Myth & Magic

...and speaking of the days of enchanted castles, I decided to post one of my latest drawings.
I've recently purchased a book about the artwork of John Howe and am just fascinated with his ability to create authentic mythical scenery and creatures. For those of you who may not have heard of him, John Howe is a fantasy artist, more so a visionary, and is most noted for his artwork inspired by The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion, basically Tolkien's Middle-earth. As noted in the book, his ability to capture a moment in time, that passionate second before a hero becomes is unbelievable. Your able to study their facial expressions and see a number of emotions, almost as if you can actually see them weighing out the possibilities of their next move, the 'what is my best choice scenario here - big dragon on my left, ugly ogre warriors on my right', and then there is the beautiful princesses, wait I didn't see helplessness in these girls..these are wild rugged kick butt princesses that you just don't want to fool with. But best of all is the almighty dragons. Extinction has made them almost impossible to know how to draw, okay so maybe they didn't ever exist, but to see them brought to life in his paintings, you would argue. What I think is most appealing to me is the elegance of the lines, so many fragile curves for such a ferocious creature. Its that love hate thing,,,yes their evil but to pretty to die, like when a big ole grizzly is about to gobble you up - I think your adorable in the woods but now that your in front of me...one of us is going to have to die; just to point out one expression that you'll find on John Howe's heroes.
Well, your just going to have to buy the book. I found it at Barnes and Noble. Its titled Myth & Magic; The Art of John Howe forward by Peter Jackson. Did I mention the fantastic array of color. I'm sure if you buy it, you'll think...so why did she think her drawing would compare - its just inspirational, I'm sure I have a long way to go before I put Mr. Howe out of work.

Valentine

If Only In Memory

My Love, we stroll down an unchartered path

in the tided sands

Passing a thousand times, unseen footprints

Time, our most cherished and untrusting friend

We ask of it, an eternity

A lifetime, can it only grant us

In this briefness of when we consider the hour kind

How do we selfishly grasp it?

If only in our heart's precious retrieval

We acquire the safe haven of a memory

For in my every collection, I am in awe of your presence

There is but a creation of chance for our two souls

The winds stay not restrained forever

For as it is designed, time will allow it to whisper

it's breath over our path

Grasp tight to my hand

The changing tides of the seasons are soon among us

A lifetime is all we are granted

I pray with each breath I have, shall it be consumed

by your soul and clench tight to your memory

May our cherished memories multiply like the clover

until they are known as legend

Then it will be said that my time was well spent

no matter the hours

And when the master looks upon his creation

He can smile at this one love

for an eternity

even, if only in memory.

~S. Q.

Neuschwanstein, the Sleeping Beauty

"It is my intention to rebuild the old castle ruin of Hohenschwangau near the Pöllat Gorge in the authentic style of the old German knights' castles, and I must confess to you that I am looking forward very much to living there one day (in 3 years' time); there will be several cosy, habitable guest rooms with a splendid view of the noble Säuling, the mountains of Tyrol and far across the plain; you know the revered guest I would like to accommodate there; the location is one of the most beautiful to be found, holy and unapproachable, a worthy temple for the divine friend who has brought salvation and true blessing to the world. It will also remind you of 'Tannhäuser' (Singers' Hall with a view of the castle in the background), 'Lohengrin' (castle courtyard, open corridor, path to the chapel); this castle will be in every way more beautiful and habitable than Hohenschwangau further down, which is desecrated every year by the prose of my mother; they will take revenge, the desecrated gods, and come to live with Us on the lofty heights, breathing the air of heaven". - King Ludwig II Originally named the Hohenschwangua, the precious stone atop the mountain was immensely decorated with medieval legends and poetry, most famously that of the swan knight, Lohengrin, a childhood favorite of Ludwig II. (A romantic opera was dedicated to Lohengrin in 1850). Ludwig was a bit of an eccentric and involved himself in the details of the building of what is known today as the Newschwanstein Castle. Many of the interiors were revolutionary at the time such as a warm air central heating system, a hot water system for the kitchen and bath, bedrooms equipped with telephones and a natural cave located between the living room and study. The art work in Newschwanstein is whimsical and to stand next to it is to be part of it. I can honestly say it will take your breath away. Never had I seen so much magnificent works of art in one place. To imagine the creators tracking up the mountain with every piece leaves one to believe it had to be mere obsession. The kind that only artist know.

the view from the castle balcony

I don't have enough pages to describe the exoticness of this place. I would suggest if you are unable to visit yourself to buy the book, The Royal Castle of Neuschwanstein by Julius Desing. It will allow you a saga of dreams and you'll soon know why Disney decided to replicate the castle, which they call The Sleeping Beauty. For Ludwig, he was later to be called insane and secretly arrested. Historians today believe he was falsely accused and conspiracy may have been involved. In either case he was found drown in the Lake below his enfamous castle. It was said to be a suicide and the castle construction was put to a halt, still not finished to this day. To view New Schwanstein is to experience the thirst of an artist.

Castle Vianden

To stand in the depth of a masterpiece; a work of architecture that has claimed to a land for hundreds of years is in the least just incredible. Its no wonder that the mysterious and intrigued find their way to these great places on earth. They are just filled with captivation, and excel anyone into their craft. Writers and poets must engulf a whimsy of scripts just entering the front gate, by the time they reach the balconies above I imagine a sedative is in need.
We spent time in Vianden back in 2000, and even today, I dream of returning. Luxembourg is a wondrous place to visit inspiring of old and new and the Vianden castle should be on every adventurers list.
Vianden Castle was reconstructed in 1977. Its history dates back to the Gallo Roman era during the 600s, and the number of noble men and women who walked its halls is lengthy. It holds many legends, such as Yolanda, the daughter of Count Henry I, who ran away to a Dominican convent when she was only 14, only to be brought back kicking and screaming by her parents and locked up in the castle for over a year, before finally returning to the convent to become a novice.

The castle was also the last place in Luxembourg to be freed by the Germans in 1945.
And what of romantism...Victor Hugo spent a good deal of time visiting Vianden ( between 1802-1885) and he was responsible for elegantly advertising Vianden to the outside world. Victor eventually dove deeply into his writing to become known as the most influental of French Romantism. Most famously he is known throughout the world for writing Les Miserables and Notre-Dame de Paris or as it is known in english, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Yes, Vianden Castle itself has seen its fill of masterpieces walk through its halls. Even I didn't understand the full gratitude of being part of such a piece of history until after we returned to the states.