Tabernacle Frame Covered In Gesso

A little more gesso and some sanding, and the next big phase should begin! What do you think?

Tabernacle Frame Progress

The woodworking part is finished (I think).  Now for a few coats of gesso and light sanding and it should be ready to paint.  This work is enjoyable, but it does wear me out.  12 mile Bike ride tonight.

New Woodworking Art Project 2013

A few cuts here and a few cuts there,
A little glue here and a little glue there,
A few little nails here and a few little nails there,
Slowly, ever so slowly, the tabernacle frame takes shape!

F.D. Zigler

If It Be Drones, So Be It

I must admit, I am not cut out for politics.  The latest piece in the news is the debate about the use of drones and whether killing an enemy with a drone strike is the right thing to do.  This next comment goes for both Republican and Democrat administrations: Someone is always second guessing you and your motives, and it has got to be hell to try and do the right thing, protect America and its citizens (American lives) from terrorist attacks and at the same time, make no mistakes in the process.

Personally, I have no problem with using drones to kill enemies of the United States. And, when the technology is perfected, I have no problem with pilotless aircraft taking out enemy targets either.  I am going to give our elected officials the responsibility to use their best judgement in the defense of our country, and hope that their judgement is not corrupted by the greed of the military/industrial complex.

Defending our country is not an easy job, nor is it always going to be crystal clear where the enemy is coming from or who he is, but I am going to give my President the benefit of the doubt when it comes to protecting the American people.  9-11 really happened.  I myself was in Washington, D.C. on that Tuesday morning, and I remember how it changed our lives and the way we must look at defending our country.

Two Postage Stamp Paintings in Progress

Two postage stamp paintings in progress.  These are on canvas board 20 by 16 inches and are in acrylic. The painting behind is from the early 1990s and is on masonite in oil and enamel paint.  I thought it makes an interesting composition.  The easel is another piece of my handiwork as I designed and built it for myself several years ago.  I guess you can say that I hate to buy something so simple as an easel when you can put one together with a few pieces of wood.

Shoes of A Bicyclist

The weather today is warm for January, as the temp is in the 60s.  Yesterday I received in the mail a postcard reminding me that the 7th Annual Ride Cincinnati will be Sunday, June 9, 2013. So, with that reminder and the warm weather, I decided to pump up my tires and take a bike ride over to Spring Grove Cemetery where I usually do my spring workouts. I am happy to report that the collaboration between the bicycle and me continues to work; and, while I am not nearly ready to ride for as long or as hard as I would like, I think by June 9th I will be ready.  I hope to get registered for Ride Cincinnati early this year, and start asking for contributions for breast cancer research to benefit The Barrett Cancer Center.  This will be the 7th year I have ridden in this event and hope to ride the 26 miles again as I have done in past years.  The above photo was taken just before my ride today, and I though it makes an interesting composition.

I Like My President: January 19, 2013

This painting is 20 by 16 inches on canvas board in acrylic paint and is a work in progress.  I know that there are lots of people that don't like Democrat Presidents. I know there are a lot of people that don't like African-Americans.  Believe it or not, President Obama was not just elected once, but twice.  There are an awful lot of Americans that like President Obama and the job he is trying to do as our President. I wish him, and his family, all the best as he begins his next four years as our President.