Oliphaunt

For the Inktober 2024 prompt "Exotic", but then I was suddenly struck with this idea of Oliphaunts as the most exotic creature to be seen in The Lord of the Rings. But not so much they themselves, but rather their conception in the cultural consciousness of the hobbits, represented by this rhyme recited by Sam.⁠

It is said by Tolkien to be a piece of traditional bestiary lore of the Shire-hobbits. And it is obviously modelled after medieval bestiaries, it took me down the rabbit hole of medieval manuscripts and illuminations and I tried to take inspiration from them for my picture.
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