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[[Image:Alan Lee (Greg Martin Photography).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Image of ''Alan Lee'' courtesy of [http://www.gregmartinphoto.com/ Greg Martin Photgraphy]]]
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British artist '''Alan Lee''' (born 1947) has illustrated numerous Tolkien Calendars as well as books. Lee and [[John Howe]] were the lead conceptual designers for [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]] and both had a small cameo in ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. In the prologue Lee and Howe played two of the nine [[Nazgûl|Kings of Men]] who received [[Rings of Power]] from [[Sauron]].
{{artist infobox
| image=[[File:Alan Lee.jpg|250px]]
| name=Alan Lee
| born=[[20 August]], [[1947]]
| died=
| style=Realistic/Romantic
| images=[[:Category:Images by Alan Lee|Gallery]]
| location=Dartmoor, Cornwall, UK
| website=
}}
'''Alan Lee''' is a renowned British artist. He has illustrated numerous [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] books and calendars. Together with [[John Howe]], Lee was a concept artist for both [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]] and [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]].


==Books==
==History==
* [[The Children of Hurin]] (2007)
Alan Lee was born in London, and attended the [[Wikipedia:Ealing|Ealing]] School of Art.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0496769/bio IMDb biography]</ref> At the advice of a friend, he read ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' when he was 17, and it greatly influenced his professional work. He had at that time never heard of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] or ''[[The Hobbit]]''.<ref>[http://einsiders.com/features/interviews/alanlee.php Interview], EInsiders.com.</ref> He moved to Dartmoor and married Marja Kruÿt. They have one daughter together, Virginia.<ref>[http://www.visionary-artist.co.uk/index.html Biography] of Marja Lee Kruÿt.</ref><ref>[http://www.herenistarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=33 Interview], [[North East Tolkien Society|HerenIstarion.org]].</ref>
* [[The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook]]
* [[Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-earth]]
* [[The Hobbit]] (1997)
* [[Tolkien's Ring]] (1994)
* [[The Return of the King]] (1992)
* [[The Two Towers]] (1992)
* [[The Fellowship of the Ring]] (1992)
* [[The Lord of the Rings]] (1991)


==Calendars==
Alan has suffered many deaths in his lifetime, including his father's when he was only 13 years of age.
* The Children of Hurin Calendar (2008)
* The Lord of the Rings Calendar (2007)
* The Tolkien Calendar (1993)


==Poster collections==
In his paintings, Lee uses watercolour. He describes his style as a combination of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(visual_arts) Realistic] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism Romantic].<ref>"Designing Middle-earth", [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]], Extended Edition.</ref>
 
===The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy===
On [[13 November|November 13]], [[1997]], New Zealand filmmaker [[Peter Jackson]] sent a parcel containing [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116344/ "Forgotten Silver"] and [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110005/  "Heavenly Creatures"], and a letter explaining an upcoming movie project, then still for Miramax. Jackson was greatly inspired by Lee, and wanted him to be part of the crew. Lee watched the movies, and phoned back 3,5 hours later to say yes.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/01/23/alan_lee_feature.shtml "Lord of the Drawings"], BBC Interview.</ref> Three weeks later he flew to New Zealand, where he and [[John Howe]] joined the [[Weta Workshop]]. He would live in New Zealand for six years, before returning to Dartmoor.<ref name="designing">"Designing Middle-earth", [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]], Extended Edition.</ref> His daughter Virginia also worked on the movie; one of her contributions was woodwork for the throne of [[Théoden]].<ref name="designing"/>
 
Lee has two cameos in Peter Jackson's movies: he appears as the second from the right of the nine [[Nazgûl|Kings of Men]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', and as a man of [[Rohan]] at the armoury of the [[Hornburg]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]''.
 
Lee has expressed interest in working on ''The Hobbit'', "[B]ut it would have to be a pretty special film to match the experience of working on The Lord of the Rings".<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/01/23/alan_lee_feature.shtml "Lord of the Drawings"], BBC Interview.</ref>
 
==Published artwork==
* [[1984]]: ''Castles'' (text by [[David Day]])
* [[1991]]: ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''
* [[1992]]: ''[[Tolkien's World: Paintings of Middle-earth]]''
* [[1992]]: ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
* [[1992]]: ''[[The Two Towers]]''
* [[1992]]: ''[[The Return of the King]]''
* [[1993]]: ''[[The 1993 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar|Tolkien Calendar]]
* [[1994]]: ''[[Tolkien's Ring]]''
* [[1994]]: ''[[Realms of Tolkien|Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-earth]]
* [[1997]]: ''[[The Hobbit]]''
* [[2005]]: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook]]''
* [[2007]]: ''[[The Children of Húrin]]''
* [[2007]]: ''The Lord of the Rings Calendar''
* [[2008]]: ''The Children of Húrin Calendar''
* [[2008]]: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]
 
==Awards==
* [[1998]] - '''[http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/1998.html World Fantasy Award]''', Best Artist.
* [[2002]] - '''[http://www.nbrmp.org/ NBR Award]''', Best Production Design/Art Direction, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
* [[2003]] - '''[http://www.vesawards.com/ VES Award]''', Best Effects Art Direction in a Motion Picture, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
* [[2004]] - '''[http://www.oscars.org/ Academy Award]''', Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]''
* [[2004]] -  '''[http://pressacademy.com/ Golden Satellite Award]''', Best Art Direction, ''Peter Jackson's The Return of the King''
 
==Bibliography, selected==
*[[2008]]: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]''
**"Afterword"
*[[2013]]: ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Chronicles: Art & Design]]''
**"Introduction"


==See also==
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images by Alan Lee|Images by Alan Lee]]
* [[:Category:Images by Alan Lee|Images by Alan Lee]]


== External Links ==
==External links==
* '''[http://www.alan-lee.com Official Website]'''
* {{WP|Alan Lee}}
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0496769/ IMDb Profile]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0496769/ Alan Lee] at [http://www.imdb.com IMDb]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Lee Wikipedia Profile]
{{references}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Alan}}
===Interviews===
[[Category:Actors and actresses]]
* [http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=leealan2 Five Questions with Alan Lee]
* [http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=leealan Tolkien's Vision: Artist Alan Lee on Bringing The Lord of the Rings to Film]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/01/23/alan_lee_feature.shtml Lord of the Drawings]
* [http://www.herenistarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=33 An Interview with Alan Lee (Heren Istarion)]
* [http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1102896338 Interview at TheOneRing.net]
* [http://einsiders.com/features/interviews/alanlee.php An Interview with Alan Lee (Entertainment Insiders)]
* [http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=18983 Interview with Alan Lee (AintItCoolNews.com)]
 
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[de:Alan Lee]]
[[de:Alan Lee]]
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[[fi:Alan Lee]]

Revision as of 16:16, 12 July 2015

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
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[[File:Alan Lee.jpg|300px]]
Alan Lee
Biographical information
Born20 August, 1947
StyleRealistic/Romantic
ImagesGallery
LocationDartmoor, Cornwall, UK

Alan Lee is a renowned British artist. He has illustrated numerous Tolkien books and calendars. Together with John Howe, Lee was a concept artist for both The Lord of the Rings (film series) and The Hobbit (film series).

History

Alan Lee was born in London, and attended the Ealing School of Art.[1] At the advice of a friend, he read The Lord of the Rings when he was 17, and it greatly influenced his professional work. He had at that time never heard of J.R.R. Tolkien or The Hobbit.[2] He moved to Dartmoor and married Marja Kruÿt. They have one daughter together, Virginia.[3][4]

Alan has suffered many deaths in his lifetime, including his father's when he was only 13 years of age.

In his paintings, Lee uses watercolour. He describes his style as a combination of Realistic and Romantic.[5]

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy

On November 13, 1997, New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson sent a parcel containing "Forgotten Silver" and "Heavenly Creatures", and a letter explaining an upcoming movie project, then still for Miramax. Jackson was greatly inspired by Lee, and wanted him to be part of the crew. Lee watched the movies, and phoned back 3,5 hours later to say yes.[6] Three weeks later he flew to New Zealand, where he and John Howe joined the Weta Workshop. He would live in New Zealand for six years, before returning to Dartmoor.[7] His daughter Virginia also worked on the movie; one of her contributions was woodwork for the throne of Théoden.[7]

Lee has two cameos in Peter Jackson's movies: he appears as the second from the right of the nine Kings of Men in The Fellowship of the Ring, and as a man of Rohan at the armoury of the Hornburg in The Two Towers.

Lee has expressed interest in working on The Hobbit, "[B]ut it would have to be a pretty special film to match the experience of working on The Lord of the Rings".[8]

Published artwork

Awards

Bibliography, selected

See also

External links

References

  1. IMDb biography
  2. Interview, EInsiders.com.
  3. Biography of Marja Lee Kruÿt.
  4. Interview, HerenIstarion.org.
  5. "Designing Middle-earth", The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Extended Edition.
  6. "Lord of the Drawings", BBC Interview.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Designing Middle-earth", The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Extended Edition.
  8. "Lord of the Drawings", BBC Interview.