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Peter Xavier Price

"Strider" by Peter Xavier Price

SciFi/Fantasy Picture 36 out of 69 by Peter Xavier Price.      ←Previous - Next→
 
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SciFi and Fantasy Art Strider by Peter Xavier Price
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'Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange-looking weather-beaten man sitting in the shadows near the wall, was also listening intently to the hobbit-talk. He had a tall tankard in front of him, and was smoking a long-stemmed pipe curiously carved. His legs were stretched out before him, showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well, but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud. A travel-stained cloak of heavy dark-green cloth was drawn close about him, and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits.'

JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Book I, Chapter 9: At the Sign of The Prancing Pony


DateNameComment 
7 Jun 2005:-) Valarie FaerieLight Connell
Congrats on the MODs!!! This is a beautiful picture. You did a wonderful job. I love the detail that is incorporated in this picture. I also love the colors. All I can say is great job!!!!Thank you very much is all I can say in reply!
7 Jun 200545 Fireclaw Elf
What about his legs being stretched out before him and only being able to see the gleam of his eyes? Well, it's excellently done nonetheless.His legs are stretched out in front of him, though you may have a point about the gleam in his eyes. Thanks a lot.
7 Jun 2005:-) Simi Landau *Muffin Queen*
Wonderful Strider picture. I never did get much past Bree when I was reading the book, but I got here and I love that scene! Well-conveyed.
(I'll confess: when I saw this, I immediately thought Anke...then I saw that your name is definitely not Anke Eissmann! ^_~)
Congrats on Mod's Choice and the fabulous work!Thank you very much indeed. I'll not deny there are certain similiraties in my work and Anke's, but I feel we envisage Tolkien's work in very much the same way. I would say that I've got a long way to catch up with her skills though!
7 Jun 2005:-) Emma O Reilly
Ah!
It's been such a long time since I've seen any of your art.

This one is a credit to you, it's absoloutly beautiful. I love your loyalty to tolkien's description - but also to what's real, and your own image of Aragorn. I don't think I can say anything else that hasn't already been said. Well done.Thank you very much.
8 Jun 2005:-) Walter W Wirtz
The overshadow of the hood is kinda missed on the image but it's still captivating.
Good jobI'm glad you think this despite the discrepancy!
11 Jun 200545 Satya
First off, congrats on the well deserved Mod's Choice. I like the smoke in this picture. You really are good at shading, especially when it comes to darker hues, so keep it up, and keep getting better! My apologies if the following critiques offend, but I think his left eye is a bit lower than his right. I too feel that he could have looked a bit more intimidating, his legs should be stretched, his face should be more covered by the hood, but for the glint of his eye, and that he should look more focused in a particular direction (Frodo, in this case). Though I attach no blame to you on that last matter. Its unbelievably hard (at least for me) to draw people looking 'straight into the camera' so to speak. I think however, that the rather even, stylised folds of the hood and cloak were intentional, and are rather reminiscent of Allen Lee. Its been said many times before, but while your works are definitely original, his 'influence' is clear. Okey... I hope you don't mind my saying this, but I think I have to disagree with how old Aragorn looks, despite his age. And I'm not saying this because of the movies. It's been awhile since I read LOTR, so I do hope you'll forgive me if I'm mistaken, but Aragorn would have lived about thrice the span of a 'lesser' Man (one whose blood was not mingled with the Eldar). I can't remember exactly how many years, but it would thus be logical to assume that he aged at about one third the rate of us 'normal' Men. His age at the time was 88. That would make him look about 30. Add the years of hardship, he would look almost 40. So while the movies do make him look young, Viggo Mortensen isn't that far off the mark either. Then again, perhaps I have no right to challenge your interpretation of Aragorn and how old he should look in your portrayal of him. Plus, that math was based on my (very likely faulty) memory of the books. At the end of the day, I suppose it was just the debater in me coming out, because I didn't envision him looking him this old. So pardon me if I've been an annoying nitpicker who's forgotten his facts. The picture itself is an excellent work of art!Sometimes you write so much, I feel I'm not worthy of such lengthy comments! As ever, I'm very glad you like this piece, with all it's positives and negatives. As for the 'how old should Aragorn look' discussion, I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere by now 2.
20 Jul 200545 Julie R. Kowalski
The expression and textures....and color...bravo!Thanks a lot!
10 May 2007:-) Karen-Birgitte "Ellemerr" Borud
All in all it's a lovely picture, this, but why, why does he look like he's seventy years old?? Allright, so he is indeed more then 70 years anyway, but he's not suppose to show that he is so! Honestly, his face looks like it's taken right out of a childrens fairytale we've got here in Norway, roughly translated to "The seventh father" about, well, a house with seven fathers. The main character in this tale meets all the seven fathers in a row, and this face of Aragorn looks just like the seventh, except he doesn't have a long, white beard. The seventh father could barely speak, hear or see. Doesn't sound all too much like the Strider from the books, or what?

I'm sorry for this kind of whining, but Strider was and is my favourite character from the LotR books, fell in love with him from the first, wonderful description. Even got a little angry with Arwen for "stealing my precious" so you hopefully understand this is a soft spot for me and I mean no harm with my critism. And after all, it is a good picture.
28 Aug 2009:-) Benjamin Harold Abbott
This would be the first suitably creepy depiction of Strider I’ve encounter. Bravo.
6 Aug 201045 Iron Man
While i am embaresed to say it i think they did a good job in the movie with the hood of the cloak. It only showed his eyes like the book said and then the glowing pipe was cool. If only the hood was big enough on this picture. The green in the cloak though is incredable and perfect for a ranger. Good job 2
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'Strider':
 • Created by: :-) Peter Xavier Price
 • Copyright: ©Peter Xavier Price. All rights reserved!

 • Keywords: Aragorn, Beer, Bree, Cloak, Dunedain, Exile, Fellowship, Heir, Hidden, King, Man, Mug, Pipe, Pony, Prancing, Pub, Smoke, Strider, Tolkien, Weed
 • Categories: Man, Men, Royalty, Kings, Princes, Princesses, etc, Warrior, Fighter, Mercenary, Knights, Paladins, Book Illustration
 • Techniques: Watercolour
 • Inspirations: JRR Tolkien
Modpick •  Mod Pick at: 2005-06-07 08:00:20
 • Submitted: 2005-05-12 16:34:11
 • Views: 2940
 • Resolution: 506x700

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