"Gandalf was thinking of a spring, nearly eighty years before, when Bilbo had run out of Bag End without a handkerchief. His hair was perhaps whiter than it had been then, and his beard and eyebrows were perhaps longer, and his face more lined with care and wisdom; but his eyes were as bright as ever, and he smoked and blew smoke-rings with the same vigour and delight." --J.R.R. Tolkien (p61, Chapter 2 Shadow of the Past, "The Fellowship of the Ring")
What I love about Gandalf's character, is his love for the Shire and Hobbits. He spent many years visiting the shire, had an affinity for the famous Longbottom Leaf, and was notorious for being a disturber of the peace by stirring up the more mischievous hobbits!
When I saw this painting, it had hobbity vibes so it felt natural to convert the cottages into comfortable hobbit homes. There was a woman standing barefoot by the creek... whom I transformed into Gandalf standing barefoot watching the geese. I liked to imagine that on some of his earlier visits, he spent many hours in the Shire, just enjoying a slower simpler pace of life... taking moments to himself, to just smoke his pipe and watch the geese.
This vintage painting was collected locally in Ontario, c1950, signed Páldeák. The painting was in good condition, with fine cracks as you would expect of a painting of that age. The wood frame has been painted white and is in sturdy condition.
"Birding Creeps Up On You"
altered painting by Heather Castles
61 x 91.5 cm (24 x 36 inch) painting on vintage canvas
approx 71 x 101 cm (30 x 42 inch) wood frame, white finish
