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breath-art — You cannot pass

Published: 2013-10-05 12:19:29 +0000 UTC; Views: 115337; Favourites: 5680; Downloads: 0
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Description "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
—Gandalf to the Balrog.
On January 15, 3019, the Fellowship came to the Bridge of Khazad-dûm pursued by Orcs and a Balrog of Morgoth. Gandalf stopped on the Bridge, standing in the middle of the span, allowing the others to escape. He leaned on the staff in his left hand and held the sword Glamdring, gleaming cold and white, in his right. The Balrog stepped onto the Bridge, facing Gandalf, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised its whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But Gandalf stood firm and declared that the Balrog could not pass. They fought, and the Balrog's sword was destroyed. Then the Balrog leaped full upon the Bridge, and Gandalf lifted his staff and smote it upon the bridge. His staff shattered, but the Bridge cracked at the Balrog's feet. The stone beneath the Balrog broke and fell, taking the Balrog with it into the abyss, but the thongs of its whip snared Gandalf about his knees, and Wizard and Balrog plummeted together into the depths of the mountain. Gandalf cried, "Fly, you fools!" and was gone
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Comments: 177

Dr-InSean [2022-07-04 21:29:22 +0000 UTC]

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Bard66 [2018-12-07 18:58:13 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!

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Evil-is-Relative [2018-12-07 18:52:09 +0000 UTC]

That's amazing!

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Willfire-Z-Tiger [2018-09-15 15:26:28 +0000 UTC]

Amazing! I love how similar it is to stained glass, the background, the design. The design of Gandalf and The Balrog looks great. I love how you drew the fire. I love how you drew the whip.

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ayn-L [2017-07-02 11:34:27 +0000 UTC]

Hi. These illustrations are cool. As an editor,I hope to invite the artist  to draw for two books. would you like do me the favor ? How we would get in touch with the artist ? Thank you.

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ayn-L [2017-07-02 11:34:15 +0000 UTC]

 Hi. These illustrations are cool. As an editor,I hope to invite the artist  to draw for two books. would you like do me the favor ? How we would get in touch with the artist ? Thank you.

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Libra1010 [2016-07-31 15:21:52 +0000 UTC]

 Superb. 

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Red-Lazerus [2016-04-04 21:39:01 +0000 UTC]

Do you know when or if you'll be selling prints of this? I would buy one.

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Thombart [2015-12-16 15:08:07 +0000 UTC]

Hi there, I just wanted to let you know how happy I am having this on my wall. I have a stutter and since last august i've been working very hard to get in control of my speech. 
This artwork keeps reminding me that with the right attitude, tools and knowledge, everything is possible. I've got it in a beautyfull silver frame which really does right to the collor scheme, it's basicaly an heirloom allready  

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breath-art In reply to Thombart [2015-12-17 01:07:44 +0000 UTC]

thanks for your comment and enjoy the happiness

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Nomad1357 [2015-12-12 18:28:16 +0000 UTC]

omg I wish I had the time to favorite all of your middle earth stuff.......

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TheGreatPares [2015-12-09 16:58:33 +0000 UTC]

Amazing

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samurai-gunman [2015-12-09 10:54:09 +0000 UTC]

Nice work

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Azarathian-Mage [2015-12-09 07:42:47 +0000 UTC]

Gandalf is the only old man badass enough to face down a giant fire demon (that's just what I've always referred to the Balrog as).

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13thBloodhound In reply to Azarathian-Mage [2015-12-09 10:30:23 +0000 UTC]

Agreed..

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ThatGuyWithTheTShirt [2015-12-09 05:27:16 +0000 UTC]

It's, "You Shall Not Pass!"

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Ururuty [2015-12-09 04:45:41 +0000 UTC]

nice style

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Entrophy1122 [2015-12-08 18:18:17 +0000 UTC]

Very nice!

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CrazyLad55 [2015-12-08 17:12:42 +0000 UTC]

Man that's good!

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JoeyVazquez [2015-12-08 17:07:03 +0000 UTC]

I flipping love your work!  When I get some more funding, would totally love to have you do a cover for my creator owned book Terra.  

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StarWritter [2015-12-08 15:56:02 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic as always!!!!!

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DarkStorm-7 [2015-12-08 15:18:29 +0000 UTC]

Masterpiece. Definitely.    

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ShirleyLDelgado [2015-12-08 11:34:28 +0000 UTC]

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do... www.wallstreet34.com

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VicodinFlavoredMints [2015-06-28 23:57:16 +0000 UTC]

Once again, love it!!!

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LostGryphin [2015-03-09 22:35:26 +0000 UTC]

lovely piece of artwork

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ZackaryBass [2015-01-11 10:59:34 +0000 UTC]

Magnifique !!

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Dkundzinsh [2014-12-19 18:19:21 +0000 UTC]

Here's something that most people don't know, there is more behind "Fly, you fools!" than most realize, Gandalf knew that from the beginning of the fellowship that flying to Mordor using the eagles would be the best solution but he did not tell that to any one for he was afraid that the dark lord's spies would find out so Gandalf kept this secret until time was right, Gandalf was leading them to the eagles but he did not plan to be taken down by the Balrog so just before he went down into the abyss he told them  "Fly, you fools!", use the eagles! he hoped they would understand his hint but they did not and still took the long and dangerous road to Mordor...

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malnonina In reply to Dkundzinsh [2015-08-04 08:34:37 +0000 UTC]

The eagles theory has been debunked several times over. Unless you have a Tolkien source for the idea, it remains an internet meme.

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Aunvilgod [2014-10-15 22:17:43 +0000 UTC]

Regarding the lining of the wings and the whip: Black would fit the best, the Balrog being a creature of shadow and flame. You could also try to give Gandalf white outlines as contrast.

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David-Michaels [2014-06-27 21:04:14 +0000 UTC]

Featured in portuguese blog Coisas da Interwebs. Have an awesome weekend. If you could please share this feature, I'd really appreciate it, as lots of hard work goes into finding and selecting all the awesome art and running the blog. Thanks!
www.coisasdainterwebs.com/2014…

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AbyssalDaemon [2014-02-23 07:15:54 +0000 UTC]

You've done a incredible job on all of these.

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rachaelm5 [2014-02-01 17:10:48 +0000 UTC]

Your stylization is absolutely magnificent.  This is definitely among my favorite representations of the Balrog scene that I have ever seen.

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HeroLoverFoolVillain [2014-01-06 20:06:17 +0000 UTC]

Awesome, my absolute favourite from all you galery tied up with " The Ring "


instant + fave 


P.S: Curious, that one of your most simple works can also be the best. But in my opinion it is, even though something that does make you great is detail.

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gbindis [2013-12-01 15:26:43 +0000 UTC]

This style reminds me of an old 'Samurai Jack' cartoon. I'm almost ashamed that I remember any cartoons

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sun-lily [2013-11-13 00:40:52 +0000 UTC]

I like this stained glass window style. The colors are beautiful.

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alkarindil [2013-11-08 07:19:01 +0000 UTC]

I liked the fixed hand! Now it is perfect.

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Keldain [2013-11-04 06:14:44 +0000 UTC]

Great piece!  Gandalf will always rock!

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AreusBookworm [2013-10-21 23:31:56 +0000 UTC]

...Gandalf is left handed?!

That was honestly my first reaction, immediately followed by "oh...so epic!"

Once again, amazing!

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alkarindil [2013-10-21 18:58:32 +0000 UTC]

Your picture is amazing! However. Pay close attention to the text: "He leaned on the staff in his **left** hand and held the sword Glamdring, gleaming cold and white, in his **right**".


The hands are inverted, mate.

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StoicJester [2013-10-15 05:03:13 +0000 UTC]

Minor gripe: in your blurb you say the staff is held in the left hand and the sword in the right, but you've illustrated it the opposite way.

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breath-art In reply to StoicJester [2013-10-15 05:30:45 +0000 UTC]

sweet~~~

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PurpleMango1 [2013-10-10 05:39:28 +0000 UTC]

Lovely work! Are you selling prints of this piece? This would make a great christmas present for my boyfriend, he loves The Lord of the Rings series.

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Wacky06 [2013-10-09 08:31:12 +0000 UTC]

I am reading it right now! This is such an amazing piece of art! I really love it!
I can totaly imagine this picture in an old book with magical and historical stories as an illustration... And when they read it to a child they can show tis pictur like:
- See? Gandalf was this badass!

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Barsine4k [2013-10-09 05:36:40 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful!

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0olong [2013-10-08 15:36:39 +0000 UTC]

Haha! I think this is my favourite Balrog ever.

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PistachioInfernal [2013-10-08 14:33:03 +0000 UTC]

I'm in love

Seriously, the detail, the grandeur, the colours, everything is PERFECT.

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digging-4-more [2013-10-08 03:30:44 +0000 UTC]

WHOAH!

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imhilien [2013-10-08 03:13:47 +0000 UTC]

Well done.

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WonderDookie [2013-10-07 18:26:42 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous! I really dig your style!

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ceadeus-slayer [2013-10-07 16:00:51 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely LOVE the stained glass design. 5/5

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