Ted Nasmith, Tolkien Illustrator & Artist Interview

Chatting with renown Tolkien illustrator Ted Nasmith about adapting Middle-earth, how he came to illustrate The Silmarillion, and writing to JRR Tolkien as a 17 year-old.
#tolkien #tednasmith #lordoftherings

[@derekbarrantes9463]

Now you’ve really hit the gold mine here, Matt! Ted Nasmith has gotta be one of my all-time favorite Tolkien artists! Definitely looking forward to this!

[@maksphoto78]

I''d love to have a copy of The Silmarillion illustrated by Ted, but alas they all sold out.

[@tomoflathead]

@@maksphoto78 you can still find em, just gotta search a bit ;)

[@pspboy7]

Ted Nasmith, John Howe, Alan Lee, such iconic Tolkien artists.

[@emmaphilo4049]

Very cool! I love illustration in general and more so Tolkien's illustrators. Ted Nasmith is iconic.

[@SketchedbySte]

I emailed Ted about a year back asking about the chances of getting a middle earth art book from him, really pleased to see it's still in the works, cannot wait at all! Great interview by the way! I always think Teds work shines when he does environments / landscapes of middle earth

[@ralphdamiani1976]

This is amazing Matt! Now you gotta complete the holy trinity of Tolkien illustrators!

[@c.j.nyssen6987]

I had the pleasure of meeting Ted at the Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto. Not only is he a skilled painter, he is a wonderful musician (and sounds a bit like George Harrison). Looking forward to watching this!

[@kron3409]

OHHHHH Ted Nasmith is my favorite tolkien illustrator, I love his work, so I am waiting and really excited for this

[@chestnutshade_lynx]

Ted Nasmith is my favourite Tolkien illustrator ❤I'm super-excited about the upcoming book!

[@EricJamesRose]

It's about time, right?!

[@theadventureofthefellowship]

Same here

[@martinovittori3585]

didn't watch all the interview, where does he speak about it?

[@EricJamesRose]

@@martinovittori3585 Towards the end, starting at the 1:08 mark

[@Matt-Hurin]

After being an avid watcher of this channel for a long time, my brain had to have a hiatus from everything media wise concerning LOTR, this was because of TROP, it dissatisfied me so much, I had to step away to clear the anger and my own self hyped over expectations, that left feeling nothing but numbness and sadness for what has been done to the tolkien experience I wanted. But I started watching MESBG reports again a few days ago and getting my books out, then I saw mats review pop up, I watched it and commented my own feelings and after watching that. I felt ready to look at what content has been on the channel, and to my absolute delight I see an interview with Ted Nasmith, wow I am so looking forward to watching this, this is something that to a long time fan is very pure and I feel much excitement and joy just anticipating watching this. Thanks Ted for all the joy and life you have brought to Tolkiens world and fans, and thanks Matt for the great content.

[@LearnRunes]

A good illustrator, one who can not only see through the eyes of the author but roam around within that world, is not easy to come by.

[@IndyCrewInNYC]

He has been my favorite Tolkien illustrator over the years. I have a bunch of his Tolkien calendars. Such a talent. Thanks for spotlighting him!

[@eongrobler]

Such an inspiration! 👏 Ted brings a beautiful mix of realism and magic to his art. Awesome guy, and certainly can not wait for that art book!

[@j-dmachado4349]

So cool! Well done Matt. I’d love a Ted Nasmith art book, and I’d love to hear you speak to Alan Lee and John Howe if they’re available! ❤

[@sergio_botero]

Excellent guest, one of the best in Tolkien lore art.

[@theadventureofthefellowship]

You are right 👍

[@mailivefromtokyo]

Ted is my favorite Tolkien artist by a huge margin. Green Hill Country hangs in my entry hall and I see it as I set out or return home each day. Purely magical. And he is an incredibly nice person as well.

[@OlympusMons25]

This was delightful! I happily scanned through my Ted Nasmith-illustrated Silmarillion while listening. His love for and understanding of the work is obvious in his speech and art.

[@carterlink]

I’m so pleased he’s finally putting a book out! Thanks for asking that question Matt. The thing that always sticks in my mind when I think of Ted’s art are his amazing mountains and skies. You can just tell he loves painting mountains!

[@martinovittori3585]

really? when is the book coming out? is it going to be his illustrations?

[@bigotis9042]

The legend himself

[@VishakhaSen]

Can’t wait! He brought so much life to the books!

[@WhoIsCalli]

Matt, you always knock it out the park with these interviews. Thanks so much to Ted for creating such beautiful art work 🧝‍♂️

[@silvanloher5912]

Ted Nasmith is my favourite among all the amazing Tolkien Artists. His pictures speak to me in a special way, and they are incredibly beautiful - he has such a special feeling for colours. My favourite is probably "the blue whizards travel east".

[@EntreOrcosyHobbits]

Ted Thank you for your work, it is very inspiring and brings us closer and closer to the beloved middle earth. Regards

[@illidangraham2725]

I can't wait!!!! I got the orange illustrated edition. His art is amazing!!!!

[@Preidith]

Ted Nasmith is most inspiring as illustration Tolkien greatest story. Thank you so much👍🙏

[@hiddentape2911]

Ted is easily the best Tolkien illustrator. He clearly understands the works and captures the naturalistic aspects beautifully. We are so lucky to have him!

[@keeparizonawild156]

I’m a huge fan of Ted’s creations. Great interview

[@fireofhyperion]

Absolutely a humble master of not only the craft, but of representing the material in a fashion that depicts an ultimate understanding of the descriptions given. Ted stands above all others, like that of the Sea-kings of old, and power is in his hands!

[@ch3rlo_1]

In my opinion, Ted Nasmith is the best Tolkien illustrator regarding the Silmarillion. He catches the soul of the story with his art; mystical, beautiful, mysterious but realistic at the same time.

[@martinovittori3585]

the NUMBER 1 Tolkien illustrator in my opinion. his art is superior to every other Tolkien illustrator, his landscapes are something else. magic!

[@TheAngmarArchives]

Great guest, great interview as ever. Ted seems like one of the nicest people you could meet...I look forward to the art book, well overdue!

[@dogasimsir_artwork]

Excellent guest, such an inspiration! I'm super-excited about the upcoming book!

[@l.a.2646]

Ted's artwork is excellent , I have the version of the Silmarillion with his artwork throughout the book. It's a treasured edition for sure. I really love his work.thanks for interviewing him!

[@Henrique-wy6cv]

Ted is a legend! Seems to be a great guy as well!

[@mynameudste]

amazing interview guest, just tremendous.

[@Katharina_Lieblich]

This will be fantastic, I know it. Fingers crossed, we'll get Allan Lee and John Howe on the channel one day too? (That would just about be a dream come true)

[@helloshdjdheje4463]

One of the all time greatest

[@kdr121279]

I was born and grew up in the same town as Ted Nasmith (Goderich, Ontario, Canada). How did I not know who he was??

[@Agent270]

Unfortunately he's rather forgotten locally outside of the Goderich wiki. Despite playing a significant role in the illustration of Tolkien's works. Had he been in a place to accept the offer to work on Jackson's films, we'd hear much more about him.

[@mancal5829]

Another wonderful interview. I don't particularly concur with his views on Rings of Power, which I find rather untolkienian (if that's a word), but I love the man's art and insight. P.S. Looking forward to that Ted Nasmith book!

[@annikinstarkiller600]

His strength is an emphasis on a big sense of scale

[@garlic6969]

My “bestie” brought me here. God bless

[@afolsom685]

This was so interesting. Thanks!😊

[@AlejandroGomezB]

Thanks again for your content and Ted for he's Art!

[@garymiller_85]

Great discussion. Thank you!

[@marcognudi664]

One of the great legends, this channel is logging history

[@DangerousPoem7444]

Wonderful interview

[@Rillant]

You are such a great interviewr Matt! These interviews are simply a joy to watch and listen to.

[@hithere8753]

Very interesting interview

[@ellenkirby8366]

I’m so curious why he didn’t much like the Two Towers or Return?? And preferring the directors cut to the extended?! Phew.. dang. The extended adds so much more. It’s like spackle. I way prefer the extended. Really fun interview! Thanks

[@newtonthedirector]

Imagine the day, where Matt will have a talk with Peter Jackson himself... Would be a dream come true :)

[@ibrahimissaiaawad2888]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@QueenLiliTheRed]

Id love to see a Bernard Hill interview he recently slammed the rings of power the other day

[@JohnCanadian]

Really neat conversation! My last name is Naismith (pronounced the same way) and am also from the Toronto area!

[@marcust8111]

Awesome! Are you still coming out with a season one review for ROP?

[@DanIel-fl1vc]

I have always wondered how they shade imaginary landscapes or characters. I would assume photo reference, but you'd need reference from a lot of different sources. The light in the sources would not match, so maybe an overall lighting reference that roughly contains the same objects placed at the same locations and then try match it with the other sources in your head? I'm curious about that step in the process, thumbnail makes sense, sketch makes sense, anatomy, perspective and architecture makes sense. But the lighting step is a mystery. Maybe he got a miniature landscape models and light rig in a closet somewhere that he can move around and match the set for an idea of the lighting.

[@MrPeter924]

Great video great view sounds great audio interview

[@komivesbotond9317]

I do not know anything about him, but God I loved the illustrations in the Silmarillion

[@goflowjoe]

Based on Ted's reasonable criticism of Peter Jackson's trilogy, I suspect that he is being reticent with regards to The Rings of Power.

[@raconteurgirl1502]

The Tolkien Society is all on board with Rings of Power. My guess is Ted's hoping to get some work in that direction.

[@goflowjoe]

@@raconteurgirl1502 I doubt Season 2 will even get made.

[@ForFrodoOfficial]

L E G E N D! Next John Howe and Alan Lee and I can die happy! :)

[@najahn7753]

Very cool

[@theadventureofthefellowship]

My favourite illustrator 💖🌸💝❤️

[@xX_cjpg_Xx]

I have a question that hopefully someone will be able to answer. In the LOTR, they say that magic is fading from the world, and we see the Elves leave the world, and the rise of men. This seems to be similar to our current world today, so does this mean that thousands of years after Frodo destroys the ring, that Middle Earth is essentially the world as we see it today, with cars and roads and buildings and only Men around, no dwarves of Elves or Dark Lords. So essentially, can we imagine our current real world as like the 6th Age or something like that? AND If there was a sequel to the LOTR made, and it was set in our current world, what do you think would happen. I like to imagine something ancient appears and everyone freaks out and has no idea what it is. Anyway thanks for any insight

[@kevinclarke8900]

Yes. Middle-earth was supposed to be a prehistory of our earth.

[@kyleVanZan]

Seriously how were you that talented at 17!

[@imraduin]

a real legend right here

[@JuanMTossi]

There's a lake in Irán, named Lake "Urmia" I think...that location for a Rhûn representation would be AWESOME.

[@scottn9885]

Ships of the Faithful on the Novemeber calendar that i have!

[@tomoflathead]

Living legend!

[@jameshewitt3747]

I enjoyed Ted Talk.

[@bakoyma]

Ted. Nasmith. Artbook!!!!! 😍

[@roki49]

Great video Matt, an idea for a video... Have you seen that video from Wizards and warriors? War of the rings-all battles... Maybe you could react to it on a livestream and talk about it and maybe point out inaccuracies if there are any

[@josephippolito1402]

I'm Canadian too

[@Omnilatent]

Great interview! There seemed to be some sound issues on Ted's side, though.

[@pzalterias5154]

I'm so glad he has some spotlight here ! He is all my childhood with his Silmarillion illustrations wich I used as wallpaper from 9 to 18 yo. I love Allan Lee but I feel he has too much of a spotlight since Peter Jackson's Lotr

[@jessepollard7132]

Um. the Ballintine paperback cover was done by Pauline Baynes and spread across all three volumes. The poster even had the fine marks to identify the border edge of each book. I still have the poster, but not the paperbacks.

[@steampunkwhale2280]

The Swiss lake (29:13) might it be lake Oeschinen, near Kandersteg?

[@ThisCarChannel]

Yes :)

[@Epic_Kingdom]

Nice!

[@spitfire4sergi]

I feel like him and Tom Everhart (the only person Charles Schulz ever approved to illustrate Snoopy, Charlie Brown, etc) are wardens / guardians of holy relics

[@bfkc111]

I doubt Tolkien was unaware of the season or snow in the Gondolin moment... But it's fantasy (and such effects are relatively likely in his world, e.g. see Lothlorien). He doesn't even need to explain it by internal rules but, you know, just storytelling he talks about elsewhere. Or whether in the moment he was aware of it or not: it seems to me he wouldn't have cared afterwards (but maybe considered it in a different text..).

[@astrojack9220]

great

[@star_wars_miniatures]

Do you think you’ll ever manage to get John Howe or Alan Lee on the show? I can imagine that would be a dream come true

[@exploremoreoutdoors]

I have a quote from Ted for a custom piece. I will hopefully get him to do it for me soon.

[@robertsleeth861]

Is he really expensive?

[@alkhazarmegie2270]

Imagine a middle earth ted nasmith color by number book

[@ForFrodoOfficial]

@NerdoftheRings You have to commission a painting for yourself with a "The Silmarillion" subject you like! Please!

[@jseels]

When are you going to do your season One review!?

[@jaygonya8383]

Badass.

[@CK2957]

What I would do to get my Silmarillion books signed by him

[@raconteurgirl1502]

Although he's not my favourite Tolkien artist, I do enjoy Ted's Silmarillian illustrations. I thought his gentle criticism of LoTR movies was interesting, given he had no such for Rings of Power, which is by far further from Tolkien's writing, both in spirit and in lore than anything to date. But I guess the Tolkien Society are up for anything with the brand slapped on it these days. I just hope Ted doesn't join all the sellouts willing to do anything to make money out of Tolkien's legacy. That would be disappointing.

[@bfkc111]

wat. It's a major explicit point that time in Lothlorien works differently and that it's not affected by the winter, what's more it's an explicit point that Caradhras has different weather than just any old place on the ground level. A moment ago I used Lothlorien as a casual reference, I didn't think you'd get there as another main point... Makes no sense to me.

[@sanchayansarkar2953]

I admire his art but him being all over the place on Rings of Power is unfortunate. To say Morfyd Clark was great as Galadriel is disappointing at best.

[@armaarthur2433]

❤

[@glados_boatman]

My God, he looks like Michael Pachter! XD

[@fVNzO]

I think the environments are very nice but i really don't like how he illustrates the characters. Especially his faces look very dubious. I like how Alan Lee does the characters a lot more. Less "personal", they seem more fantasy like. Na Smiths characters are very oldschool comic booklike. The environment artworks though are supreme. The sketchier the better imo. Leaves more up to imagination without it being too detailed.

[@gandalf4751]

😍👌

[@ClassicCulprit]

Teds mic abit robotic

[@4thlinemaniac356]

There is A great video title The Red Book and The Red Book...Jung,Tolkien,and the Convergence of Images @ ArchtypalView channel.