Matěj Čadil - MEC Artist of the Month - Apr 2024

Matěj: My first encounter with Middle-earth is a memory I hold dear. I must have been about 7 or 8 years old when my dad read me The Hobbit and then The The Lord of the Rings. From that moment on, I was captivated by the vivid landscapes, heroic quests, endearing characters and intricate lore of Middle-earth. It was like stepping into a realm where every word was a doorway to adventure. What is more unusual, he followed with The Silmarillion not long after that. Maybe that’s the reason why I never found it difficult to get through The Silmarillion, unlike many other people – I felt like I really lived in that world. That first encounter sparked a lifelong love affair with Tolkien's lore, shaping not only my artistic inspirations but also my imagination and worldview.

Matěj: It was a natural progression for me, I made lots of Middle-earth-inspired drawings as a child when I first encountered that world. But I really got into it when I created a website angrenost.cz, a hub dedicated to all things Tolkien in Czech language. This platform not only provided an outlet for me to share my love for Tolkien's works but also served as a catalyst for my artistic endeavors. That was around the time when the Lord of the Rings films were making their cinematic debut, with their breathtaking visual interpretations of Tolkien's beloved tales. And their influence on my artwork was nuanced. On one hand, they helped shape my imagination, providing vivid visual cues. But on the other hand, having devoured Tolkien's books long before the films, they also sparked a desire within me to express my own unique vision of Middle-earth, one that was deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of Tolkien's original texts.

Matěj: Tolkien's works are wellspring of inspiration, each page brimming with imagery, emotion, and depth that fuels my creative fire. One aspect that resonates deeply with me is Tolkien's unparalleled world-building, the spectacular landscapes of Middle-earth and the deep history. Each setting evokes a distinct mood and atmosphere that ignites my imagination. Moreover, Tolkien's themes of courage and hope resonate with me on a personal level and serve as guiding principles in my artistic endeavours. The Star of Eärendil is a beautiful symbol of hope as a beacon amidst darkness, a light that cannot be extinguished. Taking cues from Tolkien's own illustrations, which offer a glimpse into the visual world he envisioned, I strive to capture the essence of his storytelling through my art.

Matěj: My creative process is shaped by various sources of inspiration. One avenue that often sparks my creativity is participation in drawing challenges like Inktober, where artists create pictures based on daily prompts. I like to give these prompts Tolkien-inspired twist, drawing inspiration from the rich world of Tolkien’s Legendarium. I also sometimes turn to my patrons on Patreon for suggestions, to guide my artistic endeavours. Sometimes, I take on commissions, crafting bespoke pieces tailored to the visions of my clients. Moreover, I have a few long-running series of pictures, such as the Kings of Gondor, that I continue to expand upon over time. When I have chosen a subject, I try to thoroughly study all relevant passages from Tolkien's texts, or I use one of Tolkien's own illustrations as a starting point. The process of bringing a piece to life varies depending on the medium and complexity involved. Some pictures come together swiftly over the course of a few days, while others unfold more gradually, spanning months or even years. Often, a piece will lie aside for a time, waiting for me to return to it with fresh eyes and renewed inspiration. In recent years, I've embraced the practice of documenting my creative process, capturing photos and videos to share on social media platforms. Art time-lapse videos, in particular, have proved to be popular, offering viewers a glimpse into the evolution of a piece from initial concept to final creation.

Matěj: I usually work with traditional media, mainly ink liners and coloured pencils, sometimes watercolours, graphite pencils, gel pens, occasionally acrylics, charcoal or other media. I like to experiment, but I often feel that the scene I am trying to capture calls for a particular technique. While I don't typically create digital art, I leverage digital tools to enhance and refine my traditional artwork. Whether it's using digital software to work with reference images, tweak compositions, experiment with colour palettes, or retouch finished pieces, I find that blending traditional and digital elements enriches my creative process.

Matěj: The most challenging piece I've made might be "The Song of Durin," completed in 2023. It illustrates Gimli’s song about the lost glory of the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. The poem is one of my personal favourites from the book and I have wanted to illustrate it for many years. The layout of the illustration mirrors the structure of the poem, divided into three main parts that depict different periods of time. Each section is introduced by a verse about the world and the mountains, lending a sense of rhythm and cohesion to the piece. One of the typical features of my art is ornamental borders, and I wanted to incorporate it into this picture as well. Given its theme, I opted for a style reminiscent of carven stone, complete with intricate runic inscriptions. Additionally, I embellished certain elements with metallic pens, adding a touch of shimmering gold and silver. I started it in 2016 when I sketched the first panel featuring Durin gazing into Mirrormere, with the larger composition already in mind. However, it wasn't until 2021 that I revisited the project, sketching the outline of the large picture and studying Angerthas dwarven runes for the runic inscriptions. Despite pauses in progress, I persisted, finally finishing it in November 2023. Despite taking so long, hope that I've managed to capture the mood and beauty of the song.

Matěj: Absolutely, there are so many. To name just a few, Ted Nasmith's detailed landscapes, which evoke a sense of the grandeur and depth of Middle-earth, have always been close to my heart. I admire Jenny Dolfen, whose portraits bring the characters of The Silmarillion to life. Alan Lee's evocative architectural designs, Jay Johnstone's intricate ornamental creations and the timeless artistry of Pauline Baynes are also influences that shape my artistic vision. There's also the wider community of Tolkien artists online, who inspire each other with their collective creativity and passion for Tolkien's Legendarium. I also draw inspiration from historical art styles ranging from Ancient Egyptian, Romanesque, Byzantine, Beuron Art School, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. These rich and diverse traditions offer a wealth of imagery and symbolism that I incorporate into my own work, adding layers of depth and complexity to my artistic repertoire.

Matěj: There are a number of exciting projects on the horizon. Firstly, I'm delighted to be contributing once again to the Beyond Bree Calendar for 2025, along with other Tolkien artists. It's always a pleasure to be part of such a worthy project that celebrates the richness of Tolkien's Legendarium through art. I'd like to expand my range of Middle-earth-inspired goodies. I'll be adding more bookmarks to my Etsy shop, featuring my artwork paired with iconic Tolkien quotes. These have proved popular as both functional tools and miniature works of art. I am also planning a series of Middle-earth inspired colouring pages. On a larger scale, I've been contemplating the idea of creating an art book (featuring mostly, though not exclusively, my Tolkien-inspired art) as a comprehensive exploration of my artistic journey.

Matěj:  In fact, I've been working on a poem as a heartfelt tribute to his work. However, I'm a little reluctant to publish it. You see, English isn't my first language, and I want to make sure that the poem does justice to Tolkien's mastery of the language. Also, I have to admit that the poem has taken on a life of its own and has become quite long (and it is far from finished)!