December Is Upon US
Dec 1st, 2007 by Don Ray
Today is December the first. This year has gone by so fast! But as they say, time flies when you are having fun.
Today, I drove up to Dolega to visit Hal at the BOOKMARK.
He wanted me to take a photo of his new sign. This is the sign you will see when you are going through Dolega. Hal has plans to make up bookmarks that look like the sign. A bookmark from the BOOKMARK. What a neat idea.
Hal is doing a lot of work to spiff up my haven for books. He is changing the side of the shop to include a sitting area where you can read. Shoot, before long I will expect to find Hal selling Cappuccino. NOT! Don’t forget that the BOOKMARK now has its own website.
The sitting area has a new mural that Hal had painted by a local artist. I happened to be lucky enough to be there when the artist, that painted the mural, was there as well. Here is a photo of the new mural with the artist, Ricardo Moreno Rodriguez.
You can see in the previous photo that Ricardo is holding an instrument that he is in the process of making. It is a 12-string lute.. He also makes guitars and violins. Here is another photo of the lute.
Here is a closeup of one section. 
I don’t remember where all of the wood comes from, but the pretty brown grained wood is from Panama. Ricardo said that it takes him about 4 months to make one. This lute is being made for the brother of the Alcalde of Panama City and it is the forth instrument he has purchased from Ricardo. The price is $600. From talking to Ricardo, I know he takes real pride in the instruments that he makes.
In case you have a mural that you want painted for your house or apartment or if you are a musician and want a guitar or mandolin or Lute made just for you, or if you want to take private lessons in painting then contact Ricardo.
Ricardo Moreno Rodriguez
Lutier (a person who constructs, adjusts or repairs stringed instruments)
Pintor y Escultor y profesor de arte (artist, sculptor and art teacher)
Cell Phone 6-424-9061
He can also be reached at the Museo Jose De Obaldia 775-1217.
Hello, and nice post today. I like the craftsmanship that is going into this work of art. Very impressive. I wonder what he will use for strings?
Hi Abe. I think it is going to be a fine looking instrument when it is done. It would be nice if I could take a photo of the finished product. Ricardo said he has a store here in David that provided the strings.
Don Ray..it looks even better in the photo than on the wall. Ricardo is a great guy, and quite an artist. I’m very happy with his work, and know he enjoys little projects such as mine. Thanks for the boost, both for Book Mark and Ricardo. Hal
Hi Hal. Glad you enjoyed the post. No comment on the Cappuccino?
Hey Don, I’ve heard some of that music played on “strained instruments”, but I always thought it was the artist, not the instrument. I think that I prefer my guitar unstrained.
Hahahah. You caught one of my many misspelled words. I have now corrected it. Thanks.