Frank Howell's career as an artist, poet, and writer spanned over thirty years. Howell felt a strong connection to the Lakota Sioux tribes of his native Sioux City, Iowa. Howell worked in many media, including lithographs, serigraphs, giclée prints (Iris ink printing, French, 1997, 117), monotypes, watercolors, oils, drawings, and sculpture. His work is renowned for his ability to communicate the balance of a man's strength, sensitivity and unending spiritual significance. His work has been widely exhibited at museums and over 600 galleries throughout the United States and in Mexico. Howell was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in July of 1997. He passed away November 26th, 1997 (Smith, 1997).
He was born on July 31, 1937 and was the only son of a U.S. Army Air Force enlisted person who was also one-fourth Lakota Sioux. His mother was English and Irish-American. As part of a military family his early life was subject to much disruption due to base changes and the like. As the oldest child he had to do his share to help in the care of his younger siblings. Having had a great deal of responsibility foisted upon him early helped to create a somewhat rebellious personality. It appears that a highly stabilizing influence in his life was his half-Lakota Sioux grandmother. It was through his grandmother that he developed his senses and particularly his sense of touch. It is not surprising, therefore that in addition to being an accomplished painter, he was also a sculptor and writer. He also developed a profound sense of being able to listen intently for long periods at a time and absorb everything around him (French, 1997, 32).
According to French (1997, 1), the message that Howell liked to communicate through his art was man's place within the universe and responsibility to all life. In life he was a private person somewhat possessive of his time, but willing to share his feelings and philosophy with those who would i...