Alan Lee-Illustrator

In the tenth-grade I bought The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, a collection of Alan Lee’s pencil sketches and concept art.  It was that book that awakened my interest in illustration and illumination and led to my decision to study art in college. Lee is my one of my favorite illustrators and the best Tolkien illustrator out there. His drawings and watercolors create the tone and feeling of the story while leaving the details to the reader’s imagination. While my own art is of a vastly different aesthetic and approach, I am still constantly inspired by Lee’s ability to create art that enhances the reader’s experience without pulling him out of the story’s flow.