Ships and the sea have been an inspiration to artists since the earliest of times; as paintings by ancient Egyptians; Greeks; and Romans testify. This book by a noted maritime artist and teacher will serve as an excellent guide for beginners and intermediate painters. And for would-be artists interested in going beyond the painting of ships; there are other subjects to consider: beaches; fishing villages; the surf; a rocky coastline; and the open sea. The first painters manual to cover such a wide variety of maritime subjects; this volume offers something for everyonemdash;some technical details and ideas as well as what to do and what not to do. Theres an abundance of practical advice on portraying a vast number of subjectsmdash;from docks; sea gulls; fishermen and their vessels to close-ups of ships hulls; masts; and rigging. Useful tips on perspective; composition; and reflections (the hardest element in a marine setting to reproduce) are accompanied by diagrams and drawings; while step-by-step guidelines help artists capture the essence of an ocean scene and inject more realism into their work.
#1595925 in eBooks 2012-07-12 2012-07-12File Name: B00A62YI5A
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Story of Cuban Ballet; and What a Revolution Can Accomplish for the ArtsBy Marc LichtmanFull Disclosure: (1) Ive known Toba Singer; although not that well; for around 40 years. I knew her as a political activist; and hadnt even known that she danced (or had long forgotten it). (2) Toba got in touch with me for advice on the index; and I volunteered to prepare it. (3) I knew a lot about Cuba and almost nothing about ballet when I agreed to do this; but learned quite a bit about ballet in the process of indexing the book.This book is about many things: Its about three remarkable people; Fernando Alonso; his former wife; the ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso; much better known than he is; and about Fernandos brother; Alberto Alonso. The three of them laid the basis for serious ballet in Cuba; but before the revolution; the funds were lacking to create ballet schools to train dancers (what Fernando Alonso is best at); and all the other things necessary to have professional ballet.But then its also about Laura Alonso; the daughter of Fernando and Alicia; who now heads a ballet company in Cuba. And about many of the other students of Fernando Alonso; who play important roles as dancers in Cuba and in other countries.The book is to a great extent based on interviews with Fernando Alonso; his daughter; and with a number of his students; as well as a letter by Alicia Alonso.Fernando Alonso is a remarkable man; his interest in science is as important to Cuban ballet as his interest in art. In fact; theres very little that hes not interested in and knowledgeable about.The small island of Cuba was always a "world power" in terms of music and dance (see Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo). But the revolution made it also a "world power" in education; medicine; ballet; and support to revolutionary struggles around the world (The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara; Cuba and Angola: Fighting for Africas Freedom and Our Own). Today its internationalism is largely in the field of doctors around the world (Capitalism and the Transformation of Africa).I recommend this to anyone interested in ballet; in Cuba; or to anyone who just enjoys reading biography or autobiography of fascinating people.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Birth of Cuban BalletBy Lee WilsonFernando Alonso The Father of Cuban Ballet is a fascinating book about the man who co-founded the first professional ballet company in Cuba and developed a pedagogy which has created star dancers for companies all over the world.Fernando Alonso grew up in Cuba and married the great Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso (neacute;e Martiacute;nez). Fernando danced on Broadway and with the Mordkin Ballet; Ballet Caravan; and Ballet Theatre; but his dream was to create a world-class Cuban ballet company. In 1948; when Fernando was thirty-three; he; his brother Alberto; and Alicia established the first professional ballet company in Cuba: Ballet Alicia Alonso. Alicia was the star; Alberto was the choreographer; and Fernando was the teacher who used his knowledge of science and kinesiology to create a system of pedagogy which combines art; science; and the passionate Cuban spirit.There are delightful anecdotes including one about the night that Fidel Castro showed up at Fernandos home around midnight and asked him how much money he needed to reorganize the ballet company. Fernando named what he thought was an impossible sum; and Castro doubled the amount. There are darker moments including the bitter divorce between Fernando and Alicia which split the synergy of two great creative artists and forced Fernando to leave Havana and re-locate in Camaguuml;ey.The book begins with a letter from Alicia Alonso about Fernandos work; continues with Fernandos narrative in a question-and-answer format; and ends with the recollections of dancers who have worked with Fernando. This multiple-points-of-view portrait of the man; dancer; and teacher whose life has spanned nearly a century is enhanced with appendices and a chronology. Through personal; professional; and political ups and downs; Fernando Alonso has dedicated himself to the art of ballet in Cuba.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. MUST READ!By John White Jr.I was one of the original dancer-members of the National Ballet of Cuba (1960-64). Fernando was my Director and Ballet Master. We have stayed in contact for these past many years and remain GOOD friends enjoying our long relationship based on mutual respect. The author accurately reported the result of her interview with me recording my thoughts in a separate section in the book under my name; JOHN WHITE. People interested in why the Cuban Ballet is such an important organization MUST read this book.John White