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 Alan Lee and Books of Wonder owner: Peter Glassman
Mr. Lee shared a few little known facts about work on the the LOTR films, and about his own work, namely that while working on his art he listens to music varying from jazz to country to classical, preferring the soothing sounds of female vocalists-- particularly Alison Crouse. "I have a great admiration for musicians," he said, wishing he had the ability to make music. The lyrical quality of his art translates this musical desire. The one genre of music he flatly refuses to be inspired by, however, is rap. When asked about his preferred medium and whether he plans his work, he acknowledged that most of his best known work are "chance accidents." While he does work in pencil, for sketching-- the majority of the work on the LOTR films were sketches-- his illustrations are primarily in watercolor, done on handmade watercolor paper.
After a wonderful afternoon, Anthony and I decided to end a lovely day with a pint or two, and we descended on a small pub we chanced to pass on Bleecker street. I decided to be the subject of an experiment in sake cocktails (its the only place in New York you can get a "Lemon Samurai") while Anthony decided in true Hobbit fashion to ask for a pint. We were pleased and surprised when the bartender proceeded to quote the entire pint scene from Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring without any provocation from Anthony or myself. Its always gratifying and and inspiring to see that when Tolkien is concerned it really is a small world.
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On Saturday, December 4th, in a little corner of the shire known as Books of Wonder, everyone sat around the projector, pulling up the tiniest square of carpet, like children waiting to be told a story. The storyteller was introduced at the clock struck noon: Alan Lee, the infinitely humble soft-spoken Tolkien-illustrator whose six-year role with the recent film adapatations of the Lord of the Rigs have made him a household name. This self-described "incessant doodler" proceeded to present a slideshow of a mere handful of the thousands of sketches and illustrations he was commissioned to do for the films.
As a treat for the audience he shared a few of his original watercolors from the 1992 Centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings, and was generous, not only in the time spent answering audience questions but in the the over 4 hours he subsequently spent signing autographs.
All who attended were happy to hear that while Mr. Lee has nothing immediately planned, he is currently working on a LOTR sketchbook, which would be comprised of many of the Tolkien work he's done over the years, work that has been collecting in his hundreds of sketchbooks that under "ordinary circumstances wouldn't see the light of day." He also mentioned a project he's longed to do for many a year: to illustrate the world's mythologies. He's worked on some Homer, and plans on illustrating some of the Arthurian legends and the Kalevala. We are anxiously awaiting such work, and hope that we will see them some day soon!
