I have always had a great love for captivating stories. From a young age I heard classic tales of adventure, mystery, and bravery as my dad would read to the family in the evenings. Whether fiction or nonfiction, these stories never failed to spark my imagination, and I credit those family reading times for cultivating my desire to create.
One of my favorite narratives is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. While these amazing books have inspired dozens of sketches over the years, it wasn’t until one of my brothers remarked how much he would like to have an LOTR painting that I decided to delve into the world of fantasy. Finishing just in time for Christmas, “Battle of the Peak” is my attempt to portray the epic battle between Gandalf and the Balrog on the mountaintop above Moria.
