{"id":487964,"date":"2026-05-16T16:35:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/487964\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T16:35:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:35:18","slug":"this-artist-captures-j-r-r-tolkiens-hobbits-and-elves-in-a-magical-new-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/487964\/","title":{"rendered":"This artist captures J.R.R. Tolkien&#8217;s hobbits and elves in a magical new light"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-7ed09d6b-f5b2-417f-9c9d-c65f235c75e2\">Nia Kovalevski is an illustrator based in Germany who focuses on character and story-driven imaginative realism. With an academic background in graphic design, German studies, and psychology, she now works mainly in games and publishing, such as Magic the Gathering, Brotherwise Games and Fantasy Flight Games.<\/p>\n<p>Here are four examples of her craft. She does much of her digital painting in <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/tag\/photoshop\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/tag\/photoshop\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/tag\/photoshop\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Photoshop<\/a> (see our guide to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best digital art software<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-cf83769c-6a2c-4abd-849a-9293d8a61d74\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>Mark of Elokoss<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:81.81%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3uCQkLSmTkC8d3Z5h4jjtH.jpg\" alt=\"Digital art with a painterly look\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3uCQkLSmTkC8d3Z5h4jjtH.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3uCQkLSmTkC8d3Z5h4jjtH.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3uCQkLSmTkC8d3Z5h4jjtH.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3uCQkLSmTkC8d3Z5h4jjtH.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Nia Kovalevski)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-27617785-578c-44cb-80ce-d0d852c50905\">This was a piece created for Fantasy Flight Games. \u201cI enjoyed playing with dramatic light, vintage fashion, and a darker mood here. I wanted the character to feel mysterious and rooted in the story,\u201d Nia says.<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p>    <a id=\"elk-7e71b57c-1499-4a99-b219-9229c663e041\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>Keen Eye<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:82.54%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DFGe9RpPBrjQ7csQP4Gr3J.jpg\" alt=\"Digital art with a painterly look\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DFGe9RpPBrjQ7csQP4Gr3J.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DFGe9RpPBrjQ7csQP4Gr3J.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DFGe9RpPBrjQ7csQP4Gr3J.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DFGe9RpPBrjQ7csQP4Gr3J.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Nia Kovalevski)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-a0ddc431-3d6b-4bf4-9022-111d5c02b47e\">This was a personal piece inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-57a8af43-9fc5-42b0-bb4b-ee593ba1a4b6\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>Merry and Pippin <\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:59.18%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RpfMpK89aeRF3dKmME2hpK.jpg\" alt=\"Digital art with a painterly look\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RpfMpK89aeRF3dKmME2hpK.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RpfMpK89aeRF3dKmME2hpK.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RpfMpK89aeRF3dKmME2hpK.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RpfMpK89aeRF3dKmME2hpK.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Nia Kovalevski)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c6d373ce-9bbe-4a6a-9b4f-67131d89e20f\">Another personal piece, this time depicting the two mischievous Hobbits from the Fellowship.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-ad6abd64-fc45-4106-b56b-41c68242af61\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>Little Red Riding Hood <\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:139.93%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/o2sRBbZSTSJq4nhJGz4eQG.jpg\" alt=\"Digital art with a painterly look\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/o2sRBbZSTSJq4nhJGz4eQG.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/o2sRBbZSTSJq4nhJGz4eQG.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/o2sRBbZSTSJq4nhJGz4eQG.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/o2sRBbZSTSJq4nhJGz4eQG.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Nia Kovalevski)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-f94cb30c-1c86-4324-b90e-0edca590ff5c\">This piece is from a personal concept project putting the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale in a noir fantasy-horror setting.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-f94cb30c-1c86-4324-b90e-0edca590ff5c-1\">You can see more of Nia\u2019s work on her <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/niakovalevski.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/niakovalevski.com\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up to Creative Bloq&#8217;s daily newsletter, which brings you the latest news and inspiration from the worlds of art, design and technology.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-42a90b70-06d2-415a-8fe0-d090e1b9bc9d\">This article originally appeared in ImagineFX.<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=2961&amp;awinaffid=103504&amp;clickref=cbq-gb-1125834900022594786&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazinesdirect.com%2Faz-magazines%2F6936559%2Fimaginefx-magazine-subscription.thtml\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=2961&amp;awinaffid=103504&amp;clickref=cbq-gb-1125834900022594786&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazinesdirect.com%2Faz-magazines%2F6936559%2Fimaginefx-magazine-subscription.thtml\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> Subscribe to ImagineFX<\/a> to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-3c2d0a79-c991-4edd-a7d0-9b7764440231\">Creative Bloq is now easier to access than ever before with our on-the-go app, which brings you all the content you know and love from our website, but in a super-streamlined design.<br \/><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=92X1519156&amp;xcust=cbq_gb_3147999370364337009&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fapp%2Fcreative-bloq-art-design%2Fid6755108630&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.creativebloq.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=92X1519156&amp;xcust=cbq_gb_9134919546779530600&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fapp%2Fcreative-bloq-art-design%2Fid6755108630&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.creativebloq.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"sponsored noopener nofollow\" data-hl-processed=\"skimlinks\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\" data-placeholder-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=92X1519156&amp;xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fapp%2Fcreative-bloq-art-design%2Fid6755108630&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.creativebloq.com\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\"><strong>Download the Creative Bloq app for iOS<\/strong><\/a><br \/><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.futureplc.peregrine.creativebloq\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.futureplc.peregrine.creativebloq\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Download the Creative Bloq app for Android<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c0daff2e-83c7-4e37-a1db-ac9dc2ed5da1\">Inspired? See below for deals on drawing tablets that we&#8217;ve reviewed, or see our guide to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best drawing tablets<\/a> for help choosing.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-collectionwidget-32f777d65cf1055e4a9547e2b323ce0b\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nia Kovalevski is an illustrator based in Germany who focuses on character and story-driven imaginative realism. With an&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":487965,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[267],"tags":[365,362,363,364,366,18,117,19,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-487964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-artsdesign","12":"tag-design","13":"tag-eire","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-ie","16":"tag-ireland"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116585229609460378","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}