Morgoth Confronts Fingolfin
This piece started with the design for the helm of Morgoth, here with vertically placed Silmarils, as I’d not seen that before. Then I upscaled the whole scene first to show Morgoth in full, then to depict the moment Morgoth strides out to meet Fingolfin.
“ Thus he [Fingolfin] came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.
That was the last time in those wars that he passed the doors of his stronghold, and it is said that he took not the challenge willingly; for... alone of the Valar he knew fear. But he could not now deny the challenge before the face of his captains; for... Fingolfin named Morgoth craven.... Therefore Morgoth... issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.
Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and swung it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth.... ”
This is the final version, I think just the small overlap of Fingolfin’s shield with Grond cements the character as being in the same space and moment. Plus I’m much happier with the pose. Most of the design hasn’t really changed much, just drawn better.
The almost final image, with the last few tweaks made… until I decided I didn’t like the figure of Fingolfin… neither of the previous versions felt like the character was actually in the picture… so…
Finally reducing and repainting some of the figure, adding more detail to the background and foreground and adding a few more details to Morgoth.
The almost final image. Minor tweaks, a nod to real arms of Fingolfin (cheers Gene) as a shield boss, and some highlights, Fin’s nose guard plus a shorter handle on Grond.
In the final image I reduced the smoke colours to better see the blue of Fingolfin’ s shield, and upped the Boschian reds and yellows. All the elements from the passage describing the conflict are now in place.
As much as I loved this original pose, particularly that hand showing where the Silmarils had burned Morgoth’s hand I began to feel that he looked more like he was bestowing a benediction on Fingolfin rather than confronting him in battle.
Finalised colour... though still a work in progress, as I’m considering adding the figure of Fingolfin in the bottom right foreground.
Some early faffing with individual design elements and colour...