This Far Distant Shore, by Elleth

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Title: This Far Distant Shore
Artist Name: Elleth
Prompt: Exile - Enya (Lyrics)
Description: Gilmith, daughter of Mithrellas the Silvan Elf and Imrazôr the Númenorean, laments her lack of choice.
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Artist's Notes: [Mithrellas] was one of the companions of Nimrodel, among many of the Elves that fled to the coast about the year 1980 of the Third Age, when evil arose in Moria; and Nimrodel and her maidens stayed in the wooded hills, and were lost. But in this tale it is said that Imrazôr harboured Mithrellas, and took her to wife. But when she had borne him a son, Galador, and a daughter, Gilmith, she slipped away by night and he saw her no more. (Unfinished Tales, Of Amroth and Nimrodel)

Stock credits and a full-size version of the picture can be found here.





Galador went on to found the line of Dol Amroth, whereas nothing more is said of either Mithrellas after her disappearance (perhaps west together with Nimrodel, who is said to make it to Dol Amroth at last) or Gilmith. Going by her name (either "grey star" or "star mist") I tend to imagine her as the "more elvish" in character of the siblings, and more keenly aware of being mortal and bound to Middle-earth. In many ways her story reminds of Tolkien's Fíriel (The Last Ship) poem, as well as of the song that prompted this image.

Comments

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

When I see the combination of "digital art" and "Elleth," I always get excited. Once again, you have not disappointed me. It's lovely and I also I am extremely interested on a personal level in that particular piece of canon from UT. Beautiful work.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I find what little we know about the story of Nimrodel, Mithrellas and Gilmith interesting as well and keep coming back to it, so glad you enjoyed it. :)

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is the language question in the Dol Amroth area that first drew me to delve into that part of canon. (You know I am no linguist! So kind of laughing in embarrassment to admit that here!)

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Not being an expert in a field is not a reason to be embarrassed, I don't think? I'll freely admit that I'm not quite sure which language would be spoken there either - several possibilities (Adûnaic, Gondorian Sindarin, a local proto-Haladin dialect, a Gondorian dialect of Westron... or all of those rolled into something complicated and tangled). It's an interesting question to pursue, and now you've got me curious as well - did your research yield anything?

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I think Tolkien said that Sindarin is spoken in Dol Amroth and the Falas as the birth/first language of the general population throughout the Third Age. Unlike in Gondor where it seems to have been a regional and/or class-related language. In some areas (like Minas Tirith) Sindarin is predominant and in other areas it is the principle language of educated people mainly.

I am a terrible scholar--Appendix F, of Lord of the Rings has some things and David Salo's Gateway to Sindarin (University of Utah Press) has a chapter on use of Sindarin at the end of the Third Age, I think, [incidentally some of the old-school language geeks don't like Salo, not sure entirely why?). Also I seem to recall seeing something in one of the issues of Vinyar Tengwar. I no longer have the Salo book or my copies of Vinyar Tengwar, they were in one of a few boxes which we lost when I loved into my current apartment about five years ago!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, nice! I really like how Sindarin is beginning to inhabit a similar function that Quenya would have had in the First Age. I'm still a bit surprised by the divide (interesting), but it's nice to know, thank you!

incidentally some of the old-school language geeks don't like Salo, not sure entirely why?

From what I know, Salo is a proponent of various Neo-languages and likes to take frequent liberties, which rubs the "purists" the wrong way - he's behind the various dialogues on the movies (he writes about them on Midgardsmal (http://midgardsmal.com/)), and A Gateway to Sindarin seems to be listing in the same direction. Tolkien Gateway has a bit more info on that here (http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Neo-Elvish#Criticism). I've never read the book myself, and I've enjoyed puzzling out the Orcish dialogue in the Hobbit moves based on what I know Tolkien's languages, but it seems to be a case of (mostly) linguistic(ally logical) fanfic rather than canon. Sorry you lost your boxes, though - that's not fun. :/

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

We lost two boxes of kitchen stuff also! Almost a bigger deal at the time!

[suzll.livejournal.com]

oh my GOD!! This is absolutely astounding.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Eeep! Thank you! :D

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

I'm going for Star Mist in this picture - your Mithrellas looks compelling ethereal in her misty silver gown, that ephemeral cloak, and her bare feet; as if she contemplates great mysteries.

I wonder - are the pearls around her neck from Balar? Is she friends with the bird flying past above her? Have they just spoken and the bird takes a message from her to loved ones or friends? Does she mourn the little animals who made their homes inside the washed up shells?

Art is art in my book, whether someone blends stock photos to make a whole picture or creates a drawing with their own hand. This is a lovely look into a character I know less than a thimbleful about, yet you gave her life and form and vitality for me.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And yes - personally speaking, I prefer that interpretation of her name as well. It's wonderful to know that you find the picture so engaging and vivid - so much in the questions you posed fits very well with her character, I think. :)

[zopyrus.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful--and as usual, you've highlighted a character whose situation deserves a lot more discussion!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) I'll try and continue to highlight the underappreciated characters.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

This is lovely.You are very creative.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

This is outstanding: the colors, the composition, the atmosphere of this piece. Love it!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm very happy with the way the colours turned out, myself. :)

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Lovely picture - so sad, and it all fits together really well - the city in the background looks wonderfully Numenorean. Poor Gilmith - she looks so sad.
It is very strange how she (and her brother) do not have much said about them or their fates. It is interesting to see your speculations about her.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! The city actually is part of Valetta in Malta (which itself forever influenced my idea of Númenorean cities when I was there - it was built so the sea was visible down every street of the old town) and seemed like a perfect fit. I'm glad you agree!

Glad you find Gilmith's story interesting as well - especially with a prominent lineage like Dol Amroth, I hoped for a little more info, but at least that leaves a lot of scope for an approach on a fanfic level. :)

[shirebound]

That's stunning.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - not only is this a beautiful picture, but I have to admit to having forgotten all about Gilmith - and now I am very curious...

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D I wish there were more to say about Gilmith than in the paragraph quoted above - it's sad how some characters get far too little attention.

[astris-eldalie.livejournal.com]

This is really beautiful (all your edits are, I'm so jealous XD) and I love the feeling of this. And your little blurb at the bottom, because yay for developing underappreciated ladies!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Nooo, don't be jealous! :3 Personally I find photomanips much easier than other kinds of edits (the ones on tumblr continue making me boggle as to how), and if you like I might be able to walk you through making one. But yes, yay for underappreciated ladies getting some appreciation! :D ♥

[kittotter.livejournal.com]

She's so gorgeous, and so melancholy (which makes her prettier still!). I love the greys, whites, and blues. The wings in hair make me a think about Elwing, and the similarities between the two half-elf women: loosing their mothers young, exiled from their mother's homelands... All in all, I am very impressed with this piece!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Isn't she? I love love love the stock model, and the mood in the picture was heartbreaking, so it was very easy to work with that and expand on it. I knew I was looking for a melancholy woman and had a vague idea in mind, but she just clicked as Gilmith. And your parallels with Elwing are wonderful! They hadn't occured to me, but you're absolutely right!

Thank you for the lovely comment, now I have bunnies chasing me again. ;)

[hhimring]

Yes, it does make you wonder, doesn't it? All that fuss about Arwen's choice--and yet there are those to whom such a choice is never even offered, such as Gilmith. I like the association with Firiel.
Her pose and the expression on her face do seem to express that conflicting heritage very well.
And the whole thing has got a southern feeling to it, that's convincing as being set in Dol Amroth.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

It really does make one wonder - admittedly, with Arwen being a special case that gives her some reason to be included in the historical narrative of the story, but it feels like Gilmith does deserve a mention of her own even not being one of the great movers and shakers that we know of at all, not even via the designated Tolkienian recognition route of as the ancestors of someone great... :/

I'm glad you like the picture itself, though. Thanks. :)

[elliska.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful! I have no idea how this digital art is done and I am just so impressed with it. This is very ethereal. And obviously a beautiful as well as appropriate palette. Love it!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :) The process itself is far less ethereal than the results; a bare-bones approach might describe this as digital cutting, pasting and matching, and I'm not even very good at it - there are people who have this down to a true art form. But anyway - I'm about to upload this to my art account and will link the stock images I used to make it there (and include the link above in the description), and maybe that will give you a better idea of the process, if you're interested? :)

[greatandgrey]

The story of Mithrellas and her children intrigue me, and I love what you did with Gilmith here. Especially love the hint of wings behind her head - very beautiful!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

It keeps intriguing me as well - with Gilmith as such a blank slate, I keep wondering what happened to her. At any rate, I'm glad you like this! :)

[ysilme]

This is a great composition. You're certainly evoking the "grey /star/ mist" well with the choice of images and colours, and give her just the right feeling of her heritage and situation.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Something just clicked in putting this image together, and I'm glad that seems to show! ^^

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Beautiful artwork. She is indeed worthy of her name.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[independence1776]

This is gorgeous! I love the colors and the watercolor-esque appearance.

[elleth]

Aaand I managed to miss your comment here. Thank you so much, Indy, and so sorry for the belated reply! ♥