Eternal Road – by: John W. Howell

On March 30, 2022March 29, 2022 By ResaIn Book Reviews, Street Art206 Comments

It’s the road trip of a deathtime.

I’d say lifetime, but both lead characters, James and Samantha, have already passed. Where are they going? I can’t tell you. However, a few brief glimpses of their journey are in order.

Of course I was keen on knowing why John had picked this particular car.

Resa – Why did you pick the 1965 Oldsmobile? Why turquoise and white?

John – The 1965 Oldsmobile was selected since it represents my awakening in high school. I was born in Detroit and when I was 15 moved to the suburbs. During high school I used to wash and wax a neighbors 1965 Oldsmobile coupe. Yes, it was turquoise and white and had fancy hubs and white wall tires. The car represents the suburbs since the real item very seldom got very dirty and existed without the inner city grime, pings, and nicks. It always struck me as a symbol of innocence and purity. No one in the city would drive a car like that. If they did it probably would have been stolen or at least vandalized.

So, I hopped in the car. First stop I remember was the wild west.

Resa – Were you enthralled by tales of the wild west when you were a kid? Did you watch all the westerns on TV?

John – Yes I loved westerns when I was a kid. I used to watch the old shows. Hoppalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers were my favorites.

John – I should also add I held a history minor in College so my learning about the old west never stopped.

So crazy how John wove everything together in this story. In terms of suspension of disbelief; I was there, as John took me hither and yon.

Yon… the devil, evil, trickery and punishment can take on any and many forms. So it does in this saga.

He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere, so beware! He’s even in Las Vegas!

I loved when we were with the horses. They are gorgeous creatures and have helped mankind immensely.

Then the devil….AGAIN! In the form of War!!

We go back to the horses. Why? Mmm that would be a spoiler. Where do we go after that. Again, spoiler.

Resa – I used the search tool. I was systematic and careful. Eyes are mentioned on almost every page, mostly due to travelling, but I could not find the colour of Sam’s eyes. I also searched brown, blue, hair…no luck. Thing is, I was thinking of drawing Sam as an angel, maybe no wings. This way I could do a gown.

John – You are not crazy. You won’t find a color of Sam’s eyes since I very seldom describe the characters in terms of physical attributes. My reason for doing this is I would rather the reader form an image in their mind of what the characters look like. So you can make her eye color whatever pleases you. She is more your character than mine since you invested your time reading the book. You can do whatever you wish.

Resa – I see her with light brown hair, and green eyes.
I know she and James look totally human, not like angels for sure. I’m looking for a reason to draw her in a gown. I’m sure I’ll think of one.

John – Since she died when she was seven I think she would be thrilled to be dressed in a gown just like a princess she dreamed of being when she was little.

Resa – Okay first drawing is along the lines of a Disney Princess. If Sam was murdered in 2003 … then Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Aurora, and Cinderella, would all be an influence.

John – Sam was murdered in 2003 when she was 7. She certainly would have been influenced by Belle, Aurora, and Cinderella .

Did you ever look up the meaning of the name Samantha?

John – The name Samantha in Hebrew means “As told by God.” When my daughter was born we looked up a bunch of names and we selected another. I always liked the name and I wanted to use it. Also in this story and the next one Sam seems to be constantly telling James the rules of Eternity. I think she comes by being the mouthpiece of God quite naturally.

Resa – This second drawing, more straight from my imagination is partly based on one of the lesser known meanings of Samantha. My search yielded Flower. Another is Listener. “As told by God.” is the most listed. Sam has grown up, as has her idea of a princess.
I think both interpretations are valid.

John – I agree with your statement that the interpretations are valid. Thank you for sharing these beautiful drawings.

Resa – My pleasure! John, thank you for writing this book!

Click on the cover of Eternal Road, and go to John’s Amazon page.

Visit John on his blog!

Pics taken by Resa – 2013 to 2021

Toronto & Winnipeg

The artists:

Horses – Mandy Van Leeuwen, War – Charlie Johnson, Horse & Cart – John Kuna, Devil Dude – Len Lone Child, Cowboy silhouettes – Joe Viera

Putin Go F**k Yourself

On March 10, 2022 By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Nick Sweetman92 Comments

I just had to go to Graffiti Alley yesterday. I was wondering if any of the artists were showing their support for Ukraine with their art. I found this by nick_sweetman

Nick says on his Instagram account:

“We chose the colours of the Ukranian flag and wrote “Putin idy nakhuy” which in Ukranian means “Putin, go fuck yourself” sung by Ukraine’s national animal, the nightingale. Letters by @mr_tensoe2 @twice.born and @workingspy3000 who also painted the white dove of peace 🕊”

A look at the alley.

Graffiti Alley is a large network of lanes and alleys. I continued on my way.

…and found this painted paste-up, which was obviously purposely wrinkled up in the gluing.

Say it again!

Kiev, Chernobyl & Pripyat – en Graffe

On February 28, 2022 By ResaIn Guests83 Comments

I’m re-posting this from October 2021 with the addition of an original war protest song by Timothy Price.

Kiev, Chernobyl & Pripyat – en Graffe

My pal Alex Morris sent us pics of murals & graf from the Ukraine. The first four are all in, and around, Kiev city centre.

“While I were wending me merry away around Kiev I noticed some fancy graffiti and all that. Sending you some of the best over.”

“However, an unexpected work trip arose in September 2021. And so with a day off on Sunday 12th September, we booked into a day tour and headed to the location of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.”

“Chernobyl is a region permanently stuck in the past, that also provides an important message for the future.”

WOW! There it is guys, Chernobyl! Omg, it’s got a mural on it.

“All of which can only lead onto the local town of Pripyat, which was built to house local power plant workers and their families.”

“The mass evacuation of the city was delayed whilst authorities denied the reality of the situation, eventually evacuating the city in a matter of hours.”

“Visitors can only stay in Pripyat for a short while and you’re not allowed to touch anything, otherwise you risk contaminating yourself”.

“In fact, there are radiation checks when you leave the Exclusion Zone to ensure you’ve not done anything stupid.”

“Some people do break into the Exclusion Zone and have to treks for days in the woods to reach Pripyat, which exposes them to a lot of radiation. But some of them may be the ones completing the graffiti. I couldn’t find any details on whether it was allowed by the government or not. But it’s there to behold.”

Photos taken by Alex Morris – September, 2021

Ukraine

Alex’s post on visiting Chernobyl, Pripyat & Kiev is fabulous! Click on over and check it out!

There is no end to taggers on this planet. Yet, somehow it’s comforting to me to know that. Not sure why. Perhaps it speaks to commonality of humanity.

A work of art, yet so far away it’s difficult to make out. Nonetheless it’s neat to see a Kiev street! Interesting parking.

You can also find this song on Tim’s Blog

Turn Off Your Mind

On February 4, 2022 By ResaIn Street Art74 Comments

Sounds Zen to me. Where’s the off switch?

This was new, when I went by.

It appears finished.

Pics taken by Resa – November 9, 2021

Toronto, Canada

Artist is unknown at this time

Black & White Blues

On January 28, 2022 By ResaIn Original Art113 Comments

It was at least a half block away. I was shaking. Black & white street art is a bit rare.

I was impressed with how great it looked painted on a peeling tin sheet wall.

When I got there, I realized it was not art for art’s sake, but an ad. That made me blue.

OMG! There’s Leonard Cohen’s head just up over the trash can.

I get there, and it’s not art for art’s sake, but an ad about Leonard Cohen’s memorial stamp. I didn’t feel so blue, because I adore him.

I drew this b&w pencil sketch of a famous person, in a couple of hours. It’s a sort of copy of a b&w photo. I think it looks like the person.

I got all cocky. I thought I would try another famous person, from a b&w photo. I used a technique where I didn’t draw an outline first. Rather I shaded(scribbled) my way in. I spent many nights shading away. In the end, it looks nothing like the person. I was heartbroken, after all that work.

I did a Blue Heron post a couple posts ago. A couple of comments later, Trent writes this song. He has a fancy synthesizer, and does some cool music on it. However, he actually sings the blues in this. He’s good, got feel.

He followed up with “For Her Heartbreak”. I know Trent got a new synth, sort of recently. He’s been working with it on his new pieces. I asked him what the name is. I got this answer:

“I use a Sequential Prophet Rev 2 polyphonic analog synth as my primary poly-synth and I have been using a Behringer Poly D for bass lines, leads, solos, etc. – the Ploy D is a MiniMoog clone.”

This could be of interest for the musicians out there!

The Heartbreak might be in Red, but it’s blue. You can visit Trent on his blog – Trent’s World

Last, but not least, I share this b&w drawing of a blog pal, that I have never met. Her Poetry & Writings can make me feel anywhere from Powder Blue to French Navy and every blue in between. There’s other colours, but this is about B,W & Blue.

Pterodactyl

On January 12, 2022 By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Garage Doors108 Comments

I found a Great Blue Heron, on a garage door.

It’s one of the pterodactyl’s relatives, a great blue heron. The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America.

I’ve never seen one in real life.

However, I have seen many on Tim’s blog. Check out Tim’s night shot of one of these Blue Beauties wading in water.

Tim’s blog – Off Center Not Even is resplendent with nature’s beauty. He’s got magic trees, owls, biblical skies and more. I can’t thank him enough for allowing me to use many of his stunning photos.