Been making a Bow....

Since I got into archery (target shooting -no hunting) I got curious about building a bow. So I bought a piece of maple at the lumberyard and shaped it to plans I saw on the internet. Here it is on the tillering stick ( a stick with groves ever so many inches) where you check the 'tiller' ( the bend) or the arms. They should be equal on both sides, which can be a real process of scraping, and sanding just a little here and there and checking constantly. The handle and tip overlays are made of walnut.

Here is the finished bow handle wrapped with leather. I  painted a few simple lines around it for decoration. I chose to make it with no arrow shelf cut into it - I cut a piece of brown leather and glued it  just above the handle.

There are flaws in it as it was my first bow. The biggest one is I goofed on the measurements and tapered the belly of it down to 1/4 in" at the tips instead of 3/8". That cost me in poundage. The bow was supposed to be in the 45 lb. range but ended up at 35 lb at 28 in.  Oh well, It will be a good bow to have around if my dear wife ever decides to try her hand at it.

Ceanothus in bloom

In the middle of the greys of winter the creator gives us some stunning beauty in the Ceanothus. Our valley is raging with it's beauty.

Emmanuel, a short film I am completing

I have been working on a short film titled EMMANUEL for the last three months. It is about the Annunciation of the angel to The Blessed Virgin Mary.

To see this movie, CLICK HERE or click on the title to this post.

What the ?????

Our silly cat, Lupo and a cam flash reflection in his eyes.

lovely French piece for Lute and voice by Asteria

To the Well

Here is a one of the stills from the film I'm working on. I posted some other images awhile  back searching for a look and I decided on a more painterly look seeing that the subject matter called for it. This will be a work in progress for some time to come.  The art of painting is so full of rich possibilities; it reminds me of composing music. Endless rhythms, endless tonalities, one can get lost in it.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

On this great feast day of the Church I had post something with Our Blessed Mother as the subject matter.  Here is a painting I did for a small film I am working on when I have time. Our Lady, here, is deep union with God in prayer the night before the Annunciation.

Film image..

I am working on a short film - just images and music. I wrote the music a few years ago with a particular event in mind but I have gone in a little different direction.  Here is an image from it:

It may stay in rough pencil form with tone like the above or a I may do a more painterly style like this:

It is a lot of work either way.... and after doing this kind of work all day long at my job it is hard to keep up enthusiasm and creativity at night on my own project.

Spanish Breeze

 Here is a work for guitar that I did some time ago with a Spanish influence.  It is called 'Spanish Breeze"....scroll to the bottom of the page to see the file and click on it:

https://sites.google.com/site/howley3/home

Carlos Nunez

You mut hear this 'Galician' (Spanish) piper:

Happy Feast of St. Francis

October Image

October is associated with Our Lady mainly because of the feast of The Holy Rosary on Oct 7th.  It was also in October of 1917 that She appeared to the three shepherd children of Fatima in the rural countryside. I thought I would post this older painting as I don't have anything on hand today, the 1st of October to post.

Jelly this time

This year I didn't pick many of our wild grapes. There were a lot of them. I did manage to gather a bushel for our neighbors a few weeks ago and this past labor day weekend some for Linnea and I. This time I made Jelly and not for canning.  It's easier and you can freeze what you don't use right away (good for a year) or refrigerate – good for about three weeks. Hopefully this means more Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches in my lunch.

From this

To this. 

Probably 3 hours work total - the worst part is pressing the darn things.

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.