iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I have finished the line art for my illustration of Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire from Chapter 6 of The Hobbit. So many things happen in this scene at once. I also loved writing the names of the characters in runes. ⁠ Which details caught your attention the most.? ⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

ack to illustrating chapters from The Hobbit! I got a little stuck with them, but it's high time to get back to it. Let's draw fifteen birds on five fir trees! (Well, they weren't all fir trees, but the goblins obviously didn't care).⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

17 January - The Fellowship of the Ring are led through Lothlórien and reach Cerin Amroth. 🌳⁠ ⁠ "I feel as if I was inside a song." Sam’s words perfectly capture the essence of Lothlórien. ⁠ This scene has always been one of my favourites in The Lord of the Rings. What do you think of my depiction?

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

On this day in Middle-earth 📅 On 13 January the Fellowship of the Ring reach the West-gate of Moria.⁠ ⁠ The Doors of Durin are among the most iconic images in Tolkien’s world and I really enjoyed drawing them opening "Absurdly simple, like most riddles when you see the answer."

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Winter Hobbit Door (2023). ❄️ A hobbit hole door in a beautiful snowy winter, decorated for Yule. 🎄

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

I’ve started a Substack: Visions of Middle‑earth. A home for my longer dives into Tolkien’s world: the research behind my art, the symbolism, and the curious questions that arise when you look too closely at the texts. You’re welcome to read and subscribe: 👉 matejcadil.substack.com 👈

matejcadil.substack.com

Visions of Middle-earth | Matěj Čadil | Substack

Exploring Tolkien’s world through art. Click to read Visions of Middle-earth, by Matěj Čadil, a Substack publication. Launched 14 days ago.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

"Mr. Bilbo has learned him his letters – meaning no harm, mark you, and I hope no harm will come of it. ‘Elves and Dragons’ I says to him. ‘Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don’t go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you’ll land in trouble too big for you,’"

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Before the Stones of Orthanc and Minas Tirith, another palantír lay hidden in Middle‑earth: the Elendil Stone of Elostirion. Unlike the others, it gazed westward, revealing visions of the Undying Lands. Until Círdan placed it aboard Elrond’s ship at the end of the Third Age. #tolkienart

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Do you remember this moment from the Lord of the Rings when Gandalf "risks a little real light" and the Fellowship suddenly becomes aware of the vastness and forgotten beauty of Khazad-dûm? I really enjoyed depicting the vast hall in the background. I think the white-on-black works well for it.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

The Forbidden Pool (2022). A dangerous spot to go fishing, although Gollum seems to be enjoying it. But someone may be watching him... 👀⁠ ⁠ Henneth Annûn has always been one of favourite locations in the Lord of the Rings. ⁠ Does my illustration look similar to how you imagined this place?⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

"Mr. Bilbo has learned him his letters – meaning no harm, mark you, and I hope no harm will come of it." ⁠ Line art, but I am going to make a fully coloured illustration. What do you think of it so far?

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

The Doors of Durin are among the most iconic images in Tolkien’s world. There are many illustrations where they are shown closed, but I wanted to capture a different moment: when the riddle is solved and the doors open.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

How do you imagine the Crown of Gondor? 👑 In the book it is described beautifully, a jewelled silver helm with pearl wings. But it's difficult to actually depict. No wonder there are few illustrations and the film depicted it totally differently.⁠ So, obviously, I had to try it myself. 😁

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

A little comparison of my two illustrations, which capture scenes just moments apart from Chapter 5 of the Hobbit: "There is a Shadow by the Door" and "Buttons on the Doorstep".

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Ever wondered what it feels like to light a fire in the heart of Mirkwood? 🔥👁️🦇🕷️🕸️

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

After months of sketching, planning, and layering colour, I’m thrilled to share my finished illustration for Chapter 5 of The Hobbit – “Riddles in the Dark”.⁠ ⁠ What do you think of how this illustration turned out?⁠ #tolkienart #thehobbit #tolkien

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Today’s piece (for Inktober 2025 Day 22 prompt "Button") is a moment from The Hobbit, just after Bilbo’s escape from the goblin tunnels. On the rocky doorstep lie the remnants of his struggle: the shiny brass buttons that burst off as he squeezed through the door.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

For the Inktober prompt "Arctic", I was inspired by a passage from the Appendix to the Lord of the Rings, about Arvedui the last king of Arnor, who escaped from the fall of Fornost to the far north to the shore of the Ice bay of Forochel and waited for the rescue by the elven mariners of Círdan.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

The Tower Hall of Minas Tirith, based on the passage when Pippin and Gandalf first come to Denethor. What do you think, is it fitting for the Inktober 2025 prompt "Ornate"? #inktober2025ornate #tolkienart

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

What began as a small bookmark has grown into one of my most beloved works. The Road Goes Ever On, based on Bilbo’s walking song, showing the Road as a river flowing through Middle-earth. Prints and bookmarks: matejcadil.etsy.com/listing/1449... #TolkienArt #Tolkien #MiddleEarth

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

“In western lands beneath the Sun…” Sam’s song carries hope through shadow. My illustration captures that moment — light remembered in dark places. 🖼️ Hand-embellished art prints here: matejcadil.etsy.com/listing/1302...

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

For the #Inktober2025 prompt "Drink" I chose one scene where a drink has a profound impact on the plot: The butler and the chief guard of the Elvenking's halls in The Hobbit share a drink together, which allows Bilbo to rescue his friends from the jail. #inktober2025drink #tolkienart

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

For the #Inktober prompt "Sting" (I know, late), I couldn't draw anything else but a certain little sword that served Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

At last I managed to draw something for this year's Inktober. 😅 More because I finally found some time to draw, than because I was especially keen on this prompt "Heavy", for which I finished it too late anyway. 😄

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

There is a Shadow by the Door (2023) ⁠ The awful moment when Bilbo is stuck in the door out of the goblin-tunnels – invisible himself, but his shadow has just been spotted by the goblins.⁠ What do you think of my depiction of that moment?

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Finished line art for my new illustration of "Riddles in the Dark".⁠ ⁠ Bilbo sits on the dark shore of the lake, while Gollum lurks in his little boat. Around them, circular vignettes show the riddles, with the text, hand-drawn into curved decorative bands.⁠ ⁠ What do you think of it so far?

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The King's Tree that I finished a few days ago was not my first illustration inspired by Tolkien's story Smith of Wotton Major. I made one illustration titled "In Faery" in 2022.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The King's Tree from Tolkien’s short story "Smith of Wootton Major", made for the last prompt of the Amon Hen art challenge “Tales from other realms”. I love to illustrate these lesser known stories by Tolkien.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Work in progress: Next Hobbit chapter illustration, Riddles in the Dark. At the centre will be Bilbo and Gollum in their fateful riddle-game, while around them I’m drawing ten small vignettes, each one showing a riddle.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

On the slopes of Mount Doom, the Ring destroyed, the quest has been achieved, but it seems that all is over for Frodo and Sam. Frodo, who has long held on with endurance beyond hope, is resigned that this is "the end of all things", whereas Sam, with unquenchable hope, doesn't want to give up yet.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

HUMAN artists, use only one piece to convince people to follow you

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

For the last prompt of the #amonhen Art Challenge "Tales from Other Realms" I decided to draw the King's Tree from Tolkien's short story Smith of Wootton Major. It's still a work in progress, I need to work on the background, but I hope to finish it while listening to some talks of Oxonmoot online.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Over Hill and Under Hill – the next illustration in my series based on the chapters of The Hobbit. Unlike the previous ones, it is not divided into panels but flows as one continuous cross-section of the Misty Mountains, showing scenes, as the chapter title suggest, both over hill and under hill.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

The Grey Wanderer for #AmonHen and #TolkienTrewsday Art Challenge "Wandering but not lost". 🧙‍♂️⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

There’s nothing quite like good old plein-air sketching. TBH I can’t even remember the last time I drew or painted outside. Last week we visited the castle of Červená Lhota. I sat down on a bench by the pond across from the castle, I only had a pencil with me, but I am quite happy with the result.

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Elanor flower for #TolkienTrewsday and #AmonHen Art Challenge: Flora & Fauna Based on Tolkien's description in Letter 312: "a pimpernel (perhaps a little enlarged) growing sun-golden flowers and star-silver ones on the same plant, and sometimes the two combined."

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

For this week of Amon Hen August Art Challenge (theme “Beasts”), I sketched one of the fearsome flying mounts of the Nazgûl known as fell beasts, exploring what could they look like based on actual pterosaurs more closely than what we usually see in Tolkien art. #amonhen #tolkienart

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! I had the honour of designing the official t-shirt for Oxonmoot 2025 – the annual gathering of #Tolkien fans hosted by @tolkiensociety.org in Oxford.⁠

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Matěj Čadil @matejcadil.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Hello Bluesky! 🌿 I’m Matěj, a Czech artist and illustrator with a deep love for Tolkien’s world and other realms of myth and fantasy. I'd like to share here my work, from intricate line art to richly coloured scenes inspired by Middle-earth and beyond.

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