Sunset, Santa Barbara. July 3, 2010

Every now and then, there's a good one. (A Sunset that is...)

Every now and then I find myself in the right place at the right time, with the time to paint. I have all my gear and most of my faculties,

It is incredibly enjoyable for me; to quickly set up my easel and palette, and paint the sun as it is setting. It is even more enjoyable if the painting process is effortless, and I can pull off a half decent work of art with minimal effort alla prima (painted in one sitting). Hopefully it is acceptable enough for my gallery: (the Bottoms Art Gallery), to exhibit, and sell.

Yes, it is a, "Pretty Picture", but it's exciting and challenging for me to paint something I've never witnessed, and created it in a way I've never painted before.

Some Artists, (Landscape Painters) frown, and look down their noses at paintings of sunsets-- considering them, "Low Art". I, however paint them out of love and appreciation for the day; daylight, the patient sun.

Knowing that no two Sunsets are alike, EVER! I strive to capture the uniqueness. I have immortalized this sunset in paint, yet I am clear that is some ways, it is a vain attempt on my part, to halt the passage of time.

Santa Barbara Sunset
10x20 oil/linen 2010

www.thomasvanstein.net

Dearly Depleted!

It's tough getting use to living in the darkness. On second thought, its tough getting sleep when it's nighttime all the time.

This trip to Iceland in the middle of Winter was not only enlightening, but after four solid days of the Viking Life, I'd overdrawn my sleep account. We runthurs had run out of steam.

Never before had I worked so hard to capture the flavor of a culture, and/or purity of a night sky, in paint. In the end, I came away with nine or so paintings; (many are now in the collection of Robert Eringer). I also came away with an insight as to what thesis I could pursue in my future art career; the pursuit of "creativity and madness".

Soon after this picture was taken, my world class snoring left plenty of sawdust on the floor of the airplane, (and plenty of passengers scrambling for their ear plugs).

I wasn't intending to be rude, I was merely being expressive!

Thomas Van Stein, Robert Eringer, Floater, Headin' Home from Going Berserk.

For more flow, see the Surreal Bounce Blog: http://surrealbounce.blogspot.com/

Giggle Stick Gallery Rekyavick, Iceland

I've always appreciated this candid photo of Floater; captured expressing both astonishment and disbelief. Here we were, Robert Eringer, Floater, Eric the Red, and I, in the midst of the world's only Phallic Museum, in Wreck-it-up, Iceland.

We meandered through the penile presentations, (all Bobbited from various mammals); From Penguins to Porpoises, Elephants to Blue Whales. Some schvantzes extended so far out from the wall you had to mind your own head, so to speak, or else you could put 'your eye out, or maybe kick the stick and stumble!

If you were naturally short in stature, you could succeed in circumnavigating the throngs of prongs by either high-stepping, or dancing the limbo throughout the museum's dozens of dildo displays.

It was Ironically hilarious for us [macho men], to see such a display. It made us a bit uneasy; especially when the Owner/operator of the Museum scanned us with a disdainful eye. (He'd overheard our chuckles).

With one eye open, he was watching out for yank pranks!

To him, this museum was no fallacy. This was his serious' collection of cocks, and he was proud of his pricks! Glaring at us between our murmurs, and mumbles. He horned in on Eringer; sizing him up as though he was looking to complete his collection!!

I could see we were making this Viking Thor. So, imagining the chop from a bronze battle ax, I decided I'd seen enough of this homage to homer, and slipped out the back.

I had to wonder how someone like this curator would explain what he does for a living? Would Freud consider this a form of penis envy? Could one wager a bet on what the curator is thinking about a good part of his day? Wouldn't it be funny if he were on the Television show, "What's my Line?" That episode would be a hit!

Granted, there is an art to the procurement, taxidermy, and installment of the sculptus erectus, but I can't help but think that some Vikings have way too much time on their hands.

If one is undecided where they stand on the issue of whether or not size matters, they could find plenty of resources to help them reach a conclusion; there at this museum to the phallus.

My conclusion; It's not the size that matters, it's how you use what ya got in order to get the job done!

Hot Night at Club Nasa June 23, 2010

This was a challenging painting mostly because I was dealing with a subject that was constantly moving; The disco Ball was moving, the different colored lights were moving, the blond headed bobbing crowd was moving; undulating on the dance floor, there were even dancers on stage in front of a large movie screen showing old black and white silent films.

I had to pick and choose what was important; work from memory throughout the whole paintings' evolution, remembering that it was an impression of what I was experiencing, not a photographic representation of the moment.

I remember the blond vixen speaking Icelandic in my ear, doing her best to shake my resolve, and my co-hards working to be my body guards up against curious berserkers. Last of all, me, lighting a cigar and walking through the grinding throngs on the dance floor after i'd finished. I was feeling quite cocky after that day's adventures.

From what I was told, the next day would be even more unique, and, ahem, memorable.

Hot Night at Club Nasa
8x6 oil/board

Collection of Robert Eringer

For More of the story visit: http://surrealbounce.blogspot.com/

Ice Falls, Godfoss Iceland

As I had mentioned, I was pretty worn out painting the Geyser and getting frosted, that I wanted to stay in doors for my next painting. (my toes were pretty near frost bitten) Note I am still in my full gear with Russian Cap/head lamp, and four layers of gear.

But I was here to work. My job was to paint, and so paint I did.

My thanks to Christian and Eric the Red for their patience while I painted.

Photo credit: Eric the Red (Russel)

For More of the story visit: http://surrealbounce.blogspot.com/

Club Nasa, Rekyavik Iceland.

After getting Stuffed with Puffin and Whale Steak, Robert Eringer Floater, Eric the Red, and I, made our way out into the late night pub crawl; doing the Runtur as it is called in Icelandic. We made our way into this large discotheque called Club Nasa, filled with hundreds of Vibrating Vikings.

We climbed up on to a platform above the large dance floor which pulsated with bobbing blond heads; a large Disco Ball swirled up above. There were vikings dancing every where; even on the stage which was showing black and white silent movies as a backdrop. I have never heard such a loud beat from the Woofers.

Eringer encouraged me to do a painting of the scene before me so I broke out my Small pochade box and went to work capturing the excitement of the dance. During the painting blond vixens climbed up on the rails and attempted to distract me by speaking garbled mumbles of Icelandic in my ear. It was futile to try to 'pick me up' because not only did I not understand their Nordic language, but it was so incredibly loud, that all I could do is attempt to lip read, which too was useless. I'll say this much, not even when she licked my ear with her tongue did I understand what was going on.

Floater, Eringer, and Eric the Red could see I was having a challenging time accomplishing my painting so they formed a blockade around me disallowing any more viking invaders into my space...

We knew they were just young and curious; much as their ancestors who circumnavigated the globe centuries before. But we were on a mission to experience and capture berserkness during this Feast of Thorbladt; not be captured by berserkers
and feasted upon for their enjoyment.

Read More about Surreal Bounce:
http://surrealbounce.blogspot.com/


Van Stein painting in Club Nasa
Photo credit:
Eric the Red (Russel)

Frozen Falls, Godfoss Iceland. June 11, 2010

While my traveling companions, Robert Eringer and Frank Martin caroused Rekyivik, Eric the Red and I traveled into the frozen moonscape of Iceland to catch a glympse of the geyser, the all thing, and the drowning pool. On the way we stopped by the frozen falls called Godfoss.

It was too bloody cold outside that I chose to sketch this painting of the falls from within the warmth of our van.

Believe me, after getting kissed by the devil at geyser I was done being frozen to my palette.

I needed a break; warm food, and good wine awaited me before my journey out into the frigid air to paint the Northern Lights.

Frozen Falls, Godfoss, Iceland
5x7, oil,
Collection of Robert Eringer

http://surrealbounce.blogspot.com/