Orc Assault

Orc Assault - Copyright Alistair Hamilton

Based on the attack on Helms Deep by the orcs of Suruman the Wizard from Lord of the Rings. © - 2001.

Acrylics and computer coloured using Paint Shop Pro 7. A2 - 590mm x 420mm.

Initial painting in acrylics. The mountains were airbrushed and everything else hand painted. When painting this in 1989 I made major mistakes with elements within the picture. Every attempt at fixing it made it worse so it was abandoned. I was finally able to complete the image digitally after investing in a Wacom graphics tablet. Though it gave me immense satisfaction finishing it the way I had intended all those years ago, it is regrettable that the original is still languishing in a cupboard in it's unfinished state.

Orc Assault - Detail - Copyright Alistair Hamilton

As this is perhaps one of the most complex images I have ever produced, I've included a close up of the bottom left hand corner in order to let you see more detail. Just click on the icon to the left to see it in all it's glory. Please note, that this will be displayed in a pop-up for which you must have JavaScript enabled.

Orc Assault - Unfinished - Copyright Alistair Hamilton

I still have the original, which remains in it's unfinished state, and include it here for the sake of completeness. It is far from finished but I'm sure you'll understand why I abandoned it. It's nice to think that I'll finish it one day, the way I intended, but somehow I doubt that will happen. Click the icon to the left to see it in a pop-up window.