jh www.​john-​howe.com

Intro­duc­tion

John Howe is a Canadian-​born illus­tra­tor, now living in Switzer­land, who is best known for his iconic Tolkien art­work. He first began depict­ing scenes from The Lord of the Rings tril­ogy as a teenager and since then has not only given us his vision of Tolkien’s world but has also illus­trated many other books and tales. John also worked as a con­cep­tual artist on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings tril­ogy of films, as well as The Chron­i­cles of Narnia.

When did you first decide that you were going to become an illustrator?

I think when I was about three… no, I’m kid­ding, but I’ve always drawn pic­tures and did want to pursue some­thing involv­ing art. Isn’t it strange how we all draw as chil­dren, but are so few as adults? Why do they all stop? Actu­ally, per­haps it’s for the better, it makes for less com­pe­ti­tion. As for the pro­fes­sion, I think I put a name on it after high school.

If you could ask J. R. R. Tolkien one ques­tion, what would it be and what do you think his answer would be?

I’m tongue-​tied. How about: Do Bal­rogs have wings? I’d also like to know what became of all those musi­cal instru­ments Thorin and his crowd left at Bilbo’s place. Is Frodo still trip­ping over them in the store­room decades later?

If you could live your life again, would you do things any dif­fer­ently or make any other choices?

Of course! I’d be taller, much more hand­some, with bigger biceps. Much smarter too. Excuse me? What would I DO dif­fer­ently? I wouldn’t make the same dismal mis­takes I made in the past. I’d also have gone into rocket sci­ence or brain surgery. No, seri­ously, I can’t really answer that question.

Who are your favourite artists/illustrators alive today?

That’s very hard to say, being seized simul­ta­ne­ously with the desire to elim­i­nate them as unfair com­pe­ti­tion and to bow down before them where they stand on their lofty pedestals.

You work pri­mar­ily in water­colours; is there any other medium you would like to try your hand at?

I have a stack of can­vases all primed and ready to go in my base­ment. Am await­ing autumn and my mail order of oils. I’ve also got my sculpt­ing tools all sharp­ened up.

Are you involved in any col­lab­o­ra­tive projects at the moment and is there anyone you would like to work with?

Noth­ing really col­lab­o­ra­tive beyond upcom­ing exhi­bi­tions, but yes, there are MANY people I would love to work with. Sorry? You want NAMES?

What’s next in the pipeline for John Howe?

One book on the burner, (that’s what that burn­ing smell is) both writ­ing and illus­trat­ing, and two books coming out this fall: FAN­TASY ART WORK­SHOP (with a pref­ace by Terry Gilliam no less, so it’s worth buying JUST for that) and a retelling of BEOWULF.

Brian Froud or Tony DiTerlizzi?

Tony Froud

Hangi or Lamingtons

I think I prefer Maori, espe­cially if the trip is included in the meal.

Are you ever tempted put away your brushes and retire?

You’ve got a deal; send me a cheque with a number of your choice between 4 and 6, fol­lowed by seven zeros and I’ll do it.

You can see more of John Howe’s work at
www.​john-​howe.com

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Cats: Editor's Choice, LCS Interviews
Tags: Brian Froud, Interviews, John Howe, Peter Jackson, Switzerland, Terry Gilliam, The Chronicles of Narnia, Tony DiTerlizzi, Tony Froud, www.john-howe.com