John Howe writes: It seems like ages ago that the original of Gandalf the Grey was stolen from an exhibition. I’ve often been asked if I could paint it again, but you can only go once to places like that. However, Gandalf is on his way back. Several months ago I saw a most exquisite one-third scale figure of a pirate who looked like he had just boarded an enemy ship and was really looking forward to business at hand. Not only was the detailing astounding, but the movement and personality were incredibly well captured. The artist sculptor Oscar Nilsson does accept crazy commissions, so while I may never get the Gandalf painting back, I’ll have something perhaps even better. [More]