Ted Nasmith

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Ted Nasmith.jpg
Ted Nasmith
Biographical information
Born1956, Goderich, Ontario, Canada
StyleLuminism, Victorian neoclassical
ImagesImages by Ted Nasmith
LocationToronto, Canada
Websitehttp://www.tednasmith.com

Ted Nasmith is a Canadian artist, illustrator, and musician most known for illustrating many works by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Early life[edit | edit source]

In his childhood and teens, Nasmith was introduced to The Lord of the Rings by his sister and was absorbed. In 1972 he mailed to Tolkien photographs of his work. Tolkien replied with praise, but also with criticism, saying that his rendition of Bilbo in the painting The Unexpected Party was "too childlike".[1] [2]

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings[edit | edit source]

Many fans of Ted Nasmith have expressed disappointment in his lack of involvement in The Lord of the Rings (film series).

"I was contacted by a producer in early '99. They invited me to be there with the others in New Zealand to help with conceptual art, and made me a nice offer. However, I was going through a personal crisis unrelated to my art, and in the end, being that it would also force me to abandon my freelance obligations and be away indefinitely, I reluctantly declined, settling the question in my mind after very careful deliberation. It was a difficult decision."
― Ted Nasmith [3]

One fan has created a website known as Ted Nasmith: The Uncredited Lord of the Rings Films Concept Artist. The website displays side-by-side illustrations by Nasmith with later scenes in The Lord of the Rings films. Peter Jackson was inspired by Nasmith - as Alan Lee described:

""[T]here were certain pictures of Ted's that Peter quite liked. He actually bought one of Nasmith's originals --- a very striking picture of Mordor""
― Alan Lee [4]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

As illustrator[edit | edit source]

Books[edit | edit source]

Calendars[edit | edit source]

Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]

Articles[edit | edit source]

Discography[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Interviews[edit | edit source]

Talks[edit | edit source]

References

Illustrators of The Hobbit
Internal art J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-present) · Eric Fraser (The Folio Society: 1979, 1992-present) · Michael Hague (1984-1992) · David T. Wenzel (graphic novel: 1989-present) · Alan Lee (1997-present) · David Wyatt (1998-2001, 2012-2013) · John Howe (pop-up: 1999) · Jemima Catlin (2013-present)
Cover art only J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-present) · Pauline Baynes (1961) · Roger Garland (1987-1989) · John Howe (1991-present) · Ted Nasmith (1989-1991) · Barbara Remington (1965 US)
Illustrators of The Lord of the Rings
Internal art J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-present) · Eric Fraser/Ingahild Grathmer (The Folio Society: 1979, 1992-present) · Alan Lee (1997-present)
Cover art only J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-present) · Pauline Baynes (1970-1989) · Roger Garland (1983-1991) · John Howe (1991-present) · Ted Nasmith (1990) · Geoff Taylor (1999)
Illustrators of The Silmarillion
Internal art Francis Mosley (The Folio Society: 1997-present)· Ted Nasmith (1998-present)
Cover art only J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-present) · Roger Garland (1983-1991) · John Howe (1992-1995)
Illustrators of official Tolkien calendars
Emily Austin (2023) · Pauline Baynes (1973, 1974) · Cor Blok (2011, 2012) · Jemima Catlin (2014) · Jenny Dolfen (2023) · Inger Edelfeldt (1985) · Mary Fairburn (2015) · Roger Garland (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989) · Spiros Gelekas (2023) · Justin Gerard (2023) · Donato Giancola (2023) · Michael Hague (1986) · The Brothers Hildebrandt (1976 US, 1977 US, 1978 US) · John Howe (1987, 1988, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2013, 2021) · Tove Jansson (2016) · Michael Kaluta (1994) · Tim Kirk (1975) · Alan Lee (1987, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024) · Ted Nasmith (1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2021, 2022) · Kip Rasmussen (2023) · Darrell Sweet (1982) · J.R.R. Tolkien (1973, 1974, 1976 UK, 1977 UK, 1978 UK, 1979, 2005, 2006, 2017)