"There was Eru, The One...

...who in Arda is called Iluvatar."

-The Silmarillion

I decided, after much consternation and procrastination...that I would finally attempt to depict the creator of all beings in Middle Earth, Eru Iluvatar.

He is, after all, the very first image we as readers are presented with in the telling of the Silmarillion. Albeit, how do you depict a formless god. There was never any description of Iluvatar in any of the writings that I am aware of.

I took my inspiration from the iconic depiction of the maia Sauron's flame wreathed eye.

It is told that Sauron actually did have a form pleasant to behold, or could take on a from that was more humanoid then the floating fiery eyeball he had been reduced to at the end of the Third Age and the events of The Lord Of The Rings.

The Valar and Maiar of Middle Earth may take on the forms of their choosing due to their angelic and spiritual natures...as well as at times discard these forms at will.

It seemed to me that this would hold true of Iluvatar as well.

If Sauron's eye was the embodiment of his most base form, and its depiction was twisted by his hate and malice...perhaps Iluvatar could also be depicted in much the same way...and due to his temperment as a being a benevolence could be depicted as an angelic, breathtaking and beautiful eye in opposition to Saurons tyrannical form.

Footnote:

After messing with the final image a little more on my cell phone...I came up with this more painted image.
I also added a little more photcollage elements to the piece...i may still mess with it some more but wanted to upload ot for your consideration....hope you like it