Alan Lee on illustrating the Folio limited edition of The Wanderer

Alan Lee is the most celebrated living illustrator of myth and fantasy: a recipient of the Kate Greenaway Medal; the Tolkien estate’s artist-of-choice for over 25 years; and an Oscar-winner for his conceptual work on Peter Jackson’s films of The Lord of the Rings. An artist steeped in myth, legend and folklore, his other-worldly images place him at the forefront of a tradition established by the Pre-Raphaelites, Rackham and Dulac.
Lee’s lavish illustrative scheme sets the poems for The Wanderer in a modern re-imagining of an illuminated manuscript. Detailed watercolours evoke their magic and their mystery, bringing key moments vividly to life. Intricate ink-drawn ornamental borders - where knot-work turns into writhing dragons and shattered twigs become the broken strings of a harp - mirror their themes of life and death, and the brokenness and integrity of the texts themselves. And witty visual puns, where a picture is simultaneously a pile of twisted branches, bones and hail; the outline of a chicken; and the solution to a riddle, spelled out in runes, reflect their complexity and their humour. Crowning this scheme is the stunning design that adorns the binding - a lightning-shattered evocation of the Sutton Hoo helmet that hints at the inspired, and inspiring, tales enclosed within this magnificent volume.
The Old English texts and their translations by Michael Alexander are set on facing pages for ease of reading. This stunning edition is quarter-bound in goatskin with blind and silver blocking on the spine and boards printed and blocked with a design by the artist. Each of the 750 copies are signed and numbered by Alan Lee.
The Folio Society produces beautifully crafted collector’s editions of the world’s greatest books, each with unique illustrations or specially researched photographs throughout. Find books you love at foliosociety.com
View this edition at www.foliosociety.com/wanderer

[@dougperry691]

He is a national treasure.

[@NoNeedJustFeed]

international* ;-)

[@romainvicta3076]

I Beg for a standard edition - Many people with lower budgets would buy i guarantee! - I NEED ALAN LEE IN MY LIFE!

[@MurrayEwing]

Love the Oscar statuette shoved on a shelf in the background...

[@tjc89]

Alan Lee has such a soothing voice

[@antonioemilio5179]

Alan Lee is a miracle. He simply take pictures of dreams.

[@mancal5829]

Alan Lee is simply the best.

[@drOffset]

This is the only video I've found of Mr Lee actually putting paint on paper. Thank you.

[@brucey5232]

yes. i wonder how long it takes him to paint one? also which is his favourite painting that he has made.

[@SamuraiiiJack]

that's true

[@oneworldfamily]

Yes, I've been searching UA-cam for a video of him drawing or painting too.

[@dougperry691]

Lord of the rings extras have some fleeting moments of him drawing and painting.

[@TheFelipega]

And it's sold out. Understand the FOMO created to sell a high value edition like this (and others by Folio as well of course, they are amazing), but the fact that only 750 people in all the world will be able to see the art in the book is just sad. Here's to the hope of being able to get me a more standard edition of this in the future.

[@1077jeremy]

I’m not sure if this man has the most peaceful soul on earth. But, just judging by the sound of his voice, I’d say yes.

[@HajiKang]

Alan, looking at your paintings as a kid is what inspired me to paint. I hope you keep on painting, you are amazing.

[@ajlomas7185]

What a great video, shame it wasn't longer, I could watch this magnificent artist drawing and creating all day, such a delight to see him at work, creating such beautiful and breathtaking art. Such an elegant subtlety in his amazing drawings and watercolours. I do hope more videos of his work get made, a dvd of him working would be amazing.

[@rob_ward]

I love this great artist, and find him infinitely interesting.

[@mrwakacorp]

I admire this man so much! Great artist and a true gentleman!

[@peachyedwards]

The ASMR in this is so REAL

[@colinlewis9155]

Asmr found.

[@Yaimiee]

His voice is so soothing! Makes me sleepy :)

[@allofuspilgrims]

Alan Lee is amazing! Our lives would somehow be different without him.

[@BookCravings]

I love his work... I wish there were a standard Folio Society copy of this book!

[@oneworldfamily]

How I wish that I could afford one of these copies.

[@oliverreno4734]

Please do a 2nd edition!

[@insurrbution]

Gods be praised...!

[@MchArt]

I need this edition! And thank you for this wonderful footage

[@sergiuscervinschi6211]

Such a marvelous talent !!! Such a sorrow that your icons are fading older by the time (((((

[@AmericanGuy7654]

This video is incredibly relaxing

[@Martichatte]

So relaxing 😌 😴

[@dougg1075]

Amazing artist

[@PhreakPhantom]

This video should've been 3 hours long

[@BeautifulBooks]

Wonderful interview with a brilliant artist about a stunning book, thank you!

[@lady00303]

I would love to be an understudy of Alan Lee.. he's work inspires me so much...

[@clone_enolc]

What was the intro/outro music?

[@MikeRendar84]

❤

[@madhusudana1143]

Can any one tell me about what is the drawing paper grade and pencil grade those artist use for drawing? please

[@patrickkihn]

It seems to me that he is at peace within himself.

[@RyonRykal]

When he says, that he worked 12 years in New Zealand on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, I am kind of jealous.

[@popnocturne7909]

Cool interview but why couldn't they show a wee bit more (by which I mean a LOT more) of this legend actually creating a drawing?

[@arnebenne]

I could have him illustrating me a house.

[@MrTekillaDrunk]

LOTR Original Trilogy: How Can We Honor Tolkien?
LOTR The Rings of Power: How Can We Ruin Tolkien?

[@HowardPLovecraft4ever]

Won't they sell it anymore? I checked on the web and it's out of stock.

[@TheFolioSociety]

Apologies Steve! This was a limited edition so we only ever made a certain amount of copies. Sadly they have all now sold out.

[@Mb_Drei]

@@TheFolioSociety Is there the possibility of an "unlimited" edition being printed at any point in the future? Or even just a place where the art commissioned to Mr. Lee can be seen?
It's criminal that so many great illustrations were only available in a single run of 750 copies...

[@stevemuzak8526]

Great book but the price is ridiculous.

[@josematos1695]

Stupid AI, inhuman machine, only now you figured that I love and adore this?!

[@a.h.s75]

I love illustration but I worry and afraid that I can’t be as good as others; I lost my motivation…

[@Martichatte]

So relaxing 😌 😴

[@madhusudana1143]

Can any one tell me about what is the drawing paper grade and pencil grade those artist use for drawing? please

[@patrickkihn]

The very best, I’ll warrant.

[@madhusudana1143]

Can any one tell me about what is the drawing paper grade and pencil grade those artist use for drawing? please

[@yixinsun8396]

I don't know either, and I also want to know what watercolour brand he uses...

[@edwardgaray9134]

I hope this helps. I still can't find information where he mentioned the brand of paper on which he draws, but he has mentioned that he draws on a fine-grained paper that normally has a size of 50x70 - 70x100 with a grammage of 180 g/m3, only for sheets large. As for the pencil he uses, in several videos he is seen using different ones, but of the same brand: 2B, 3B and 4B from Staedtler mars Lumograph. As for the watercolors in some photos of his work studio in his house, you can see what appears to be a tube of yellow watercolor from the Winsor & Newton brand and other tubes of fine watercolors in a tube of PWC. He obviously selects the best pigments to create a personal palette, that means he doesn't use one brand of watercolors for all of his work. And the paper seems to be fine-grained too, maybe Arches, Fabriano or Canson. With the difference that this must be yes or yes of 300 or 350 grammage, very thick really, so that the paper does not bend due to the humidity of the water.