Claude Monet in Spirit December 17, 2011

Sailboat at Petit-Gennevilliers

All I know is that I am motivated by that which makes my heart sing.

I love art, so I study it, and make it a priority to surround myself with it.

I buy lots of art books with pictures of paintings made by the great Master Painters of the past.

In a way, they become my mentors...

As I seek out my motif's,   Nature reveals to me similar patterns of what may have been witnessed by one of my mentors when they walked the Earth.  I am at choice to use these patterns in one of my own paintings; (i.e. STEAL THE IDEA) and develop my art work with this influence at the core of it's configuration.

The other morning I walked outside my home and saw this view at Sunrise. The cloud patterns (Alto Cumulus) reminded me of patterns in a painting I'd seen before by French Impressionist Painter, Claude Monet.  This scene lasted only for a few minutes, but I captured it on camera, with the intention of sharing this idea of reference with you.

Alto Cumulus at Sunrise  photo: T. Van Stein

Presenting this evidence serves to keep me on track with my tact of being an artist; aligning present moments with the past, in a way that affects my future in a positive way. 

Mastery is Memory

Lion Eyes December 14, 2011

Imagination is Everything

Calm Between Storms December 13, 2011

 A Silvery Day in Paradise.  

It's good to be above ground!

Gingerbread Barber December 12, 2011

Freshly Baked Gingerbread House
Victoria Street, Santa Barbara California.


Passion beyond words! 

Lunar Eclipse Over the Artist's Home December 10, 2011

Lunar Eclipse Over the Near Beach Hotel: Carpinteria

A nice omen to begin one's day.


Fifty years ago I was born the night of a Lunar Eclipse. Is it possible, this is why I pursue the Moon in my nocturnes?

They say coming events cast their shadows...and in this case, the Earth over the Moon.

Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 2011

Tigers Over Kweilin  by Thomas Van Stein  78"x92"  oil on Canvas 2009  On display at the Commerative Air Force Museum, Camarillo California

70 years ago today, young Americans answered the call after the U.S. 6th Fleet was devastated at Pearl Harbor Some who were paying attention to world events made tremendous sacrifices in their own lives to get involved; and though America wasn't at war as of yet, they volunteered as mercenaries to help stem the tide of evil growing on the planet. 


These young Americans and their small  contingent of aircraft, were already in place; flying as American Expatriates for the Chinese Air Force.  The Americans earned the name, "Fei Hu" (Tigers of the Air), but more popularly known as, "The Flying Tigers".


When Pearl Harbor took place, these brave airmen took to the skies in Indochina to stop the advance of the Japanese into Burma, (Now called Myanmar)
This skeleton crew, exhausted and down to the last few men and planes held out for six months, they gave their all and did halt the advancement of the Japanese Brutal Imperial War Machine.


Every Vet who answered the call that day, were willing to put their personal lives on hold and signed up to protect our country in its time of need, is to be congratulated, and appreciated. I try to remember them with every brush stroke, on every canvas. Their dedication and Spirit of Freedom inspires me.

My Father was one of these who answered the call as a U.S. Merchant Marine.  This is his flag; a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capital on December 7, 1941.  It is flown almost every holiday, with great pride and remembrance. 

Long may these colors wave. Remember Pearl Harbor!!

Communing with Talia December 5, 2011

 

"A riveting story of unimaginable heartbreak and courage. It leaves you in awe of this mother's vast ability to love and to heal. It cannot help but change your view of what is possible."
~ Ellen Simon screenwriter One Fine Day and Moonlight and Valentino

“The story is compelling, fascinating and riveting—I couldn’t put it down! The chapter on ‘Raising Talia’ is one of the most intriguing accounts of parenting I’ve ever read.”
~ Jennifer Read Hawthorne, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul.

"This spellbinding, true story shows how the human spirit can triumph in the face of adversity with some inspiring help from beyond the veil."
~ Randy Peyser, Author of The Power of Miracle Thinking

Blogger Van Stein: Commissioned Painting
"Talia's View": the Beginning July 7, 2011
http://tvs-theartist.blogspot.com/2011/07/talias-view-beginning-july-7-2011.html