Showcasing the work of more than 100 top contemporary American master artists of our day; this book features landscapes (a popular subject for art collectors and a tradition throughout American art history) from all across the countrymdash;east and west; north and southmdash;rendered in watercolor; oil; acrylic; pastel; colored pencil and mixed media. Accompanying each painting are the thoughts; techniques and inspirations for the paintings by each artist.
#1469311 in eBooks 2011-08-01 2011-08-01File Name: B0057ZQM1O
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Im not trying to find a new philosophy of life. Im trying to improve my acting abilities.By Mark RThis book was certainly not what I was expecting. I made a big mistake starting with this book by Eric Morris. because I will never read anything else by him.Not one thing about acting in the first half of the book. Hes just trying to force his philosophy on you with childish excercises. If youre wanting to expand your consciousness read some Zen. Tao or Osho. not a book by an acting couch.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerGreat!5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Acting work that makes sense...By Doron ToisterIll admit that at first glance Eric Morriss System can seem scary and misaligned. But I believe it to be a very misunderstood system.I too was skeptical in the beginning. but after studying this technique (with Eric. but mostly with Anthony Vincent Bova in NYC. Erics proteacute;geacute;). and after seeing the difference from "acting" and what this Work creates. theres no way Id ever go back to the "acting" form.Eric Morris teaches the actor how to react honestly and in the moment. including everything thats going on inside and out-the other actor. the props. the imagined objects that one might be working for-that impels you to "do" whatever the character is required to "do". but out of a real reaction. not just because youre doing it.Ive studied Adler. Strasberg. Meisner. and with Robert Lewis. Ive hashed through the process of verbs. actions. objectives. obstacles. and onward; and theyre all good and dandy for figuring out whats going on in a script. what the characters are doing and why; but other than that. these techniques never helped me figure out HOW to make it real to ME... How to get to a place where Im actually functioning from a real. organic. truthful state ... How to get to the point where I am "doing" all the script tells me to do. fulfilling the "actions." out of an honest REACTION to whats going on.... Not just "playing" as if I am; how. in essence. creating the realities of the character....No matter where you go. all the great teachers (and actors) say the same thing. "Acting is reacting." Even the most used and cherished word in the actors language. LISTENING. is about focusing outside of yourself and REACTING to what is there. This Work trains the actor to create the stimuli that will fulfill the demands of the piece. specifically. wholly. and with Truth.For the most part. plays and movies are imagined circumstances. and we as actors. have to create stimuli to react from. so were not just faking. or indicating our performance. Id rather watch two people have a relationship on film or on stage. than two actors reciting words. no matter how well they "act" it. If they dont believe it. I wont. This System trains you to create those stimuli and REACT to them honestly. fully and truthfully.A crucial part of Erics System is based on Instrumental Work. which is the process of identifying blocks and fears and tensions to expression and. one-by-one. through the use of hundreds of exercises. eliminating them. Its really about self-awareness-learning about yourself and how you function. so you can "get out of your way" and function truthfully on stage or film and get to where you need to get to in a scene. I think this is the aim of every method. but I feel that this System is the only one to address the issues of the actor on a personal level. If Im tense and depressed (in real life; me the actor). Im not going to be able to REACT truthfully in a scene where the character has just won the lottery and is jumping with joy. If I push for the emotion. Ill be faking and will "act" that Im joyful. If this is enough for you. then Erics work is definitely not your thing. But if youre looking for creating reality and REACTING with truth. nothing surpasses this Work.I know that Meryl Streep. Brando. Ed Norton. Johnny Depp. Jack Nicholson. Al Pacino. Robert DeNiro. and a handful of other amazing actors dont fake it. dont just indicate the realities of the character and the circumstances. They create them. Be it imagined stimuli they are creating. or through the available stimulus around them. they open themselves up and REACT truthfully to everything -the other actors. the set. the space. the props. the object or person via Sense Memory. etc. I KNOW they do this for a fact! Theyve talked about it for years.Eric helps you get to the place that they do-where you can function truthfully. where your instrument is accessible and available. where you are open and are willing to go where the character needs to go. emotionally. psychologically. and physically.My advice is read Erics books. If they pique any interest in you. if they strike a cord. study with Eric or Anthony. or at least contact them for further information about the system. I think youll be quite surprised and utterly amazed at the tools this Work can provide you as an actor.
