Lemon Packing House Nocturne July 31, 2011

I heard this nearby packing house was not long for the world so I grabbed my gear and set up under the full moon to capture it for one last time.


It had been there since the 1920's and was utilized by the Carpinteria Motor Transport Company in the last 20 years or so. For years it was a charming subject for Artists and Photographers. It even became a shelter for our Monkey, Siwa, one night after she'd escaped from her cage. 

It was torn down with the agreement what would be built in it's place would have similar visual appeal to the packing house. They came close. The Corrugated Metal Siding was taken off and some of it reused for the Palm Loft Artist Live/Work Studios, so that is a good thing.

Packing House Nocturne
22x44  oil/canvas 1999

www.thomasvanstein.net

Paper Plant Nocturne July 29, 2011

This painting was produced in 1997, in the first year working producing my Master's Thesis at Cal State University Northridge. I was beginning my search for urban/industrial grit, at night, painted on location.

It was outside the barbed wire fence surrounding the Proctor and Gamble Paper Products Plant in Oxnard California.

I remember the erie sounds of the fork lifts moving around inside the plant, and I thought of the movie, Soylent Green, imagining they were making little green biscuits out of dead people.





Paper Plant Nocturne
18x24 oil/canvas 1997
Collection of the Artist


www.thomasvanstein.net

Moonrise, Fernald Point July 28, 2011

Moonrise, Fernald Point
12x17  oil/canvas 2009

Private collection

www.thomasvanstein.net

Moonrise, Santa Barbara July 27, 2011

Santa Barbara Moonrise
8 x 12  oil/board 2009

Private Collection

www.thomasvanstein.net 

Memorial Flight July 26, 2011

Roger and Me

Roger Ostland, lost his wife. His fellow Colonels at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Camarillo pitched in to give him a ride in a P-51 Mustang, as a gesture of support.

Instead of painting the name of his late wife on the cowling, I took blue painter's tape and cut out her name, "Lucy", and placed it on the aircraft for the memorial flight.

I like to think Lucy made the flight with her husband that day.


Photos: Dan Newcomb

www.thomasvanstein.net

Foggy Night Nocturne July 25, 2011

Foggy Night Nocturne
22x24 oil/canvas 2002
Private Collection

www.thomasvanstein.net

Painting L.A. Skidrow from Above July 24, 2011

C. Burt, Erdy and I had one hour to paint. It was incredibly frustrating, but the higher picture (in this case, and no pun intended), is to take something, and make something out of nothing.
My painting looks like it could be an urban nocturne painted  anywhere USA. Lots of drama from the various lighting.

The painting was small, and challenging, but a good practice in intuitive investigative work.

Urban Night, Skidrow
8x12 oil/board  2011
www.thomasvanstein.net