Poetic Palmistry, Santa Barbara April 22, 2011

Sunset, glowing on palm tree;
very common site to see.
Rare to catch the Spring Moon rise;
hovering in blue-violet skies.


--Van Stein

Carpinteria Seascape April 21, 2011

Painting demonstration for my Plein air painting class: "Light and Shadow in Art".

It was a beautiful Fall day, the Sun Glistening on the water; who can ask for anything more?

Surf''s-up at the Jelly Bowl
Carpinteria.
11x14 oil/canvas 2011
Collection of the Artist

Teaching Day, April 20, 2011

Eighteen Years I've been teaching Art through the Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education Program. I am now teaching a class in Color Exploration, in Carpinteria, in the Carpinteria Veterans Hall. It's a lot of Fun!

50 years ago I use to run around in this Veterans Hall as a toddler. Now I have a class FULL of eager-to-learn adults; the oldest member being 102 years of age! This is great! I view it as I now have a teacher who is 102 years old!!

Every student brings me something to learn or remember about myself or craft, and one is never too old to learn.

The greatest teacher is the greatest student.

Santa Barbara Vista, April 19, 2011

The Tea Fire which swept through the Foothills behind Santa Barbara cleared a lot of trees and shrubs (not to mention houses) out of the way...making way for glorious vistas and a swelling of California Poppies and various wildflowers.

It is a green spring, which is a good thing.

Santa Barbara Vista (class Demo)
9x12 oil/panel 2011

Collection of the Artist