Londonderry’s own Greg Descoteaux is a master of many trades. Not only is he a musician and a luthier at Siren Guitars, but he’s also a wonderfully imaginative visual artist. This month, he displays nine large illustrations at the Leach Library, all based on the magical and mystical characters from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Series. This represents the largest display of these pieces in the public eye since they were drawn in 1978.
A Gollum “Smeagol” unlike any other!
Stop in through the end of June to see how Greg brings beloved characters like Gandalf, Aragorn, Gollum, and Frodo to life. His portraits highlight the nuanced details of their eyes and their stories, and are unlike any film or illustrated depiction we’ve ever seen.
The TRAGEDY Behind the Art
The spark that drove Greg to put pencil to paper was a fire on Christmas morning in 1978. After flames destroyed most of his artwork, Greg began to read Tolkien’s series as a way to help himself get through this difficult time. Greg says: “I became so engrossed in the story that the images of the characters materialized in my mind. [Tolkien’s] descriptions of the various people and creatures was so vivid the images were coming as quickly as I could read, so I had to sketch them as fast as I could, to keep up.”
The fantastical Tree Beard in all of his glory!
The finished portraits, however, certainly do not seem like they were drawn in a hurry. The multidimensional detailing is fine and painstaking, bringing the power of the characters into full relief.
We’re honored to host Greg’s work this month. Please stop into Londonderry’s Leach Library at 276 Mammoth Road (be sure to check their site for summer hours) to view these extraordinary pieces for yourself.
Aragorn as Strider
DISPLAY YOUR WORK
The Londonderry Arts Council invites local artists to display their work for a month at the Leach Library. We are currently revamping our application process, so if you are interested in displaying, please simply submit an inquiry using the contact form at the bottom of this page. To date, we have hosted painters, illustrators, photographers, writers, and others.