Pleasure Reading: “The Sea Lions” by James Fenimore Cooper. The summary #2 (p. 60-117))

The appearance of captain Daggett forces quicker to equipped “The Sea Lion” from Oyster Pond which belongs to Pratt. The ship has everything for the voyage. Captain Gardner wants only to recruit two or three skilful sailors. The deacon hopes that it will be in the near future. He is nervous about that Daggett may go the same way preparing a ship to follow “The Sea Lion” but the bishop has been mistaken. 

One day Pratt invites Gardner to have a talk about the future travelling. The church father instructs the sailor to fill in the ship with fat of sea cats and their skins to make a good profit from the bargain. Nevertheless the ultimate goal of Pratt’s helper is to find treasures in Western India. Roosevelt Gardner is not fond of the idea of his owner but he has no choice. More than that: he does not feel happy about being separated with his beloved Marry who promised to pray for him. Though dreams come true and he manages to sail the sea. 

“The Sea Lion” from Oyster Pond goes out into the open sea; the same is done by “the Sea Lion” from Goln Gol. They both have similar routes and same mission. God knows how Daggett managed to equip the ship in such a shot period of time and where from he knows of islands which in their turn have been eliminated from maps on Earth. Gardner and Daggett on understanding that they are having nothing to do but make friends with neighbors. Daggett and his team help another ship while “the Sea Lion”  headed by Roosvelt lost the mast. It was difficult to drift near the coastline. Finally it was towed with the cargo to Rio de Janeiro. 

Gardner and Daggett managed to find a group of whales and killed one of them having filled the holds with the whale blubber. Pratt and Mary are pleased with this circumstance as the former was because of possible money profit, the latter because she loved the sailor.    

Pleasure Reading: “The Sea Lions” by James Fenimore Cooper. The summary #1 (p. 5-60)

The deacon Pratt who lives in Oyster Pond is the head of local church. He possesses few appendages of a property from which he manages to take out good profit. The Pratt’s niece Marry, the daughter of Israel Pratt, helps her uncle in his business, deeds in church and home. People suppose Pratt to give all what he has to the church, according to the will, than to Marry which will make her a good party. Though she doesn’t except the proposal of Mr. Roosvel Gardner, a sailor from the port, because her feelings of love and her religious responsibilities are in discord.

One day, the ship on its way to New York lands a man, who is terribly ill. It’s Tomas Daggett, from Martas-Vinyard. According to tradition, Tomas left his place of birth at the age of 12 and became a sailor. He has not been on his motherland since that time for 50 years. The man keeps a secret about islands full of sea lions and gold. The deacon, because of his avarice, tries to charm a secret out of Daggett, but Tomas has promised not to tell anybody about it till the 20s will come.

Pratt uses all methods he knows to do his ultimate goal. Daggett is visited by Doctor Sadge who realizes that sailor’s days come to an end. Pratt pays all Daggett’s debts to widow White whom Tomas has lived. Pratt takes the luggage of the sailor with things inside. Pratt has the ship “A Sea Lion” which is ready for expedition. Maps which are in the luggage seem to be very important. The first map is the map of the Southern half-globe and Pratt writes latitude and longitude of the island. Than he dose the same with the chart of the West Indies. All the writings being in pencil, they are effectually removed by his knife. He believes no eye can detect what has just been done. When Pratt finishes his business he closes the luggage and starts to dream about golden coins and for the day when his ship will go to the islands.

During the evening supper, Pratt, Marry and Gardner are talking about nothing, drinking wine with water and eating fish. Suddenly a relative of the dead Tomas Daggett comes. The young man, Roosevelt’s age comes to take away things of the dead man. It is the nephew of the sailor. Pratt shows him all what has been in the luggage thing by thing. Maps are extremely important to Daggett’s nephew and he finds a trick in them.

The description of the painting: "The Black Sea" by Ivan Aivazovsky

I decided to describe this landscape, searching my albums with pictures. Actually I have many of them. My mother has shown them to me when I was a child. I still remember that moments.

Size: If we are going to speak about the size of the picture, we are to say that, from my point of view, it’s very big (149×208 sm). But, on the other hand we should point out that the prominent Russian painter, I. Aivazovsky used such a size to show us how the Black Sea is big. It’s the illustration of the sea with the help of the size of the canvas.

Shape: To mu mind the shape of the canvas suit the subject matter. It’s not only presents the sea itself, but also, as it’s very long and thin one add to the drama of the landscape. The drama is also shown because it’s the storm in the sea on the picture.

Artist’s Statement: It’s very difficult to answer this question whether Aivazovsky has achieved his aim or not to make a drawing of this landscape, but it’s clear to us that a painting is hide inside of itself the soul of an artist. Kramskoy supposed “The Black Sea” to be the best work of Aivazovsky.

Title of the Painting: The title of the painting is “The Black Sea”. It tells me, that on the picture I’ll sea the Black sea, but actually it’s not only the Black, but black by its color: there is a storm. That’s why we may say that the artist used such a title not only to paint the Black sea, or it can not be the Black sea at all, but to show us the darkness of the heavy sea.

Subject Matter: The painting is of the sea landscape in a bad weather. It’s intriguing, because there is a small fishing boat in the background which tries to come home through the environment and the question appears: Does it complete its mission? I clearly understand the symbolism in the painting as I have already mentioned above.

Emotional Response: The painting generates an emotional reaction in me: I’ve searched a picture to make an analyze and this landscape impressed me greatly by its deep and intrigue with the boat into the distance. The overall mood of the painting is mysteriousness, it seems like something will appear from the water: also there is such a sense like the storm will come to an end because the sky is started to lift in the background of canvas. Personally I think that it’s suitable for the subject.

Composition: Truly speaking there is only one element of the painting – the sea. It becomes darker and darker from the foreground up to background. The fishing boat is hardly seen on the general background. My eye flows across the whole painting. The main focus of the painting slap-bang in the center of the painting, both vertically and horizontally. There is something that draws my eye into the painting: it’s the boat, we can’t notice it at first sight. I don’t think that it’s been slavishly copied from reality or from a photograph it is the imagination of the painter, the condition of his soul, his mood and life.

Skill: The artist display the so-called “level-to-stare at”, because without this action it’s impossible to understand the idea, having seen the boat. General feelings say that Aivazovsky is the master and a very renowned and imaginative painter.

Medium: The canvas 149×208 sm, oil paints, pencils and imagination of the creator was used to create the painting. The artists has done all his best with the possibilities presented by his choice of medium.

Color: Color has been used realistically (green, black and emerald sea, white foam of water-waves and grey sky) and used to convey emotion at the same time: black sea is symbolized trouble and coming misfortune, emerald sea frightens the viewer and grey sky doesn’t give us a chance to escape from the will of the God. The colors are cool and they suit the subject.

Texture: I’d like to see the painting in “real life.”    

Rendering 2: "10 Rules To Be An Artist"

The article which was published on February 19, 2013 by Cherie Haas in “Artists Network” reports at length that Mark Gould, an artist whose landscapes caught reporter’s eye such as Gould’s painting “My Neighbor’s House” 24x36 in size gives his own 10 rules for being a Professional Artist.

Let’s see the first half of them. Speaking of the first one in the list it is necessary to note that Creative efforts take priority over other activities whenever possible. The artist also is sure that simplification of all aspects of life is a good way to think and act creatively. Analyzing the situation it’s important to emphasize that the creative process is not always challenging and enjoyable, but also balance a risk of failure with the potential for success in order to keep efforts honest and engaging. It’s an open secret that we are to be the eternal student, always willing to learn. The article is in favor of welcoming other opinions—good, bad or indifferent—but never relinquish final judgment to another.

The second part of the article continues with the rules of the painter. Giving appraisal of the situation it’s necessary to point out that a real painter is seeking out people who are positive in their approach to the creative process and welcome their constructive critique. We must avoid negative people and their attitudes, even when personal sacrifice is required. There is a lot of comment on thinking before committing time, money or other resources to any future aspect of the creative endeavor. It’s very likely that an artist should be certain that both feeling and logic regarding the decision are sound. There is every reason to believe that it is a good idea to release to the public only those works that are fully “competent and satisfactory,” those that are properly executed with a high degree of creativity. It is revealed that if you are truthful and self-aware in regard to your creative efforts, only then can artistic vision be trusted and improved. In this connection it’s worth while mentioning that you should never become problematic for any gallery or collector. Be sincere and forthright in all gallery dealings. Require absolute honesty in return.

In conclusion the author suggests to take this rules if you are to be a good artist one day.

Rendering 1: "Previously unseen Vincent Rattray paintings on show in Dundee"

The article which was published  on 1, February 2013 in the column “Scotland” of BBC discusses the situation in Dundee where a collection of previously unseen paintings by the artist Vincent Rattray are to go on show for the first time. The article reports at length that family members inherited the works after his death. Speaking of the exhibition it’s important to note that the paintings will be displayed at the Hannah Maclure Centre gallery in the University of Abertay, Dundee.

Analyzing the situation in Scotland it’s necessary to emphasize that exhibition curator Clare Brennan said: "It's a great honor to put many of these paintings on show for the first time." By the way she added that: "There were a great many paintings in his studio and he had also gifted painting to family members over the years." She also explained why did they found so many pictures: "He left a prolific body of work which was then divided between family members.

There is a lot of comment that the artist was influenced by his native town Dundee where he was born and raised. Vincent's son, said: "One obvious influence on my father's painting is, of course, Dundee. He loved the place, the people and its humor.

It’s an open secret that Rattray’s influences were varied and included the German artist Otto Dix, famed for his aggressive approach to color, perspective and depicting characters affected by war.
It’s very likely that Clare Brennan hoped the exhibition would uncover more previously uncatalogued work: "I'd be really interested to hear from people who have an original in their possession."

The reporter gives no details to the event, but I dare say that it’s great that people remember their death men-of-art. There is every reason to believe that Vincent Rattray will be discovered from the other side.