allen
· Gottland Trees http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/allen/image2.html

Cari Busiak
· Tree of Creation http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/buziak/image5.html

Linda Champanier
· Twilight of the Silver Stag http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/champanier/image4.html

Cynthia Cummens
· Into the Woods http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/cummens/image3.html

John R. Gray III
· Harvest http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/gray/image4.html

Laura Hamill
· Forest Nautica Gate Goddess http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/hamill/image1.html

Beth Hanson
· Summer Oak http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/hansen/image4.html

Timothy Kobs
· Palace of Faerie http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/kobs/image4.html

Barbara Revilla
· Fairy http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/revilla/image1.html

Mathew Taggart
· Honor Bound http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/taggart/image1.html

Leo Winstead
· Lair of the Ettercap http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/winstead/image1.html

Debora-Anne Woods
· Maiden Hair http://www.asfa-art.org/gallery/woods/image2.html

fate.jpg (88581 bytes) Fate
-------------------------------------------------------

Galleries at http://www.art.com  

Tree of Life http://www.art.com/asp/display-asp/_/ID--13041/tree_of_life.htm?
TNID=1&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10000436/SP--A/IGID--807746/Swamp.htm?
sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=9096&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--11743561/SP--B/IGID--11743561/Thought.htm?
sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=9096&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10101076/SP--A/IGID--1288141/All_My_Friends.htm?
sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=9096&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10101080/SP--A/IGID--1288146/Grove_Guardian.htm?
sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=9096&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/display_artist-asp/_/CRID--9349/Steve_Roberts.asp?
ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10100856/SP--A/IGID--1286941/Tree_Sprite.htm?
sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=9096&ui=C5BB4CCB72C3435AA895A1178B9F7551


------------------------------------------------
feebleminds free animated gifs and 

clipart http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/  

wicked-tree.jpg (125486 bytes) Wicked Tree

http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/fate.jpg 
http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/eros.jpg
http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/mushroom-fantasy.jpg
http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/wicked-tree.jpg

------------------------------------
Miscellaneous Art
Tim Woods:  Fantasy Tree  http://web.utk.edu/~woods/fantsytree.html

These woods are cursed, they say… http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/view.pl?id=21244

Anne Bell:  Fantsy Woods: http://www.annbell.net/fantasyw.htm

Purple Fantasy Tree http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102265
Colorful Fantasy Tree http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121046


-------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Gallery

http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life?page=1
http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life?page=2
http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life?page=3
http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life?page=4

Magic in the Woods http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life/fay_tree
Ent http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life/entjpg2
Yavanna http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life/pic26
Tree People http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life/pic8
Bifrost: Tree Life http://bifrostfantasy.com/v-web/gallery/tree_life/pic9

--------------------------------------
Tree of life info:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=517660
http://altreligion.about.com/library/weekly/bltreeoflife.htm

 

Re: Fantasy Art   Dean Hedin
  Mar 24, 2006 22:24 PST 

I always thought Arthur Rackham's tree depictions were interesting:
http://www.podgallery.com/index.cfm/hurl/action=artwork/msgid=327/orderby
=desc/sortby=dateadded/startat=1


You can find more by just googling his name.
RE: Fantasy Art   srgale-@comcast.net
  Mar 25, 2006 05:37 PST 

Some of the works of Maxfield Parrish, who was popular 80-90 years ago,
would qualify, I think----not of the current style of fantasy art, but
with that ethereal feel. Here are a few examples.

Hilltop: http://tinyurl.com/lwboc

Aquamarine: http://tinyurl.com/s988f

The Glen: http://www.kyphilom.com/www/gif/parri-j2.jpg

Steve Galehouse

 
White Oak in the Fog - photo by Steve Galehouse

I liked the mention of fantasy art---often an artist's rendering can better
convey the message or feel than a photo (but I've attached a photo above that 
I took of a white oak near my home that verges on "fantasy art', for me at least!).

Re: Fantasy Art   Edward Frank
  Mar 25, 2006 18:35 PST 

ENTS,

Here are some sites with fantasy art inspired by Tolkien, including the
Willow and the great Ent Treebeard.

Tolkien Inspired Artwork:


Alan Lee: http://anduin.eldar.org/artgallery/tolkien/alee/annotate.html

John Howe: http://anduin.eldar.org/artgallery/tolkien/jhowe/annotate.html

Ted Nasmith: http://www.tednasmith.com/tolkien.html


Hildebrant Brothers used as examples
http://people.howstuffworks.com/illustration.htm


Hundreds of images, including trees, uncredited. Many seem to be by Nasmith
http://www.artwallpapers.net/gallery/tolkien/index1.html

Edward Frank
RE: Fantasy Art    Darian Copiz
   Mar 26, 2006 12:01 PST 

Ed,

I was amazed that you left out LOTR art in your first email. I picked
out some images from the artists in your second email. I have images
similar to some of these in my head when I go searching for ancient
trees. Talk about gnarl factor...


Alan Lee:
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/026.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/021.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/029.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/032.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/068.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/082.jpg
http://www.aumania.it/fa/lee/084.jpg


John Howe:
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=2
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1468
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=87
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1472
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1743
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1024
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1025
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=302


Ted Nasmith:
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-A_Song_in_The_Trollshaws.html#asitt
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-Boromir.html#boromir
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-The_Great_Tree_at_Caras_Galadhon.html#tgtacg
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-The_Willow-man_is_Tamed.html#twit
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-Fifth_Day_After_Weathertop.html#fdaw
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr1/TN-Green_Hill_Country.html#ghc
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr2/TN-Boromirs_Last_Stand.html#bls
http://www.tednasmith.com/lotr2/TN-Fangorn_Forest.html#ff
http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-The_White_Tree.html#twt
http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-Beleg_is_Slain.html#bis
http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-Luthien_Escapes_the_Treehouse.html#lett
http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-Eol_Welcomes_Aredhel.html#ewa
http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-Luthien.html#luthien



Darian
Re: Fantasy Art   Edward Frank
  Mar 26, 2006 12:15 PST 

Darian,

I was trying to provide a variety of styles as examples, rather than having
an all encompassing listing of various fantasy trees. I planned to look at
some of the Tolkien images in a later post after giving others a chance to
comment. I have already downloaded many of the images, particularly the Ted
Nasmith ones to my computer, Thanks for your expanded list. So you have
any comments comparing or contrasting trees as they appear in fantasy art
with real trees? Why are they different in the artwork? and why do these
differences see so prevalent across the spectra of fantasy art?

Ed
RE: Fantasy Art   Darian Copiz
  Mar 26, 2006 12:53 PST 

Ed,

I think many of the trees do look like, or similar to some real trees I
have seen. However, there are very few trees that I have seen like
that. Much of the art accentuates elements that often denote very old
age, such as fat trunks, contorted branches, mosses and lichens, etc.
They mostly depict open grown trees, rather than those in a deep forest
and even some of those in a forest have open grown characteristics. I
think there are several reasons for the way they are depicted. Most
people are more familiar with open grown trees and relate to these, and
are more familiar with them than those that grow in the forest - in the
open one sees the tree, in the forest one sees part of the tree. The
ancient characteristics stem partially from the genre of the artwork.
Much of fantasy is concerned with an ancient or long forgotten past.
Old trees are a great way to help depict the mood. They are sentinels
of a primordial forest that originated in the beginning of time.
Although in the real world, this is not quite true, ancient woods still
hold some kind of allure for many of us. I'm not quite sure what. I
think the trees in fantasy art tap into this. Although that allure is
not something relegated only to fantasy, but perhaps why fantasy is
popular.

For me, dark gray skies and a wind whistling through the barren branches
of an ancient tree on a forlorn hilltop tap into something powerful that
I can't quite explain - maybe it is a sense of connection with the
elements, the earth and time.

I'm attaching a link to a picture depicting some of the characteristics
discussed. The picture is from Wistman's Wood, a well known wood in
Dartmoor, England. I have been to Dartmoor, but did not take the
picture and unfortunately did not visit the site, although it is on my
list of places to go.

d29v1884_small.jpg (11279 bytes)
http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~ripley/Photos/Dartmoor2005/d29v1884.html


Darian

RE: Fantasy Art   srgale-@comcast.net
  Mar 26, 2006 14:29 PST 

Darian, Ed, and all-

I think the depiction of trees in fanatsy art and the allure of ancient
woods and forests is also related to the European tradition of the
"Green Man", which predates written history and Christianity, but has
survived to this day as, at least, a decorative motif. Lots of info on
the internet, here's just one link:
http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/greenmen.htm
Re: Fantasy Art   Edward Frank
  Mar 26, 2006 15:08 PST 

ENTS,

Steve Galehouse sent a link to an article about "greenmen" in his last post.
http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/greenmen.htm
It is worth a look. The article has numerous photos of images in gothic
churches and elsewhere to illustrate the theme. The first paragraph of the
article begins:

The Green Man
Variations on a theme
Ruth Wylie
'The Green Man', a name coined by Lady Raglan in 1939, is a mediaeval image
usually found in churches. Carved in stone or wood, depicted on stained
glass, illuminated manuscripts and where else, he can be recognised as a
face, often grotesque, with foliage sprouting from his mouth, nose, eyes or
ears. Alternatively, he may be a face composed entirely of leaves. Exterior
or interior, he features on capitals, corbels, choir stalls, bench ends,
fonts, screens, roof bosses - indeed, any surface open to ornamentation.

-----------------------------------

On another note, Steve not wanting to get the group off on a tangent, sent
me a link individually to lyrics to a song ... It seemed appropriate to me
to the discussion at hand. So I say tangents away... He writes:

Here are the lyrics of an older Van Morrison song, "In the Forest", that
relates to the fantasy art topic--I didn't post it to the entire ENTS group,
not wanting to get off on a tangent, but there seems to be a lot of
subliminal interest in the attraction and force of "the forest".

http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/lyrics/exile.html#track5

In the Forest

By the sacred grove, where the waters flow
We will come and go, in the forest

In the summer rain, we will meet again
We will learn the code of the ancient ones
In the forest

By the waterfall, I will hold you in my arms
We will meet again by the leafy glade
In the shade of the forest

With your long robes on, we will surely roam
By the ancient roads, I will take you home
To the forest

In the forest, in the forest
In the forest, in the forest

With your long robes on, we will surely roam
By the ancient roads, I will take you home again
To the forest

Satisfy the soul baby
Birds sing all day long of the mother lode
We can let it roll, in the forest

With your long robes on
I know where you're coming from
By the big oak tree you've gotta come and go with me

In the forest, in the forest
In the forest, in the forest

By the waterfall
I will hold you in my arms, and we will meet again
By the leafy shade, in the, in the forest

Satisfy the soul
Birds sing all day long of the mother lode
We can surely let it roll, in the forest

With your long robes on
I know where you're coming from
We will surely roam, down by the ancient roads


Ed Frank


Re: Fantasy Art   Edward Frank
  Mar 26, 2006 17:07 PST 

ENTS,

Here is a link to a philosophical essay(s) entitled:

1) A Brief History of Nature and the American Consciousness

2) Changing Perceptions of Nature and the Rise of the Sublime

3) Nature's Bounty and American Economic Prosperity

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~cap/NATURE/cap2.html


Ed Frank
Fantasy Art, Dreams, Poetry, and Mythos   Edward Frank
  Mar 31, 2006 19:52 PST 

Fantasy Art, Dreams, Poetry, and Mythos - all are to some extent
interrelated. I have read that people from different cultures all around
the world have dreams that share many of the same aspects. Chase dreams are
very common. Does this represent something that is in all of us at an
instinctive level? Something from a shared, ingrained, deeply buried
cultural background? Something of both?

The trees in fantasy art represent those of the primordial forests - deep,
dark, mysterious. Do they hold creatures of great evil slithering in the
darkness or beautiful shinning creatures with mystical powers. For good or
evil these things are found in our minds in the ancient forests. These are
the trees depicted in the drawings, described in our poetry, and envisioned
in our dreams. The trees may be great powerful creatures reaching for the
sky, or they may be twisted and misshapen. The one thing they have in common
is they are ancient and large. Younger trees just don't have the physical
presence or power to be expressed in these mythological contexts.

Ed Frank