The Assumption continued

Third sitting....a complete change of color and tone.  The figure now comes to the forefront.

I think I will call it a work. Artwork ©2012 John R. Howley.

Feast of the Assumption part 2

I took up my brush again, though I said I wouldn't after yesterday's posting.  Here is the painting with an hour more work to it.

The feast of the Assumption is at hand....

In a few days, we arrive at the Great Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I had no work to post in honor of this Queen, This wonder of God, This tower of Ivory.
So, I started to paint tonight thinking I might be able to add my voice. However, When I consider the great paintings of the past on this subject, done by such masters of the art form, I had to cease at the point shown in the image. Do I continue and perhaps pay poor tribute to such a sublime mystery? Perhaps I think to much, but with such a subject at hand, one must.

Oh, if only I had studied true art at a young age a hadn't fiddled around drawing silly pictures.

St. Francis Searching

Thinking on the early days of St. Francis during his conversion, and how he saw the world as naught but a fools paradise, I began this work. It is a piece still in progress and I am curious to see where it will go.

Regarding the story behind this. When Francis Bernadone was still in the wold, yet seeking God to show him what he was called to do, he often spent time praying in caves in the hillside above Assisi. He would take a trusted companion with him.  His pleadings and deep union with God in those dark recesses had a visible stamp on his being; he no longer was the fair looking and fun loving youth of his former days. His transformation at this stage required a full and utter letting go of his former ambitions to be ready for the call which would in due time come most miraculously.  This painting attempts to depict Francis Bernadone at that time.  Artwork ©2012 John R. Howley

Saint Clare of Assisi - Aug 11

My nephew Nathan and his wife 'Giusy' (Giuseppina)will have their marriage blessed by the Church on Aug.11, the feast of St. Clare of Assisi. It will take place in Italy where they are living now.  I've wanted to do a painting of St. Clare for some time and so here is the result. Artwork ©2012 John R. Howley.

Fairy drinking at a pond

Here is a new work of mine. It is of a Fairy taking a drink from a pond deep in the woods and away from the eyes of man. This gentle creature will move on shortly and join her clan as they move south for the winter. Artwork ©2012 John R. Howley.

The Boy Who Wasn't There.

One of the pages from a sketchbook back in 2002. A story that never materialized - about a boy who returns to the home of his childhood after years of being away. The Old house is abandoned and boarded up. Something draws his attention to the rear of the house. He looks into the yard and sees

a young girl standing before a gravestone. It is his childhood sweetheart.  He calls her but she doesn't hear. He goes over to her. She has tears in her eyes. He watches her awhile. She turns and walks right past him. He smiles at her and calls her name with no effect.  He looks at the gravestone to see who is buried there. His name is on it.

Court Lutenist

I painted this thinking about the Baroque era and how the arts were promoted by the courts of the time.One had to be a very fine artist to get a court appointment.

Story concept

I am always interested in the image and what story it can tell. The above image was a desire to do something with a graphic look, using a minimal palette to create a moment.  These exercises are fun, and being a story artist, I sometimes think that one could write a compelling story starting with an image. I suppose it is like a writer who could well write a story starting with a compelling sentence.

Recent painting

A recent painting entitled 'Woman at Prayer '.  I have always liked the stark look of the Spanish Baroque paintings of Francisco Zurbaran. Many of his works reflect the new Counter Reformation ideals of the Catholic arts to portray the sacred with the importance on the figure in the forefront.  His wonderful paintings of St. Francis of Assisi certainly show this mindset. All fluff and unnecessary background imagery is to be discarded if it does not support the figurative subject.  The paintings were to inspire devotion to the mysteries of the Sacred with little mind to the earthly environment which passes so quickly.

Feast of St. Paul the Apostle

Oldest know image of St. Paul the Apostle unearthed in Roman Catacombs. The Fresco is dated from the 4th Century. More here.

lyrical sketches

Solemnity of Mary

I had to post something in honor of the Great Mother of God on this, her feast day so I re-posted this painting I did of her: THE MORNING STAR

Nov. 25

The Coyote bush is in bloom scattering

it's whisps with each breeze.

A very nice planter designed by Linnea. She does

wonders with little succulent displays

Sunday Sculpture

A sandstone boulder rolled down our hillside garden and planted itself on our walkway. Linnea wanted us to move it back up into it's place. I had been wanting to do a stone carving to see what that was all about and here was the chance. After an hour of pounding on it, this is about all I could do. Linnea dug a hole in our garden for it and there it will sit until it......well,  rolls down again.

JOY

Joy.Exuberance.Happiness still exists in the homes and by ways of the world even if th Media gives it little attention.

This is a frame from some of my storyboard work.

ELECTRONIC MUSIC

In the past, I composed and performed some electronic/orchestral works which I think, as I look back, are of decent quality to post. Here are a few of them ; CLICK HERE..

When the web page comes up, the file must be downloaded - it is under 'attachments '.

Rework of Guardian

I don't know why I keep going back to this image and fooling with it. Something about it interests me - it certainly isn't the poor execution of it that I've done

Our Lady of America

A devotion known as Our Lady of America.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

I just could not let this day pass without honoring Saint Francis of Assisi in some way. What better way than to show a Franciscan!

The old Friar in the center is Fra Gerardo, a humble and happy little follower of the Poverello. We are in the garden of San Giovanni Rotondo (me on the right as a 3rd order postulant- another brother on the left whose name I have forgotten). Fra Gerardo's cell was next to mine. He had grown up with St. Padre Pio and lived with him for many years.  He always had a smile and a cheerful countenance with only good to say.  The picture was taken in 1974.