Ted Nasmith

Ted Nasmith (* 1956 in Goderich (Canada) ) is a Canadian illustrator and artist. He is next to John Howe and Alan Lee as one of the greatest illustrators of the works of JRR Tolkien.

Life

Ted Nasmith was born in Goderich, Canada. His father was in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Like most Canadians, his childhood was dominated by continuous moves. He also lived for three years in Longuyon in France, near the German border, as a result of the local deployment of his father. The mid-1960s he moved to Don Mills, a suburb of Toronto.

Upon entering high school he was advised to enroll in a commercial art program. Previously, he had his habit of constantly drawing pictures, only considered distinct hobby. The excellent learning environment of high school he had the opportunity to work in many artistic fields. This eventually he gained more confidence in his artistic abilities.

In 1971, during his third year of high school, he read for the first time on the recommendation of his sister JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This book is from now on a new focus in his life. After his high school graduation he soon began training as a draftsman ( architectural renderer ). He got this job because he brought a certain talent for this kind of illustration.

Meanwhile, he noticed how Tolkien's work had taken a deep impact on him and too much for him today had led so important. It awakened in him a dormant love of forgotten times, myths and legends. Since his childhood he had not felt this feeling of homesickness, which he had displaced by the events of the intervening years unconsciously. He immediately began to paint scenes inspired by the magical and mystical atmosphere of this kingdom, in which he was involved for hours. Tolkien and the drawings had a big influence on him. His enthusiasm to paint scenes from Tolkien 's universe seemed never to end.

Through the support of friends and family for his drawings of The Lord of the Rings he finally dreamed of publishing his works, especially in a set of annual Tolkien calendar. But this idea seemed unrealistic and almost impossible. Small attempts ended with friendly rejections. However, the publication of Tolkien calendar of 1976, 1977 and 1978, the Brothers Hildebrandt inspired him again, on a publication to seriously work out, because their works were realistic and detailed. However, he had the feeling of being able to exceed their work with his own. Her work helped him then to find his own style and interpretations.

At this time, the mid-1980s, he became a member of the Tolkien Society. With their encouragement in the back he tried again in Tolkien's publishers. This time he got a positive response and they offered him to reprint four of his works in the calendar of 1987. This was the long-awaited breakthrough. To get from this calendar to other calendar was now much easier. It was followed by four more publications in the calendar of 1988. In 1990, his dream of a fully illustrated by him calendar became a reality. Other calendars followed in 1992 and 1996. Moreover, his work for the covers found the paperback editions of The Hobbit as well as for The Lord of the Rings use. In 1996 he received shortly after his return from England a request from Tolkien's publishers if he would be interested in the illustration of the Silmarillion. The publication of the newly illustrated edition of the Silmarillion in 1998 proved to be another important step towards recognition of Tolkien artist. The Lord of the Rings continues to be his first love, based on which he illustrated the 3 consecutive Tolkien Calendar for 2002 ( The Fellowship ), 2003 ( The Two Towers ) and 2004 ( The Return of the King ).

Ted Nasmith now works as a freelance draftsman and as an illustrator for Tolkien's books and other works. He lives with his wife and three children in Toronto, Canada.

Quote to Tolkien's work

"It's difficult to describe exactly what INFORMS my interest in Tolkien, but suffice it to say quite simply did I have a powerful affinity with his writing, so full of vast, lost, misty expanses and its unique mixture of the familiar and strange. "

Memberships

  • Member of the Tolkien Society
  • Member of the Mythopoeic Society

Works

Books, sole Illustrator

  • The Silmarillion, 2004, USA, (ISBN 0618391118 ), 50 illustrations
  • Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth, 2003, USA / Canada, (ISBN 0007169426 )
  • Auld Lang Syne, 1998, USA, (ISBN 0773730060 ), 12 illustrations
  • The Dream of Aengus, 1996, USA, (ISBN 1895555728 ), 15 illustrations

Books of participatory Illustrator

  • Tolkien 's Middle-Earth and Monsters Postcard Book, 2002, USA, (ISBN 0007142595 )
  • The Silmarillion Poster Collection, 1998, UK, (ISBN 0261103768 ), 6 Posters
  • Tolkien 's World: Paintings of Middle-earth in 1998 (ISBN 1567312489 ), 10 pictures
  • Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-earth, 1996, USA, (ISBN 0061055328 )

Tolkien Calendar

  • Tolkien Calendar 2004 ( The Return Of The King ), United States, (ISBN 0060554193 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Diary 2004 ( The Return Of The King ), United States, (ISBN 0060554215 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 2003 ( The Two Towers ), USA, (ISBN 0060086564 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Diary 2003 ( The Two Towers ), USA, (ISBN 0060086556 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 2002 ( The Fellowship ), USA, (ISBN 0066211549 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Diary 2002 ( The Fellowship ), USA, (ISBN 0066211530 ), 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 2000, USA, 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 1996, USA, 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 1992, USA, 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 1990, USA, 12 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 1988, USA, 4 pictures
  • Tolkien Calendar 1987, USA, 4 pictures

Other works

  • The Lord of the Rings Trivia Game, 2003
  • The Hobbit Board Game: The Defeat of the Evil Dragon Smaug
  • The Lord of the Rings Collectible Plates
  • Puzzle: Arwen 's Choice, 1997
  • The Way is Shut (# 30501 ), 1997
John Howe (Illustrator)
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