Today is the birthday of Aleksandr Petrov, the Russian animator born July 17, 1957, in the village of Prechistoye. He is known for his unique technique of creating animations from pastel oil paintings on glass, using his fingertips to paint for added texture.
Petrov’s first animation was made in 1988, Marathon, and was a tribute to Mickey Mouse! But his most famous film is his version of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, made in 1999.
Created slightly after the Soviet era, here is Petrov’s beautiful Russian animation The Old Man and the Sea. It has won a number of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and is a wonderful example of the beauty of Petrov’s painted glass technique.
