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WIP:Lords of Noldor: Findis
By aautio
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WORK IN PROGRESS: Findis, Daughter of Finwë
”[The name] Findis was made by combining the names of her parents. Little is said of her in The Silmarillion. She did not go into exile, but went with her mother after the slaying of Finwë and they abode among the Vanyar in grief until such time as it seemed good to Manwë to restore Finwë to life [ - if he ever did so..].”
-- J. R. R. Tolkien: The Shibboleth of Fëanor; The names of Finwë's descendants (HoME XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth)
Character Background
Findis was Finwë’s eldest daughter and second child, the first from his second marriage to Indis of the Vanyar. Of Finwë’s daughters Findis was the “good girl” - she was the image of her mother and shared her kind, gentle and patient demeanour. When the other children of Finwë went abroad rebelling and causing trouble, she stayed obediently at home with her mother.. and missed all the “fun” of course..
Design Concept
I picture Findis as very tall (6'3" / 191 cm) and golden-haired, like her Vanyarin mother and her youngest brother Finarfin. Like the Vanyar (at least the way I see them), she would wear very plain and simple, traditional white dress, a palla-type cloak, no large ornaments or jewellery, and walk barefoot. I wanted her to look very serene and calm.. and as chaste as a nun.
The heraldic design is by me; inspired by Tolkien’s heraldry for Finwë and =elegaer’s great design for Indis. The smaller design below her name is my idea for the emblem of the House of Finwë, based on Tolkien’s Finwë design.
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This is a WIP character sketch for my “Lords of the Ñoldor” project. It combines the scanned, not-yet-cleaned-up pencil lineart without shading or highlights, the current idea for the heraldic device(s) and the Tengwar inscription (I haven't decided yet whether I want to use the regular script or the cursive style, so I included both) to be used in the triptych. At some point I might finish it up as an individual character portrait but for now it’s just a WIP component.
Character drawn on regular copy paper, no references used. The original is quite small; she’s about 12 cm tall (that’s a bit under 5” for the measurement-impaired). I used a regular HB pencil that I try not to sharpen too much.. gives the line a nice thickness and more lively(=uneven) character. The size also keeps me from adding too many details, which would be lost anyway in the finished piece where the characters are fairly small.
The heraldic designs were drawn in AutoCAD, assembled in Photoshop.
It’s still WIP, so comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. are more than welcome!
WIP:Lords of Noldor: Triptych Layout
WIP:Lords of Noldor: Character Portraits
”[The name] Findis was made by combining the names of her parents. Little is said of her in The Silmarillion. She did not go into exile, but went with her mother after the slaying of Finwë and they abode among the Vanyar in grief until such time as it seemed good to Manwë to restore Finwë to life [ - if he ever did so..].”
-- J. R. R. Tolkien: The Shibboleth of Fëanor; The names of Finwë's descendants (HoME XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth)
Character Background
Findis was Finwë’s eldest daughter and second child, the first from his second marriage to Indis of the Vanyar. Of Finwë’s daughters Findis was the “good girl” - she was the image of her mother and shared her kind, gentle and patient demeanour. When the other children of Finwë went abroad rebelling and causing trouble, she stayed obediently at home with her mother.. and missed all the “fun” of course..
Design Concept
I picture Findis as very tall (6'3" / 191 cm) and golden-haired, like her Vanyarin mother and her youngest brother Finarfin. Like the Vanyar (at least the way I see them), she would wear very plain and simple, traditional white dress, a palla-type cloak, no large ornaments or jewellery, and walk barefoot. I wanted her to look very serene and calm.. and as chaste as a nun.
The heraldic design is by me; inspired by Tolkien’s heraldry for Finwë and =elegaer’s great design for Indis. The smaller design below her name is my idea for the emblem of the House of Finwë, based on Tolkien’s Finwë design.
---
This is a WIP character sketch for my “Lords of the Ñoldor” project. It combines the scanned, not-yet-cleaned-up pencil lineart without shading or highlights, the current idea for the heraldic device(s) and the Tengwar inscription (I haven't decided yet whether I want to use the regular script or the cursive style, so I included both) to be used in the triptych. At some point I might finish it up as an individual character portrait but for now it’s just a WIP component.
Character drawn on regular copy paper, no references used. The original is quite small; she’s about 12 cm tall (that’s a bit under 5” for the measurement-impaired). I used a regular HB pencil that I try not to sharpen too much.. gives the line a nice thickness and more lively(=uneven) character. The size also keeps me from adding too many details, which would be lost anyway in the finished piece where the characters are fairly small.
The heraldic designs were drawn in AutoCAD, assembled in Photoshop.
It’s still WIP, so comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. are more than welcome!
WIP:Lords of Noldor: Triptych Layout
WIP:Lords of Noldor: Character Portraits
Image details
Image size
400x800px 138.47 KB
Published:
© 2007 - 2021 aautio
Comments52
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You always manage to capture more in a drawing than it initially looks like. When I look at Findis here and the way she stands there: she will always carry the grief and pain with her. This is a great job!
Thank you! 
I love the way you clothed her as I see Vanyar being very oriental folks and here her dress reminds me of combination of sari and some ancient dress, perfect combination of Noldorin and Vanyarin style. And the bare feet, fantastic idea
It's warm in my Valimar and people walk barefoot in Egyptian/Oriental clothes (or without them), while in Tirion they dress heavier in long robes with layers etc. I guess weather in my Valinor depends more on wishes of it's inhabitants than logic
BTW, I'm learning a lot details more about the characters by reading your descriptions, like for example that Indis was a musician, I skipped that info somehow in books (or never red that essay), very interesting and fitting to my vision of her.
You are great source of inspiration and knowledge, I keep my fingers crossed for this amazing project
It's warm in my Valimar and people walk barefoot in Egyptian/Oriental clothes (or without them), while in Tirion they dress heavier in long robes with layers etc. I guess weather in my Valinor depends more on wishes of it's inhabitants than logic
BTW, I'm learning a lot details more about the characters by reading your descriptions, like for example that Indis was a musician, I skipped that info somehow in books (or never red that essay), very interesting and fitting to my vision of her.
You are great source of inspiration and knowledge, I keep my fingers crossed for this amazing project
Thank you, my friend!
I try to read all the material on any given character/event before making my decisions.. and i draw inspiration from various sources.
I try to read all the material on any given character/event before making my decisions.. and i draw inspiration from various sources.
I absoloutely adore this one..she seems quite other-worldly-though i DO think her nose could have been more..grecian i suppose.
But i absoloutely adore this don't get me wrong
Keep drawing ok? ok.
But i absoloutely adore this don't get me wrong
Keep drawing ok? ok.
Thanks a lot! 
But.. what do you mean by a Grecian nose.. a huge beak-like windsplitter?
But.. what do you mean by a Grecian nose.. a huge beak-like windsplitter?
No-i'mn thinking of the wrong term....staighter and long, it look button-y right now...sorry abotu swamping you with my mindless drivel btw
Ok, got it.
I'm being totally unreasonsable (as usual) aren't I? 
nah.. I like hearing people's opinions.
yay! So i can keep bugging you?
Sure, I don't mind..View all replies
WOO! Someone else who believes in the lost kindred of the house of Finwë! Ah I can't wait till you draw the others! Draw Finrun! He's my fave! Heh when I told my fellow Feanorian-fanatic friends about the lost sons (and daughters) they snorted and scorned me and said it was probably just someones fan-fiction creation, but I knew it was actually written somewhere!
It's definitely written somewhere! I chose to draw the descendants of Finwë as JRRT had presented them in The Shibboleth of Fëanor (HoME XII), since that's pretty much his last word on the subject and that also seemed the most interesting and logical option for several reasons.. that's the same source where the information of the Fëanorians' hair colours and the legend of the fate of Amrod come from, for example.
The only real changes to the 1977 Silmarillion are the addition of Findis, Lalwen (daughters of Finwë ) and Argon (son of Fingolfin), and the relegation of Orodreth to the third generation (-->son of Angrod instead of Finarfin).
I chose to draw the descendants of Finwë as JRRT had presented them in The Shibboleth of Fëanor (HoME XII), since that's pretty much his last word on the subject and that also seemed the most interesting and logical option for several reasons.. that's the same source where the information of the Fëanorians' hair colours and the legend of the fate of Amrod come from, for example.The only real changes to the 1977 Silmarillion are the addition of Findis, Lalwen (daughters of Finwë ) and Argon (son of Fingolfin), and the relegation of Orodreth to the third generation (-->son of Angrod instead of Finarfin).
So Finrun doesn't exist then? I read on a wikipedia article that the daughters were Findis and Finvain and that there was another son known as Finrun who was actually younger than Finarfin and born some years after the whole Silmaril business (its possible I suppose) And I never heard the Orodreth thing. But I did read that he had two sons Orodlin and Hal......something......I forget his name. And they were the brothers of Finduilas. Eh well JRRT changed his mind so bloody mind no wonder the genetics are all confused.
Well, let’s say he doesn’t exist in “My Canon..” But that doesn't mean he never existed – Tolkien made many genealogies and wrote many contradictory notes, so we are all free to take our pick..
Finrún Felageómor is an Old English name that Tolkien gave to Finwë's fourth son (who doesn't appear anywhere else) in a genealogical table that was part of The Quenta from 1930 (see HoME IV). That's the same table that gives Ordred(Orodreth) the two sons, Ordhelm and Ordláf – but all these names are Old English 'translations,' not any actual Elvish language. Another table connected with the Earliest Annals of Beleriand from the 1930s gives Orodreth the sons Halmir>>Haldir and Orodlin (HoME V). In any case, that's old stuff.. the whole genealogy (and many other fundamental aspects of the stories) went through several major upheavals after that.
Names given for Finwë's daughters are among others Findis, Finvain, Faniel, Irimë, Írien, Lalwen in the many variations of the genealogies. Some tables give three of them, but the final word in Shibboleth (HoME XII) is two: Findis and Írien Lalwen(dë ).
The whole Orodreth deal (as well as Gil-galad, since they're kind of interconnected) is a lot more confusing and went through many changes.. I'm not sure if I want to go through all the details..
But that doesn't mean he never existed – Tolkien made many genealogies and wrote many contradictory notes, so we are all free to take our pick.. Finrún Felageómor is an Old English name that Tolkien gave to Finwë's fourth son (who doesn't appear anywhere else) in a genealogical table that was part of The Quenta from 1930 (see HoME IV). That's the same table that gives Ordred(Orodreth) the two sons, Ordhelm and Ordláf – but all these names are Old English 'translations,' not any actual Elvish language. Another table connected with the Earliest Annals of Beleriand from the 1930s gives Orodreth the sons Halmir>>Haldir and Orodlin (HoME V). In any case, that's old stuff.. the whole genealogy (and many other fundamental aspects of the stories) went through several major upheavals after that.
Names given for Finwë's daughters are among others Findis, Finvain, Faniel, Irimë, Írien, Lalwen in the many variations of the genealogies. Some tables give three of them, but the final word in Shibboleth (HoME XII) is two: Findis and Írien Lalwen(dë ).
The whole Orodreth deal (as well as Gil-galad, since they're kind of interconnected) is a lot more confusing and went through many changes.. I'm not sure if I want to go through all the details..
I always assumed Finrun was a Sindarinization of the usual Finda/Findë beginning plus Runya 'red flame'. I guess thats me told 
You see? That is what I was taking about - you are walking canon info I don't have HoME IV and agree that The Shibboleth is the most valid information on that. I even drew Argon, but never finished. (as the rest, I'm working again on Finwë right now).
I really wish Argon was included in the Silmarillion. I am not sure if that was a fan fic, someone's idea on boards or I've red it somewhere - can't find that now - but I remeber that he did something similar to Fëanor and chased orc attacking the host of Fingolfin in Losgar longer than others, like he didn't want orcs to flee and when he chased them alone they surrounded him and killed. But maybe it's some fiction for this info is nowhere in the Shibboleth.
I don't have HoME IV and agree that The Shibboleth is the most valid information on that. I even drew Argon, but never finished. (as the rest, I'm working again on Finwë right now). I really wish Argon was included in the Silmarillion. I am not sure if that was a fan fic, someone's idea on boards or I've red it somewhere - can't find that now - but I remeber that he did something similar to Fëanor and chased orc attacking the host of Fingolfin in Losgar longer than others, like he didn't want orcs to flee and when he chased them alone they surrounded him and killed. But maybe it's some fiction for this info is nowhere in the Shibboleth.
No, it's not fan fiction, it's from the author's notes to the addendum of the Shibboleth. 
His story seems to have evolved only while writing the genealogies and is not found anywhere else (Tolkien seems to have contemplated first that he would die in the Kinslaying, then that he perished in the ice, before coming up with the 'Battle of Lammoth' ). I don't have the book here, so I can't write the quote, but basically the orcs attacked the host unawares and Arakáno made a fierce counter-charge, cleaving through the orcs and striking down their captain. Then he was surrounded and slain, but the disheartened orcs fled the field.
The Sindarized name Argon became popular among the exiles later on, and they gave the name to their children to honour Arakáno's noble sacrifice, but he was himself never actually known by this name, since he died before the names were translated and Sindarin was adopted as an everyday language.
His story seems to have evolved only while writing the genealogies and is not found anywhere else (Tolkien seems to have contemplated first that he would die in the Kinslaying, then that he perished in the ice, before coming up with the 'Battle of Lammoth' ). I don't have the book here, so I can't write the quote, but basically the orcs attacked the host unawares and Arakáno made a fierce counter-charge, cleaving through the orcs and striking down their captain. Then he was surrounded and slain, but the disheartened orcs fled the field. The Sindarized name Argon became popular among the exiles later on, and they gave the name to their children to honour Arakáno's noble sacrifice, but he was himself never actually known by this name, since he died before the names were translated and Sindarin was adopted as an everyday language.
Yes, that's just the excerpt. There is a note number somewhere on those lines, and if you look it up at the end of the chapter you'll find the short description of the battle in it.
Then this is truth, great! Maybe it was in Vinyar Tengwar then, there an appendix to the Shibboleth of Fëanor has been issued.
My Arakáno - I prefer Quenya name - is here, but it's experiment with symmetrical image which caused some unpleasant conversation with someone who judges without reading descriptions and I lost heart to it, but I should finish it one day since I really like that face and the whole idea: [link] I'm trying to give him Greek clothes here as he pays visit to Vanyar.
My Arakáno - I prefer Quenya name - is here, but it's experiment with symmetrical image which caused some unpleasant conversation with someone who judges without reading descriptions and I lost heart to it, but I should finish it one day since I really like that face and the whole idea: [link] I'm trying to give him Greek clothes here as he pays visit to Vanyar.
![[link]](http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7948/arakano4ks4.jpg){kind=link}
Interesting to see your take on him.. he looks fittingly strong. You are quite right to use the Q. name as it was what he actually was called, but I usually use the (technically incorrect) 'Argon' when referring to him, because all the other names are commonly used in their Sindarin form as well, and it just feels linguistically wrong to me to use one name in another language in the same context. (like giving a list of Biblical names in English but leaving one in its Latin form.. Does that make sense?)
The triptych project is of the Finwëans in Aman, so in it all names and inscriptions will be in quenya, naturally.
The triptych project is of the Finwëans in Aman, so in it all names and inscriptions will be in quenya, naturally.
Wonderful! 
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