Contributed by Douglas Girard
I love hiking up to Reed Lakes in the Talkeetna Mountains. The further I move my body higher up into the mountains, the more I remove myself from everyday life. Once across the boulders, I step onto the green-clad ground and step into another world. A place of magic where, if you keep your eyes and heart open, the spirit of the land will fill you up. One can approach the trail as a sacred path leading one into nature's temple, at the end of which lies a gift of waterfalls and beautiful lakes. Standing on the edge of the waterfall, taking in the breathtaking view of the lower lake and the widening valley has inspired many of my paintings.
After reading “The Silmarillion” by Tolkien, I can easily imagine this mountain treasure as part of Middle-Earth. With warm light highlighting the peaks and mist, I can hear horses' hooves, clinking of metal against metal, and the murmur of heroic voices as Fingolfin's men patrol the Mountains of Shadow. High above, a watchtower keeps an eagle eye on the approaches from Ard-Galen, the Land of Gasping Dust.
“The Marches of Mithrim” is my first painting in a series inspired by the writings of Tolkien. Tolkien's work is not just fantasy, it taps into the deep caverns of our culture. It reveals a love of the land and appreciation of our history, myths, and legends. It is this rootedness that harmonizes with our soul, that brings us closer to our ancient past... and closer to ourselves.
This image will be released in March as a Limited Edition Fine Art Print of 25 that will include an original drawing and a certificate of authenticity.
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