Our next
featured artist is Ebe Kastein, a native of Tallinn in Estonia. Ebe's
favorite medium is watercolor blended with inks. She is
recognized for her character artwork based on Michael Praed, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Wincott,
Johnny Depp,
the cast of 'Lord of the Rings', and portraits of her friends. Ebe's
extensive 'Lord of the Rings' artwork can be found at
www.warofthering.net.
If you
would like to commission work, please click
to discuss
it with her via e-mail.
I studied art until
the end of the high school, but decided to major in English at
the university. During the last few years I have mostly
translated and done art commissions.
What drew you to
Michael in the first place?
It was the stunning
combination of his physical beauty, charisma and idealism that
won my heart, when I saw him in the first episode of 'Robin of
Sherwood'. Despite his youth, it seems only natural that Michael
Praed's Robin could become the leader of his small group, and
the same enchantment that seems to fall upon his followers
affects most of the people who see him in the series.
What quality
or qualities does he convey?
Speaking of his role
as Robin, he manages to leave the impression of a person who
possesses a wisdom that is beyond his years -- he manages to
seem so young, eager and idealistic in one moment and as an
ancient mystic with the ability to see the future in the next. I
am still impressed with the way he managed to bring out both of
these aspects so naturally.
Have you used him
more than once? (Obviously you have!) If so, why?
Yes, probably
because I still carry that sense of enchantment with me, and
wish to convey in my works at least a fraction of the admiration
I have for him. Also, whenever I have tried to imagine the face
of a model that could be used for depicting one of Tolkien's
elves, his is the first one that comes to my mind, as there are
very few human beings of such perfect beauty and powerful
presence.
Were they representing different characters?
Yes, I first gave
Robin's face to a few illustrations of an original LOTR
character called Teniel (Legolas' brother, Thranduil's youngest child), but let
him appear later as the twin sons of Lord Elrond (Elladan and Elrohir).
