iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

2026.10.9 Another SpongeBob character birthday I didn’t know about! Today is apparently Squidward’s birthday, so I got this illustration done quickly! Happy Birthday, Squidward!! 🎂🎉🥳 You are *NOT* a loser! #SquidwardTentacles #Art #イラスト

A colored illustration of Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob Squarepants. He is wearing his showman costume which was featured in the SpongeBob Musical. At the left is sideways text that reads: “2026.10.9 Happy Birthday Squidward!”

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#Tolkientober Day 7: Warmth I drew Bilbo relaxing while wrapped up in a warm blanket to remind myself to just chill and not to overthink things. It’s a very calming picture.

A colored illustration of Bilbo Baggins wrapped up in a maroon blanket.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

A Tolkien thought before #TolkienTrewsday ends in my part of the world: I’ve been thinking this ever since the MtG x Hobbit set was revealed, but I am quite fond of how Wizards of the Coast made Bilbo hot. Handsome fella.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I did another version where Bilbo has a single strand of white hair à la his MtG design. Personally not too fond of it; still trying to see if I can make it work for my own design.

A colored illustration of Bilbo Baggins turning invisible thanks to the One Ring. He is holding a ring of keys.

This is identical to the first illustration, except that Bilbo has a single strand of white hair.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#Tolkientober Day 2: Luck Bilbo the Luckwearer! I knew there was only one way to approach this prompt, and that was to redraw the Bilbo, Luckwearer card from the MtG x Hobbit set with my own Bilbo design!

A colored illustration of Bilbo Baggins turning invisible thanks to the One Ring. He is holding a ring of keys.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The 9 anime that shaped who I am, whether it be in terms of my personality, interests, outlook on life, or even my imagination! This was a very interesting exercise as I had to really think about which anime had a significant influence on me rather than my favorites (some of these are, though).

The 9 anime that shaped who I am. From left to right, up to down, the anime listed are: Young Black Jack, Detective Conan, Death Note, Hyouka, Oreimo, Gabriel Dropout, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo, and Golden Kamuy.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 188: Journey’s end “So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings!” Nothing new from me this week, so I’ll just be resharing these two illustrations I’ve drawn depicting the endings of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

A colored illustration of Hobbiton based on an illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien. At the foreground, Bilbo can be seen riding a pony.

A colored illustration of a white ship sailing to the West as the sun sets. Aboard are (from left to right) Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the White, Galadriel, Elrond, and Cirdan. Cirdan steers the ship.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

After successfully going through a week without buying a single MtG x Hobbit pack, I decided to treat myself to six of ‘em to coincide with The Hobbit’s 89th anniversary! Here’re some of the impressive cards I managed to pull!

Seven cards from the Magic the Gathering x Hobbit set. The cards are (from left to right, top to bottom): Bard, King of Dale; Belladonna Took; Wizard’s Staff; An Unexpected Party; Getaway Barrel; Beorn, Reluctant Host, Iron Hills Blacksmith.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

2026.9.21 Today is the 89th anniversary of The Hobbit’s publication! This year, I decided to do a book cover variant for the Bilbo, Thief in the Night card from the MtG x Hobbit set as I always thought it weird that Bilbo never got a book cover card. #Tolkien #TheHobbit #Art #イラスト #MTGxTheHobbit

A fanmade book cover variant for the Bilbo, Thief in the Night card from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set. It features an illustration of Bilbo Baggins holding a gold goblet drawn by me.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just finished: Umamusume Pretty Derby S1 I finally watched it after years of putting it off! I genuinely think that if I watched it back in 2018 or so, I’d still be absolutely obsessed with it just as I am now. It’s that good! 4.5/5⭐️

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 186: Dreaming Spires Some Oxford pictures I took during our London trip last December! There’s a mix of Tolkien and general Oxford stuff in here! Also, fun fact: after graduating, I intend to pursue further education in Oxford!

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

As of recently, the big Tolkien thing in my life right now is collecting cards from the new Magic the Gathering x Hobbit set! I’m having a lot of fun opening packs in the pursuit of cards either for their usefulness or just for their art! Here’re some of my recent pulls:

Four cards from a Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit collector booster pack.

Six cards from a Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit collector booster pack.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

And speaking of fanmade stuff, probably the most notable Tolkien thing I’ve done over the past five years was contribute some illustrations depicting the characters, settings, and scenes of Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Here’re a few favorites:

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

My Middle Earth collection meanwhile has grown from a worn hand-me-down trade paperback of The Hobbit. It includes Mini Epics figures, Japanese editions of Tolkien’s books, a replica of Sting, and even fanmade stuff like these recently acquired goodies from @mgcoco.bsky.social!

Mini Epics figures of (from left to right) Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee.

Japanese editions of The Hobbit (topmost), The Fellowship of the Ring (blue), The Two Towers (red), and The Return of the King (green).

Middle Earth prints and stickers made by MgCoco.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I also got to visit two must-go places for any Tolkien fan: the Hobbiton Movie Set and Oxford! Also, it may not be a particularly Tolkienesque site, but in Toledo Spain, I got to hold an incredible replica of Anduril, the sword of Aragorn!

A picture of me cosplaying as Bilbo Baggins in front of Bag End at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand.

A hand holds up cutouts of (from left to right) Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, Merry Brandybuck, Samwise Gamgee, and Pippin Took in front of a first edition, fourth printing of The Hobbit displayed in Oxford.

A picture of me holding a replica of Anduril while in Toledo, Spain.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I also got to watch a bunch of Middle Earth adaptations. Besides the ones pictured below, I also got to see both of Rankin Bass’ animated movies, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings, the anime film War of the Rohirrim, and even the Russian adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit!

A cutout of Frodo Baggins is held up a cinema screen showing Frodo Baggins played by Elijah Wood as featured in the end credits of The Return of the King (2003).

A scene from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) on a TV screen in an airplane. The scene shows Bilbo unsheathing Sting for the first time.

The last shot of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 (2024). The scene shows (from left to right) Arondir, Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Elrond standing heroically amidst a natural landscape.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

My journey through Tolkien’s works began with reading a hand-me-down copy of The Hobbit, and since then, my Tolkien book collection has grown, and I’ve read quite a bit of his Middle Earth works including The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo’s Last Song, and select sections of Unfinished Tales!

A worn trade paperback edition of The Hobbit stands next to a facsimile of the first edition of The Hobbit.

The Hobbit illustrated by Alan Lee (left) next to a single volume edition of The Lord of the Rings also illustrated by Alan Lee (right).

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 185: Tolkien’s fans Hullo! I’m Derek, and I am a fan of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien! 2026 actually marks my fifth year as a Tolkien fan, and though it’s relatively short compared to other folks in the fandom, my Middle Earth journey has been very fruitful!

A picture of me holding up the One Ring while dressed in a Bilbo Baggins-inspired outfit.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

2026.9.6 — #黒男の日「その名は『間黒男』。のちに『ブラック・ジャック』となる男だった。」 “His name is ‘Kuro Hazama,’ the man who would eventually become ‘Black Jack.’” #ヤングブラックジャック #YoungBlackJack #Art #イラスト

A colored illustration of Kuro Hazama from Young Black Jack standing in front of a black and white background. At his right is text that reads: 「その名は間黒男」and on his left is text that reads: 「のちにブラック・ジャックとなる男だった。」Altogether, it can be translated into English as: “His name is Kuro Hazama, the man would eventually become Black Jack.”

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

2026.9.5 ASCAさんお誕生日おめでとうございます！！🎂🎉🥳 今年の誕生日イラストは曲「私が笑う理由は」を基にしています。その服は描くのが難しけど、とても素敵です！これからも応援しています！いい年なりますように！ Before the day ends, a very happy birthday to the Japanese singer ASCA!! 🎂🎉🥳 Wishing her all the best! #ASCA #ASCA生誕祭2026 #ASCA誕生祭2026

A colored illustration of the singer ASCA. At the left is sideways text that reads: “2026.9.5 Happy Birthday ASCA!”

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The last few days have been pretty rough, and today has left me particularly tired, but I’ve decided to boost my morale for the rest of the week with my first ever Hobbit Collector Booster! The guy on the counter bid me “good luck,” so here’s hoping!

A hand holds up a Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit Collector Booster pack. The design features the dragon Smaug atop a mound of gold.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Okay, okay! Some decent pulls, all things considered; but I’m particularly happy with getting another Bilbo card and the Troop of Ponies card that’s part of the Goblin Town scene!

Five cards from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set. They are (from left to right, up to down): a Mirkwood Land card, a Hobbit Hole Land card, a ‘Smaug the Magnificent’ Card, the ‘Troop of Ponies’ scene card, and a ‘Bilbo, Luckwearer’ card.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Oh boy! Bought myself a Hobbit MtG play booster today; let’s see what cards I’ll manage to pull from this one!

A hand holds up a Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit play booster pack. The design features Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 184: Death Out of all the depictions of Boromir’s death, I have a particular soft spot for Ryuichi Terashima’s illustration from the Japanese edition of The Two Towers. Here, the fallen Boromir, redeemed and at peace, makes one final journey down the falls of Rauros.

Ryuichi Terashima’s black and white illustration for the chapter ‘The Departure of Boromir’ as featured in the first volume of the Japanese edition of The Two Towers. The illustration depicts the fallen Boromir with a peaceful expression lying down on a boat which is just about to sail down the Falls of Rauros.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Finally decided to frame two of the five postcards I bought from @mgcoco.bsky.social’s online shop, but the choice of the Rivendell painting and the portrait of Elrond and Arwen makes it look like I’m on Elrond’s desk. Looks like something he’d have framed…

Two Middle Earth postcards illustrated by MgCoco have been framed. The one on the left depicts Rivendell in a painted style, while the one on the right shows Elrond carrying a young Arwen.

Easter egg: At the far back, you can see a framed postcard of ReoNa.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 183 and Amon Hen Art Challenge Week 4: Stars and Silmarils You may not have noticed it (I certainly didn’t!) but Bilbo did in fact see the Valacirca constellation during his adventure with Thorin’s Company!

A colored illustration of an invisible Bilbo Baggins looking up and seeing the Valacirca amidst the starry night sky. He is on top of a raft made of barrels from the Woodland Realm.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Alright, who was gonna tell me that there’s a Magic the Gathering x SpongeBob set under the Secret Lair label?

A showcase of cards from the Magic the Gathering Secret Lair x SpongeBob Squarepants set.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

But of course, I think this is my absolute favorite thing from the whole box. Such stunning art of my favorite character!

A card from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set called “On An Adventure.” It features an illustration of Bilbo Baggins by artist Nia Kovalevski.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Other highlights from my pulls include members of Thorin’s Company (not too bad of a turnout!) and some cards with pretty art (including one with Thranduil!)

Cards from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set featuring members of Thorin’s Company.

Six cards from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I managed to pull some pretty solid cards from my MtG Hobbit prerelease box! #TheHobbit #MagictheGathering

Eight cards from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set. From left to right and up to down, these are: “Bothersome Noisemaker,” “Chief Warg’s Company,” “The Mountain-king’s Return,” “Crude Bent Blade“ (two of these), “Thranduil’s Company,” “Elrond Moon-Reader,” “Riddles in the Dark,” and “Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern.”

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Just finished opening up all the packs! I’ll definitely post some of my good pulls in the morning, but for now, look who came home!

The ‘Elrond, Moon-Reader’ card from the Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 182 and Amon Hen Art Challenge Week 3: Heraldry and Symbols “This is the Arkenstone of Thrain,” said Bilbo, “the Heart of the Mountain; and it is also the heart of Thorin.” It’s a movie thing, but I like how they made the Arkenstone a symbol for the King Under the Mountain.

A colored illustration featuring Bilbo Baggins holding the Arkenstone as well as three of the major players in the Battle of the Five Armies; namely Thranduil the Elvenking, Thorin Oakenshield, and Bard the Bowman.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

2026.8.17 Happy Birthday Patrick!! 🎂🎉🥳 Today’s apparently Patrick Day (as confirmed by both the Nickelodeon Japan’s socials and the 2014 SpongeBob Annual), so I ended up drawing something special for the big pink guy.

A colored illustration of Patrick Star from SpongeBob Squarepants. He is wearing a hawaiian/aloha shirt with the same design as his shorts. At the left is sideways text that reads: “2026.8.17 Happy Birthday Patrick!”

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

And if that wasn’t cool enough, look what I was able to buy earlier! It was a great day for the Middle Earth fan in me!

A Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit prerelease box.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY!! My order from @mgcoco.bsky.social’s store has finally arrived at long last, and I’m very happy with all the stuff I ordered (first pic) as well as the extra goodies she packed in (second pic)! Many thanks once again!

The Middle Earth postcards, stickers, and bookmark I ordered from MgCoco’s online shop.

Extra goodies I received along with my order from MgCoco’s online shop. These include an SDCC sticker featuring Elrond and Durin IV from TROP, a Cozy Bilbo sticker, an extra There and Back Again bookmark, and three glossy stickers of my Bilbo Baggins design in MgCoco’s style.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

They’re here. Many thanks to @nemupyoi.bsky.social and all the wonderful folks behind the UmaShop, especially @pikminpreggedup.bsky.social who designed these silly guys! #Umamusume #ウマ娘

A sticker sheet featuring shen toes’ Umanimals: Pibby Dooby designs.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 181 and Amon Hen Art Challenge Week 2: The Way of the Wild Bilbo and Gandalf meet Beorn and his animal friends.

A colored illustration depicting Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey meeting Beorn. Next to Beorn are two horses (one black and one white), a dog, and three large bees.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I think it’s about time I posted this to serve as a belated birthday illustration for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, whose birthdays were on January 6 and August 7 respectively. (Belated) Happy Birthday Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson!! 🎂🎉🥳 #SherlockHolmes #JohnWatson #Art #イラスト

A colored illustration of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Just finished watching The Ribbon Hero, the new Netflix anime film that loosely adapts Osamu Tezuka’s Princess Knight! I thought it was a lot of fun! It’s definitely flawed as both a film and as an adaptation, but it did have a lot of heart and respect for the original work, which I can appreciate.

The ending title card of The Ribbon Hero (リボンヒーロー)

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I always planned to learn using the LotR starter kit + gift bundle which I bought in New Zealand three years ago (also for the art), so there’s that! But I’d also love to learn it with a Hobbit deck too!

The contents of the Magic the Gathering x The Lord of the Rings gift bundle.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Look what I found today! I really wanted to get some cards but a) you can only do so by signing up for the prerelease event, and b) I still don’t know how to play MtG; I’m only really in it for the art. I suppose I can wait a little longer for the release proper…

A display of Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit play booster boxes and prerelease kits at Neutral Grounds Vertis North.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I finally got to redraw another Umamusume birthday illustration, and this time it’s the Japanese Superstar herself: Cesario! #Umamusume #ウマ娘 #Cesario #シーザリオ #Art #イラスト

A colored illustration of Cesario from Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 180 and Amon Hen Art Challenge Week 1: Hidden Realms Bilbo, Thorin, and the dwarves are waylaid by goblins and brought before the Great Goblin in Goblin Town, a settlement hidden within the Misty Mountains’ caverns.

A colored illustration depicting Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, and Dwalin being captured by the goblins of the Misty Mountains and brought before the Great Goblin in Goblin Town.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I’m really excited for the new Magic the Gathering x The Hobbit set, so I’m gonna challenge myself and make all of my art for these prompts based solely on The Hobbit. Might be a challenge (especially the last two) but I’ll think of something!

The details for the Amon Hen Art Challenge 2026, a collaboration between Amon Hen and the Tolkien Trewsday team.

Below are the prompts for the month of August:
- ‘Hidden Realms’ for the week of August 1-7
- ‘The Way of the Wild’ for the week of August 8-14
- ‘Heraldry and Symbols’ for the week of August 15-21
- ‘Stars and Silmarils’ for the week of August 22-28

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I’m still genuinely proud of my Bilbo portrait, and I think it’s definitely one of my favorite illustrations of the year. But it is funny to think that the cool-looking fella in the portrait is the same guy as this goofy goober right here:

A colored illustration of Bilbo Baggins holding Sting. This is the design of my personal Bilbo Baggins acrylic stand.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Today’s (apparently) the 72nd anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring’s publication! Here are some doodles of the Fellowship’s members to commemorate this wonderful occasion! #Tolkien #LotR #Art #イラスト

A sketchbook page featuring doodles of The Fellowship of the Ring. The characters shown are Frodo (Baggins), Sam (Gamgee), Merry (Brandybuck), Pippin (Took), Bill (the Pony), Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli.

Below the doodles are text that reads ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ and handwritten in a fanciful font, as well as the artist’s signature and personal doodle.

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Derek Barrantes @molluskshell.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

#TolkienTrewsday Week 179: Pity ‘Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need…’ Bilbo no longer saw Gollum as a monster, but rather a sad little creature who was all alone. And so, feeling pity for him, Bilbo has mercy on Gollum and spares his life.

A colored illustration depicting Bilbo’s escape from Gollum’s cave. Bilbo is invisible and looks at the crouched Gollum in front of him with pity. His sword Sting is lowered to the ground.

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