Map of Middle Earth: It’s not done quite yet….
…but it’s ready to at least be seen.
The building of The Map commenced summer of 2008 and is still in progression. It has come a long way, and needs just a few more items and plantings here and there, but that will happen next spring. This type of work I do I refer to as Artura Design. “Artura” is a word I created to describe my art pieces that I build into the landscape: Art+Nature (Natura in Latin). I hope to be able to create many more Artura Designs – and that this wonderful map is just the beginning!
Presenting the overall before and afters:
Give it a few more years – and it will be even better. There are rivers to install, a compass, a couple more flats of ground cover…and I think that’s it.
If you would like to see A LOT of pictures – click the “continue reading” option. I’ll take you through the years gone by and show the progress with some descriptions and commentary. There’s a lot of pictures, just to warn you.
Okay – here we go…
This is the beginnins of Mordor. See "The Eye?" And the black piece is Mount Doom. I really need to get a bigger piece for the latter.
Mordor is growing. It was the first area installed and for awhile it was just evil on the map. The grasses in the back represent the Dead Marshes.
You can the the Misty Mountains here (in the middle with the white (white equals snow) rock) and a hint of the Shire.
Here's the bare east side.
Hobbiton and The Shire. The beginnings...
Carving out rivers and figuring out the ocean. The Shire is growing!
The River Anduin - carved out and lined with Irish Moss. Misty Mountains to the left.
Ooh - another shot of the growing Shire.
Southern end - Gap of Rohan is in the upper middle-left. Mordor in the back on the right.
Ok we jumped a ways. Sea of Rhun.
Iron Hills in front, Mirkwood to the upper right.
A view of a lot.
Sea of Rhun finished on lower left. River system working it's way through - water still needs to be added.
The 7 Palintir.
I like the shadows on this one.
Ok - Here we see a bit of the River Anduin with Mirkwood on the left, Misty Mountains on the right - but I am tweaking the water/blue pieces so they have been removed for now.
Lovely shadows over The Shire.
The river winding past Fangorn (on left) and cutting through Emyn Muil.
Another view of Fangorn - it's the two-toned...wait till you see what it looks like now!
River system with the Iron Hills in the upper middle. Lacks water.
Just another view.
Working on the Southern end....I love the purple glass...it's like the spirits of the Dead Men of Dunharrow...coming out of the mountains to break the curse.
Winding of the River Anduin. You can see it needs a little fixing...
Just a cool pic. But wait - do you see the Lonely Mountain?
Another nice shot.
A little detail from a river system. I am going to make a lot of the half spheres to act as the water for the rivers. The black cobble came from Cannon Beach, OR. I hauled it back just for The Map.
Another detail near The Grey Havens...edge of the sea where they sail away to The Undying Lands. Starfish Sedum! Awesome.
And it's coming along...
The lovely forest of Rhun in yellow next to the lovely Sea of Rhun.
A different Angle.
Ah, the Palintir.
Mordor is growing.
Let's see...Minas Tirith...Rohan...Gondor....Fangorn...Emyn Muil, Orthanc - it's all there...
Loving Fangorn on the left! ENTS!
Detail of the coastline.
Southern End. Still needs some ground cover and I need to tweak the river meeting the ocean bit.
The beautiful sea!
East side...
Is this the coolest project, or what. Rivendell is just beginning along the base of the mountains there in the upper right.
And now - a dedication to me, from...me. See the two pockets of gold in front of awesome Fangorn? That's Lothlorien....my namesake! The Goldenwood...a waking dream. The River Anduin is sad to be absent in this pic.
Iron Hills.
Just a higher angle.
I need to get one shot from up above the the WHOLE map. That would be awesome.
Another view of Lothlorien.
Tired of the Iron Hills yet? Oh - okay. Don't know why I have some many of this...I think I like the bright green in front.
La Fin.
Well – when the rivers return, and the compass is installed and a little more plant life added – I will take some pics from above for an entire viewing experience. Spring of 2012!!! May the Mayan calendar be wrong…
Really, truly, beautiful and creative Lorien!!! We didn’t name your Lorien for no reason!