The concept of some little whimsical cottage hidden in some enchanted forest somewhere is one I often incorporate into my art. The inspiration for this particular painting is from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. In this book, the four hobbit travelers get lost in a dense unfriendly forest. When the trees turn against them and all hope seems lost, Tom Bombadil, Tolkien's most perplexing character appears on the scene. He is the Master of the Old Forest, and with a cheery, though rather nonsensical song, dispels darkness wherever he goes. After rescuing the hobbits from the dreaded Old Man Willow, he invites the hobbits to his home, to rest from their journey and gain new strength and purpose. This painting is what Tom Bombadil's peaceful cottage home looks like in my imagination.