Chapter - 59 ~ (Pending completion)

This photo is of Bill Russo (left side) and Anthony Lofaso the owner of Umberto Restaurant in Little Italy ~ Bill Russo a FaceBook Friend recently posted an Italian Sculpture on FaceBook and I reciprocated by posting my "Caesar Statute" that I sculptured in '68 and he indicated that we should talk as he showed interest in placing it in a location to display it ~ I indicted that there were also other Art Works that I did thru the years and than posted those Art works too ~

These two High School teachers taught me enough to know about Auto Mechanics and Drafting to get me started in Auto Design, Mechanical Repair and Art work too ~ This man was my Auto Mechanic Teacher

My Drafting Teacher in High School was the second man on the right side ~ The first man on the right side was the High School Principal

I was selected to do the Year Book drawing of Joe Montana's great sports abilities over all the other students that participated in this contest and this drawing was put in the '53 student year book

~ Caesar Sculptured in '68 by yours truly ~

~ My Dad's '49 Chevy turned into the following car back around '54 in his garage by yours truly ~

~ From a catalogue after I thought of a new design for this Chevy I was able to purchase two Caddy Fins and had "Fender Bender" a body and fender shop weld them to the '49 Chevy rear fenders with fill in solder so that they looked like the real thing and then I removed all the trim from the outside replacing it with my own trim from various other cars and gave it 19 coats of paint ~ The tires were covered with a white silicone covering to give the appearance of white wall tires ~ For the full story with my friend Eddie Fisher and his family click on this link ~ http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/2143/

~ Gazebo ~ that was built by me in the early '90s ~

~ The cupola on top of the gazebo was also made by me using scrap wood and the roof was made out of copper that I formed into a copper roof and the copper was purchased at "New Dorp Coal and Lumber Yard ~

~ A neighbor called Frank that lived across the street from my Father-in-law Jimmy not only helped Jim and Uncle Gus scrape down and paint with varnish our Living room and our bedroom floors while we were living in Sunnyside, Queens and were on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico but he also was kind enough to give Elizabeth and I the roth iron that is holding up our "White Horse" sign that you see laying on our Gazebo floor for the winter ~

~ Starting to build my Bamboo Fence in 2016 ~

~ Completed Bamboo fence that I built from my supply of Bamboo that I grow in my backyard so that I have my own lumber yard lol ~

~ Porch also built by me in the early '90s and just before the Gazebo ~ As you can see I'm with my two handsome Grandsons Eric on the far left side and Dean on my right ~

~ In side of Porch on a snowy day ~ Photo taken through the storm door window ~ The green house in the background where Tony Russo RIP the cabinet maker lived also was the artist that made Mayor Dinkins famous " Dinkins headboard" that was constantly in the public news ~ For that story click on this link ~ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/24/nyregion/headboard-of-dinkins-stored-away.html

~ Shed built in th late '60s by yours truly and photo taken through the storm window door ~

~ Another view of the Porch and shed ~ Notice the the paddio that I built in '65 ~

~ This is a view before the porch was built, from the back bedroom, of the brick paddio that I built in '65 for my wife Elizabeth and our baby daughter Donna enjoying the warm weather on that day ~ Notice the new fence that had just been built with neighbors Mark and others that had recently moved into their new home ~

~ Lovely summer time view of shed ~

~ Ladder abandoned by some strangers as garbage but Elizabeth and I gave it a new life in our landscaping ~ I believe it to be a retired "Spencer Tunick" ladder lol ~ Ohh my, my computer just went down, must have been due to my sexy "Tunick" comment lol ~ See video below installed today on July 13, 2017 ~

~ Match stick drawing contest that I entered in '55 ~

~ Katzenjammer Kids of '53 ~

~ "Henry" art work done in '53 ~

~ Bugs Bunny the cavity driller and cleaner of teeth lol ~

~ The horse whisperer has been around since '74 lol ~

~ '53 drawing of a "Horror Comic Book" cover ~

~ 'Men's Adventures '53 ~

~ A friend on FaceBook colorize this drawing that I made way back in '53 ~

~ Another angle of "Caesar" only this time taken from the side view and with a pair of eyeglasses on him ~ lol

~ Staten Island Advance News Paper story of Snug Harbor's Art Show that I entered on September 8, 1968 ~

~ Paint set that I used for the following paintings ~

~ As I recall this painting was completed when I was about 14 years old so that it would date it at '49 and my sister Dolly returning it to me when she discovered it in her attic ~

I can't remember too much about this jockey and horse painting other than it was done in my earlier years ~

~ This painting of a sheep herder that I did back around '63 has got to be one of my favorites ~

~ This oil painting like all the rest of them is of an ocean wave crashing on the beach and I can remember doing much work on the wave in order to get that real look and feel ~ It too was completed in the mid '60s ~

~ This painting had to be done sometime around the mid '60s ~ It was only later that I started to sign and date my work ~

~ I painted this scene one day when I was not feeling very well and lived in Sunnyside , Queens around '62 ~ Good thing that I did not cut off my ear lol ~

~ Although I still have the mold that I used for this beauty it's no longer in good shape ~ This Family Crest was produced and painted around '68 ~

~ Some of my molds that I made before the final product is completed and produced ~ Also on the left side there are some of the old newspapers that I saved over the years that includes one that is dated May 13, 1932 that has Lindy 's Baby Kidnap Story on the front page and for that story click on this link ~ http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/2356/

~ Daily News from May 13, 1932 covering the story of " Lindy's Baby Found - Slain " ~ For that complete story click on this link http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/2356/

~ This is the mold that I have for the Family Crest but with the mother mold missing ~ Maybe one day I will try to restore it ~

~ Catalogue that I designed in the late '60s and with only a few pictures of products that were made by me will be shown at this time ~ The letters LND represented Liz, Nick and Donna our first daughter as our second daughter Dina was not born yet ~

~ Hermes and Michael Angelo ~

~ The very first sculpture that I made with the use of wet cement when we came home to Staten Island after stopping at a statue shoppe in Long Island ~ It inspired me to make this head and boy did I have a lot to learn ~

~ My first and only cement Sculpture has been moved from behind the gazebo to the side where it can now be seen for everyone's view ~

~ Family Crest with and without background substance ~

~ American Eagles ~

~ Antique Hebrew Scholar and Colonial Eagle with Mirror ~

~ Michelangelo Plaque with three different background materials ~ Marine Velvet ~ Walnut Wood ~ Burlap Gold ~

~ 13th Century Spanish Soldier ~

~ Family Crest on Red Velvet with different background design ~

~ Various framed designs ~

~ Business Card and Hermes ~

While I'm discussing "Self-Taught" items I might as well present this photo of a fireplace I designed in my finished basement that was also built by yours truly back in 1981....There are so many books out there that are readily available for any one who would like to read and use them for building or construction, such as was accomplished in this case...(A click on this photo will enlarge it)...Incidentally, the two guns as shown in this photo are replicas from Spain and the large metal ring on the top left side was taken from a Beer Brewery that was torn down many years ago in Staten Island

~ Bed room wall that I built with each brick made by yours truly using a building material composition ~

~ Building wall continued with again the bricks made by yours truly and a closet for Elizabeth also added too ~ (Needs to be turned around)

~ Wall decor beams added by yours truly to ceiling and walls too ~

~ Columns and arches to ceiling made by me and added in the dining room ~

~ Finished basement including doors and fire place completed and made by the author ~ The man that I hired to put up the chimney refused to make the hole in the 12 inch foundation where the chimney was suppose to go thru so with a sledge hammer and chisel I did it for him and myself ~

~ Library, fireplace and finished basement completed by the author Nick ~ It was necessary for me to build a curved form that I laid onto the stove to hold up the very heavy real curved bricks at the top while the cement was drying and than the form was removed ~

~ Arches with fake bricks all made by Nick ~

~ Diddo ~

~ Window, door and leather seating chest under the basket with lifting seat for storage made by Nick in this finished basement ~

Fence arch way, attached porch and window built by Nick and installed by cutting a hole on side of house ~

~ all landscaping and low electric lighting including block work columns and wall done by yours truly and even the fire hydrant was painted with the traditional Italian colors of red white and green ~~ The driveway with the green bricks going through it was also done by yours truly ~

~ This grass blower and Vacuum was one of the inventions that I added my design and built it too ~ The design was the wood holder of the vacuum with wheels that I added because without it the individuals back would take the blunt of the heavy weight as it did not not need to be picked up but instead it could be rolled around while vacuuming the lawn leaves and grass to be turned into mulch ~

~ Eric Michael with his wonderful friends ~

~ Scott LoBaido preparing his "Empty Chairs" for a night scene ~ For the story where Scott did a memorial for the people that died during the "Sandy Hurricane" on Staten Island just click on this link ~ http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/3522/

~ Scott Lobaido on his third tour to paint the American Flag on Veteran Buildings ~

~ Largest American Flag ever painted by Scott LoBaido, or possibly anyone, on a roof top of a building on one of his tours to paint a roof top flag in every state in the USA ~ Just look at the small size of the automobiles in comparison to the large size of the flag ~

~ Photo of Scott LaBaido who has given this story a "LIKE" ~ Thank You Scott LoBaido and all my other family and friends too ~ A "LIKE" coming from Scott is a hugh compliment when one compares the great stuff that he has done ~

~ Some of Scott LaBaido's art work can be seen in this picture when I believe that he had them up for sale in the Fisher Warehouse ~

~ Photo of Mickey Burns who has also given this story a "Like" with Muhammad Ali ~ Another friend and TV personality has given me a "LIKE" right here as we speak ~ A man that has interviewed over 400 celebrities on his PROFILES TV SHOW like Ernest Borgnine, Joan Rivers, Muhammad Ali and many many more too ~ May I introduce Mickey Burns the best interviewer that I know of ~ The story of how I met Mickey can be found by clicking on this link ~ http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/2553/

~ Mickey Burns can be viewed in this photo with former Mayor of NYC Mike Bloomberg and some of his other friends ~

~ Lance J Reha is a great director, screen writer and a producer of fine movies and even he gave me a 'Like' too ~ For more story about how I met Lance just click on this link ~ http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/3608/

~ This photo was taken by my daughter when she asked her son Eric to step into the hole in the tree but instead he asked me to take his place so naturally I said, "Why not" and so here we be lol ~

~ My Daughter Donna when she was just a toddler ~ The swing and painting of Mickey Mouse was made by yours truly ~

~ Great Artist at the Staten Island Mall "Zhong - Yi Wu" of the WU ART STUDIO ~ To see this Artist and his fine work look at the video that you will find just below ~

~ Great Artist at the Staten Island Mall "Zhong - Yi Wu" of the WU ART STUDIO ~ To see this Artist and his fine work look at the video that you will find just below ~ Also to make this picture larger so one can see the detail better just simply click on it ~

~ Great Artist at the Staten Island Mall "Zhong - Yi Wu" of the WU ART STUDIO ~ To see this Artist and his fine work look at the video that you will find just below ~

~ Great Artist at the Staten Island Mall "Zhong - Yi Wu" of the WU ART STUDIO ~ To see this Artist and his fine work look at the video that you will find just below ~