I admire gothic architecture, especially romanticized dark and mysterious depictions. This morning I found a beautiful rosette window in an online graphics database, and was experimenting with a technique to stylize it. Here is the before and after:

Before:



After:



This version, with some modification, is used in the October 2006 edition of 3ABN World, which should eventually be available for download from 3ABN's website.

Note: The effect I added of light streams on the inside of the window is subtle, and doesn't show up so well at this small size.

Some time ago I ran across a fascinating article on the New York Times website, entitled "An Exhibition About Drawing Conjures a Time When Amateurs Roamed the Earth." That's not the kind of title that would catch the public eye on a supermarket tabloid. But the article itself was very thought-provoking. Below are a couple gems I gleaned, but you really ought to read the article itself. It's very short; you could finish it in five minutes. (NOTE: Unfortunately after I first posted this comment, they changed this page to paid access. But if you subscribe to the NYT, it is free.)

"The exhibition is full of such exhortatory books, many of them discomfiting today because they presume a degree of skill among ordinary citizens — even children — that would now be regarded as noteworthy in the art world....

"There was also a philosophical change, away from drawing as a practical endeavor and toward art appreciation. From dexterity and discipline to feelings and self-esteem: the shift in values is implied by some of the later books in the show. Consciously or not, they parallel changes in modern art, which threw out the rule books of draftsmanship and proposed a new, free-thinking attitude."

By leaving art to the "professionals," common people have lost not only the ability to express themselves in this way effectively (giving up the satisfaction of accomplishment therewith), but they have also lost to a greater or lesser degree their ability to appreciate the art and skill itself. It's another example of modernism's corrosive character, washing away the virtues of the very people its self-esteem doctrine purports to build up.

I get occasional emails from the organization Grassfire. Recently I received one entitled "End the Tyranny of the IRS." That seems to be a popular theme these days. Basically Grassfire is supporting a campaign to end the IRS completely and institute what is called the Fair Tax. I've read a bit about the Fair Tax from various sources, and it seems like a good idea. (However, I am no expert on these matters. I do firmly believe the IRS tax laws and the whole system is a convoluted mess.) If you'd like to know more or sign the Grassfire petition, click here.

After ASI, my good friends from Sweden, Claus and Theresa, were here for one night, along with a friend of theirs from Sweden, Christine. A coworker from 3ABN, Joel, was kind enough to invite us all over for an evening of jet skiing on the West Frankfort Lake. It was the first time Claus, Theresa, or I had done it. And it was a lot of fun.

Claus and Theresa take the jet ski for a spin:



Yours truly tearin' up the lake (Theresa said I was a "very safe" driver ... that's Swedish for "less exciting"):



Claus and Christine go one last time before sunset:

I was pleased to be able to attend this year's ASI Convention in Dallas, Texas. As always it was very inspiring, motivating, and fun. I especially enjoyed the messages by Samuel Koratang-Pipm and Frank Fournier, and of course all the testimonies. The exhibits were very interesting as usual. And it was great to see all kinds of friends, too many to name.

I also had a chance to visit Southwestern ColorGraphics, in Keene, one of the presses that 3ABN does business with. It was great to see their facilities and learn about the new technologies they've installed recently.

The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, site of the convention, was awesome. The indoor atrium, seen below, was air conditioned (the atrium was very large, impossible to capture in a single photo; this is just one corner of it). I'm glad I don't pay their electric bill!



The atrium at night (a stream runs by the base of the palm trees):



The roof of the atrium was adorned with the star of Texas:



My main assignment at ASI, other than meeting with the 3ABN Book Committee, was taking behind-the-scenes photos of 3ABN production.



Joel in the truck audio room, and Bobby in the truck control room:



Nicole Parker (left), long-time friend and former coworker, visits 3ABN's booth in the exhibit hall:



Adrian gets into the Texas spirit: