Howell lives and works in Kingsland, Texas on the Colorado River, providing ample opportunity to observe color changes relating to atmosphere, temperature, wind, time of day and season. Howell feels even the most pastoral scene, when observed carefully, is riotous in color, texture, pattern and value. Observation of these elements affected by depth, wind, light and shadow are played out with paint in the studio and come to life throughout her current body of work.