Diversions and Daydreams

Ralph Bakshi had a thing for Tolkien, like many of us did, before it was the quintessential hippie read in the late '60s. Some of us made a few renderings here and there of our visions of Middle Earth. But most of us found other diversions and daydreams, while Bakshi buckled down and went on to make the ambitious animated film, Lord of The Rings (part 1 only, doggone it—not his fault!)

This painting was made by Bakshi at least 7 years before the film, although it does seem to be a loose interpretation of Tolkien.

Ralph Bakshi — A Scene from Tolkien — ca 1971 or earlier

You can visit Bakshi's official website here.