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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Installation Art February 11, 2012

Art for Art Sake.  My first attempt at installation art. Venice Beach 2011 

Left by the side of the  road, it's fate unknown...




www.thomasvanstein.net

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Teaching Day: Joaquin Sorolla, and The Art of Play February 9, 2012

Today's class was set up at the Arroyo Burro (Hendrys) Beach in Santa Barbra. Beautiful Day, Beautiful Weather, Beautiful Light. The Surf was up: waves 5-8 feet! Everyone was feeling fine.


Today's Demonstration:  looking into the glistening path of light from a high sun overhead, the goal was to think color first, then seeing the relationships on the notes of color adjacent to the highlights. I chose the color harmonies based on a painting I'd seen painted by Joaquin Sorolla; called, "Beach on the Noon"
(I will post my demo later). 

Joaquin Sorolla: Beach on the Noon




Boy on the March



















What captivated me was the quantity of foam that accumulated at the shoreline. I saw a little boy playing by the sea shore and felt compelled to capture his since of exhilaration while playing in the suds.


Skidaddle!
Lite and Frothy















He did his best to avoid the Foam Monster, until he decided to climb into the largest pile of foam, pick a bunch, and take some home.
My Class at Play

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Rocket's Red Glare February 7, 2012

One of my art students, Meggi McKenzie, took this photo the other day, North of Santa Barbara.  


My philosophy is that because they are open, and looking out over the ledge most of the time, Artists tend to find themselves in situations where they are the witness to events: such as the Artist, Collin Campbell Cooper being on board the S.S. Carpathia when it rescued survivors from the Titanic.  I've been lucky enough to see the original paintings done on location during the rescue, and they are a site to behold.




In this case, Doreen caught the rocket in mid flight as it was heading somewhere, "out there".


It's kinda romantic to look at, unless it is an ICBM  from Vandenberg Air Force Base; heading toward China, Korea, Russia, beginning World War III.


If it was the last day on the Earth as we know it, I'd want to go out painting...




Monday, February 6, 2012

Superbowl Sunday Sunset February 6, 2012

While many were glued to the tube, a few caught a glimpse of the last light of day. For those who missed it, this is the one that got away...
Sunset, near Santa Barbara