"Beren and Lúthien: growing old together" by Mirach

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Title: Beren and Lúthien: growing old together
Artist Name: Mirach
Prompt: 'For our spring and our summer are gone by, and they will never be seen on earth again save in memory.' (Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien")
Write or create art about a character who has reached old age.
Description: Tolkien and his wife, Edith, as Beren and Lúthien near the end of their life. The names "Beren" and "Lúthien" are written together with their names on the graves of Tolkien and his wife, so it seemed to me like a proper way of honoring them to use their faces for the characters in this drawing.
Rating: General
Warnings: none
Artist's Notes: Stock and references used: pose, background texture, Tolkien and his wife, heraldic devices

Comments

[astris-eldalie.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, this is beautiful! You can really see the love on their faces - and using Tolkien and his wife as a reference is absolutely perfect. I love the devices you worked in on the sides, and the details in the clothing.

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

Beautiful and touching. Greatly done!

[shirebound]

That is truly lovely. Nothing is known about their elder years, but we know they must have been filled with love.

so it seemed to me like a proper way of honoring them to use their faces for the characers in this drawing.

How wonderful.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

What an excellent idea - and a lovely picture, too.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful. You are very talented.

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Everything about this is beautiful. What an inspired idea to use JRRT and Edith's faces as your models. And your detailing is so intricate and lovely.

[dawn_felagund]

Mirach, I absolutely adore this piece! Where to even begin?

First of all, the concept itself is beautiful and moving: to incorporate J.R.R. and Edith as Beren and Luthien, as indeed they saw themselves. And at the ends of their lives, much as Beren and Luthien grew old together. I've never connected much with the story of B&L, and this piece helps to make that senescence they experienced, alone on their island, more human to me.

The design itself is simply lovely. I love the knotwork border and the crests in the corner. The black-and-white conveys a sense of melancholy ... and yet their is joy and hope in the piece.

Thank you so much for creating and sharing this. :)

[dreamflower]

This is utterly beautiful! Truly a tribute. I love this!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

That is a terrific idea and I love the execution. There is a picture around of Edith in her youth that shows her has having been quite beautiful and Tolkien was a handsome young man also. I happen to be one of those people who do see not only the fresh bloom of youth as beautiful, but aging faces as well--our faces bear the history of our lives.

[kittotter.livejournal.com]

n'awwww. A proper way to honor them indeed! Lovely!

[huinare.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful idea; and excellently executed. I rather wish they could see this.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Oh the heartbreak in this picture as Beren holds his one true love, knowing she has gifted him with her immortality. It's clear she has no regrets either and will happily walk through door to beyond with this mortal. The detail of their clothing is absolutely spectacular; the elven motif on his boots, the leaves on her dress, the sandals on her feet, the hem of her sleeve -- just spectacular.

Such a beautiful tribute to both fandom and the creator of this fandom we all love! I'm blown away by both the concept and the execution of the piece.

[hhimring]

I'm much struck by this.
An original idea and so logical, when you think of it, and well executed, too!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Yes, I find it intriguing to think about the undocumented part of their story. I first didn't know what references I will use, and then it struck me and it seemed so logical I wondered I didn't think of it sooner...
Thank you!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot! I first didn't know what references I will use, and then it struck me and it seemed so logical I wondered why I didn't think of it sooner.

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I first didn't know what references I will use, and then it struck me and it seemed so logical I wondered why I didn't think of it sooner. And I wanted to give the picture the sepia feel of old photos, with the nostalgia that's connected with.

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I find the faces of old people beautiful as well.

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yes, that would be wonderful... I wish I could at least show it to Christopher Tolkien, but I don't know how...

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[mirach-ravaia.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[angelica-ramses.livejournal.com]

Marvelous execution, such a lovely idea! Congratulations!

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

And long ago they passed away / in the forest singing sorrowless. - This picture made me believe that they did, heartbreaking though it is.

[elliska.livejournal.com]

Brilliant idea and beautifully executed!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

How beautiful. You've really caught their faces, and what marvelous expressions filled with love. And against JRR's beloved old tree. (-:

[ysilme]

What a wonderful idea, and what a splendid execution of it! I love the medium you chose for it, and the tenderness and care of the two for each other, which comes out so well in your artwork. To be loved in such a way when one nears the end of one's days, and to have had such a companion during all this time - that must be the ultimate happiness.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Oh, but so perfect, Mirach! Yes!

[independence1776]

This is gorgeous!

[elleth]

Now I'm all choked up. I remembered this picture when I just went through the artwork tags, and still love both the idea behind their depiction and the fact that you chose to show them in their old age in the first place. A very long happily-ever-after. <3