"The Ride of the Rohirrim" by Peter Xavier Price

I meant to say 'I'm reading the series *AGAIN*'I've heard this combination of words many a time .

Ok, I have just looked at your reply and i seriously blushed. You must know that it has been two years since i read the 'RotK' and the movie's stupid mix-it-up got blurred with the actual events that happened. So...yeah. Sry bout that. I'm re-reading the series and will probably catch those little things. So, great job. Keep it up. 'Little things'? Haha, there are some big changes there, my friend, and leading the Dead to Minas Tirith was one of them. Plus, making them look like green-glowing Casper/Cursed Pirates was another. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your read again. Two years is far too long a time!

Lovely, lovely picture. You have really captured the fell essence of the Rohirrim, and their ferocity in battle. I love the erratic placings of each Rider, which really makes the scene look like a battle. I love the darkness as well- perfect for the Pelennor Fields.

I think Théoden looks brilliant- old, but still energetic (is that the right word?) enough to lead his men to 'fire and slaughter'. This picture really does justice to Théoden's battle-speech of 'feel deeds awake!'

However, I would do a little more research into the tack of medieval horses. I think it is more likely that the bridles would be leather, with the possible exception of the reins. Also, the horses do not appear to have bits in their mouths: if you do not know horses, this is an understandable mistake. The bit is a metal bar to which the bridle and reins are attached, and it sits in the horses mouth, over the tongue and is the main aid used to control the horse. There are bridles that are bitless, but I don't think they would be safe to be used in battle. I reccomend looking at the movie's style for inspiration: you may not like the movie, and I can understand that (though I personally think it marvelous, non-canonities not-withstanding), but their depiction of medieval horses was very accurate.

Just a suggestion, of course, you don't have to follow it. I do think this piece if fabulous, however. Your use of paint is fantastic- I am only an amateur as far as watercolour goes, and I applaud anybody who can use it with such obvious skill.
All the best.
Fran
xxxThank you very much for the detailed comment, all of which I appreciate greatly. Thanks also for the extensive advice on the horses. I readily admit, equines are not my most knowledgeable area and I hope to improve my portrayals of them in future. Your words will go a long way to helping me achieve that, so once again, thank you very much.

Yeah the army of the dead was a big disapointment. They were kinda cool but not very cool. When I first read the books I thought they did go to Minas Tirith. I guess its just the idea a lot of people liked. The real stuff probably would have been better especially since the army of the dead sorta make everything before almost pointless, but I don't consider that one of my greatest gripes in the series. Not having Glorfindle was one of my greatest gripes. The real scene at the ford of Bruin would have been so much better. They had to insert Arwen somewhere but that was not the place. I missed the Scouring of the Shire one of my favorite parts in the whole book. I also missed the breaking of Saramon's staff and such. I hope the special edition fixes some of this.

Now as for the pic you should have done it wider then it is tall instead of vice versa.I generally feel that most of the 'tinkering' in the movies was bad, and find it hard to rank the disappointments as such. Any deviation from the book just seemed wrong to me. As for the picture itself, perhaps you're right that I should have painted the scene horizontally. Oh well, too late now.

I'd like to add something. The army of the dead at first was fine. There was one word to describe them in the book. Grey. In that scene they were a grey green as aposed to bright green. And you could see their features and it was pretty cool. But when the battle came around they were just a green tide. So if they'd left them grey and made them more nighmareish it would have ruled.Are you sure you're not getting mixed up with the 'Grey Company', who were actually the Rangers of the North, not the Army of the Dead. But anyway, you're right. Grey would have been a slight improvement (though not much of one) compared to the garish green that PJ decided on. What was he thinking?! Slimer from 'Ghostbusters' comes to mind. Ugh.

Urgh. I agree with your opinion on the slime-green ghosties. They really screwed things up with RotK, didn't they? Like the way they insulted Faramir's honour by making it so that he captured Frodo and Sam when he never actually *did* that!!

*cough* 'scuse me. couldn't help starting a rant after i read your replies to the comments. tho i liked the movie. that's the hell of it... rrrgh.

Ah, yes, great job on the Rohirrim!

*cookie_monster*I find a lot of the changes to the movie totally unnecessary, and as a book-reader, unbelievably nauseating. It was as if all the promise of the film was once again swallowed up by the need for mindless Hollywood action, catering more for the masses rather than those who actually care deeply for the philosophy of the book. But of course, the masses are what generate revenue; so screw the rest, right? I’ve just lost faith in the ability for somebody to have the courage to create a story and tell it as it is, and as it should be, rather than intersecting it with unneeded action and inept drivel. It’s not just the ‘LotR’ movie that is guilty of this, but it does highlight a general trend nowadays. George Lucas, anyone?Anyway, thank you very much for the comment.

The rohirrim are my favorite people from LOTR, maybe becouse I can say I'm close related to them. I mean to those who are wery much like them: the HUNS. I tell you, if PJ's staff would have made their flag Blue-Silver-Blue, with Moon and Star, Instead of Red-Green with horse, I would have worshiped him like the Warlord.I like the Rohirrim also -- like I've said before, I think Tolkien really enjoyed the creation of this people.

Oh, God... that quote from the Book. My most favourite fom all the works of the professor. They just light such a fire of passion in my heart. The sheer, pure wrath and energy in that little entry is unprecedented in writing anywhere.

The blowing of the horns of Rohan, Théoden raging and cutting down the Serpent Lord - it's all just simply amazing.

And your work captures the mood perfectly. Especially that old squire at the front - the rage, commitment and determination he portrays is frightening, simply awe-inspiring.

And the dark clouds and smoke that we see behind them adds another ominous level to the picture - yet in the upper right corner we see a tint of blue. Manwë's winds blowing the smoke away?

At any rate, its emotion is captured perfectly. I only have one grief with this, and that's that Éomer isn't further ahead of the First éored, he just seems a bit too... in the middle, if you know what I mean.

But that doesn't ruin the moment, mind-blowing piece of art! I don't know if I should call you Mr. Price, as it seems too formal, or Peter, which seems to casual, but you're truly a fantastic artist, Peter Xavier Price! It's a good scene is it not?! Anyway, thank you very much indeed for this lengthy and detailed comment, it means a lot to me. Don't worry, Éomer is just about the speed ahead -- look at the horses' mane as it gathers speed .

Mmmmmm, this is one of my favorites. I like the feeling of excitment and being caught up in battle. dang I wish you made the movie! ahaha! ;-)

[quote]The rohirrim are my favorite people from LOTR, maybe becouse I can say I’m close related to them. I mean to those who are wery much like them: the HUNS. I tell you, if PJ’s staff would have made their flag Blue-Silver-Blue, with Moon and Star, Instead of Red-Green with horse, I would have worshiped him like the Warlord.I like the Rohirrim also -- like I’ve said before, I think Tolkien really enjoyed the creation of this people.[/quote]

Just had to comment to this. The Rohirrim are NOT like the Huns. They are like the Goths. The Easterlings are like the Huns. Strangely enough, the Goths and the Huns met in one of the most important battles of the late Roman/early Dark Ages. In that battle, Theodoric was trampled by his own cavalry. Funny that the Rohirrim and Easterlings should be fighting each other in the most important battle of the late Third Age and that Theoden King (in Gothic Theodoric) should die by being crushed by his own horse.

That aside, I really like that drawing