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Cuban Artist Sketches Under Sea Among Fish,Coral Reefs

Reuters

   PUNTA PERDIZ, CUBA - Some artists like to go on a countryside retreat
   to foster their creative process.

   For Cuba's Sandor Gonzalez, there is no better place to sketch than
   several meters below the surface of the sea, surrounded by iridescent
   Caribbean fish and fantastical coral forms.

   The 42-year-old first won renown at home and abroad for his
   predominantly black-and-white, haunting images of imaginary cityscapes,
   inspired by a trip to Europe and reflecting the aggressiveness of
   modern, urban life.

   Then six years ago, he went scuba diving in Cuba and found his
   inspiration in the complete opposite: the tranquility found below water
   where all forms are natural and not manmade, all sounds are muffled and
   the light ripples softly.

   While Gonzalez had heard of a biologist painting underwater in Spain,
   he decided to experiment for himself until he found a way of sketching
   with charcoal or oil paints which unlike pastels or watercolor would
   not dissolve.

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