More Dwarves
Jul. 18th, 2018 07:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartSo, since I'm working with Dwarves at the moment, I decided to take a few photos with my iPad from the Weta Workshop books because I find the early Dwarf concepts much better than the end results. I've already posted a few such pictures several entries ago, so I thought I'd post the rest as well.
So, let's start with bookverse!Dori, who - in my imagination - is a lot more venerable character than the PJ caricature of him. My sometimes-Dwarf beta and I cast John Rhys-Davies for the part, mostly because I established Dori, Ori and Nori as BlackLock Dwarves from their mother's side, and my Dwarf beta, Riccardo, imagined BlackLocks as somewhat oriental-looking types (they are Dwarves of the East, after all). Combined with Ro's idea about their slanted indigo eyes and huge stature (for Dwarves, at least) and adding a hairdo based on Ancient Babylonian style, the mental results were quite impressive.
Below a link to a photo of John Rhys-Davies that shows how I imagine Dori's features, as well as an early Weta concept that I could imagine as Dori.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/pictures/john-rhys-davies--actor-240483#john-rhysdavies-during-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers-premiere-picture-id109939121
Let's continue with pre-Quest Óin and Glóin:
Lofar is a semi-canon character who was ejected from LotR; he was supposed to be one of the Dwarves who helped Bilbo to leave Bag End for good. I adopted him and this fantastic (early Dwalin) concept for him and made him the brother of Old Lóni, one of Balin's companions in the failed attempt to retake Moria. Tyrfingr, the blind BoardBeam dealer, OTOH, is an OC that I conceived for the "Dwobbit" story and used this early Óin concept as basis.
A younger, pre-Quest Bombur (and also his eldest, Bávor, and OC of mine):
And, last but not least, the proud Dwarf ladies: female!Bifur, old Lady Frán and King Dáin's IronFist Queen:
Now, while I stick to my opinion that Dwarf women weren't heavily bearded (I can go with the fine side whiskers, though) and therefore the beards they wore while travelling were fake, I was very much inspired by this female!Bifur. I find her exotic and gorgeous, and due to the looks I think I'll have to give her some BlackLock ancestors, even though she is a BroadBeam in my stories.
So much about Dwarves today, I hope you like the pics, despite the poor quality. It is not easy to take a photo out of a book, where the original picture is of the size of a matchbox.
So, let's start with bookverse!Dori, who - in my imagination - is a lot more venerable character than the PJ caricature of him. My sometimes-Dwarf beta and I cast John Rhys-Davies for the part, mostly because I established Dori, Ori and Nori as BlackLock Dwarves from their mother's side, and my Dwarf beta, Riccardo, imagined BlackLocks as somewhat oriental-looking types (they are Dwarves of the East, after all). Combined with Ro's idea about their slanted indigo eyes and huge stature (for Dwarves, at least) and adding a hairdo based on Ancient Babylonian style, the mental results were quite impressive.
Below a link to a photo of John Rhys-Davies that shows how I imagine Dori's features, as well as an early Weta concept that I could imagine as Dori.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/pictures/john-rhys-davies--actor-240483#john-rhysdavies-during-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers-premiere-picture-id109939121
Let's continue with pre-Quest Óin and Glóin:
Lofar is a semi-canon character who was ejected from LotR; he was supposed to be one of the Dwarves who helped Bilbo to leave Bag End for good. I adopted him and this fantastic (early Dwalin) concept for him and made him the brother of Old Lóni, one of Balin's companions in the failed attempt to retake Moria. Tyrfingr, the blind BoardBeam dealer, OTOH, is an OC that I conceived for the "Dwobbit" story and used this early Óin concept as basis.
A younger, pre-Quest Bombur (and also his eldest, Bávor, and OC of mine):
And, last but not least, the proud Dwarf ladies: female!Bifur, old Lady Frán and King Dáin's IronFist Queen:
Now, while I stick to my opinion that Dwarf women weren't heavily bearded (I can go with the fine side whiskers, though) and therefore the beards they wore while travelling were fake, I was very much inspired by this female!Bifur. I find her exotic and gorgeous, and due to the looks I think I'll have to give her some BlackLock ancestors, even though she is a BroadBeam in my stories.
So much about Dwarves today, I hope you like the pics, despite the poor quality. It is not easy to take a photo out of a book, where the original picture is of the size of a matchbox.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-18 07:33 pm (UTC)I used to work as an artist in the games industry and we'd try as much as possible to draw inspiration from real life. When I see female Bifur I wonder if she has been inspired by the rather splendid Harnaam Kaur. (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/sep/13/lady-with-a-beard-if-youve-got-it-rock-it-guinness-world-records)
(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-18 07:51 pm (UTC)Although I must admit that the wonderful Weta concepts reconciled me with the idea just a little bit. Still, I stick with the fake beards theory, save for the LongBeards, of course. I imagine that a great deal of beard snobbery is going on among Dwarves.
Forgot to add: my female Bifur was very much inspired by Harnaam Kaur. I only saw a short report about her on the telly, way before PJ would make the Hobbit films, and she made me think of Dwarf-dams.