Common Sense: Marcus Tullius Cicero August 6, 2011

QUOTE FROM Marcus Tullius Cicero. (Jurist, politician, philosopher, writer and Roman orator)

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury must be replenished,
 public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of public officials should
be tempered and controlled, and assistance to other countries must be
removed so Rome does not go bankrupt. People must learn to work again,
instead of living off the state. "

-------------Year 55 B. C.

La Conchita Nocturne August 5, 2011

Another lonely night out on the range....

All I could think of is, "What would Edward Hopper think?" Nobody was around, it was DESOLATE! Perfect for my thesis of "unsellable" plein air nocturnes.

A year or so after this painting was created, a Tanker truck exploded on this freeway overpass; blocking the 101 northbound freeway for  a few days.  Where I live (Carpinteria) was isolated, once again.


La Conchita Nocturne
18x24 oil/canvas 1998
Private Collection
www.thomasvanstein.net

Hunter S. Thompson's Cat, "Biff" August 3, 2011

At the Bar with Biff

I traveled to Colorado to visit the haunts of Hunter S. Thompson, along with my Surreal Bounce colleague Robert Eringer.  

We entered a time capsule, the Woody Creek Tavern,
At the bar out in the sticks, (the bar Hunter use to hang out at and reap havoc on occasion).

Hunter's dead you know; long gone, by a self inflicted bullet through the head.  His ashes now scattered with a little help from Johnny Depp; (shot into space by a  makeshift cannon).

His  kitty, "Biff,"still has the free run of the joint...coming in and out at will; giving visitors a furry lap dance at his choosing. He is one cool cat!

Photo: Robert Eringer

www.thomasvanstein.net
www.surrealbounce.com

One Lone Road August 2, 2011

One of the first Plein Air Nocturnes I created toward my Master's Degree. I found the location in Oxnard off of Del Norte. I kept seeking out motifs that were minimal and moody; with just enough areas of interest to move the viewer's eye around the canvas, and keep the interest in the light.

One Lone Road
18x24 oil/canvas 1997
Private Collection

www.thomasvanstein.net

Packing House Nocturne II July 31, 2011

Sunkist Packing House in Carpinteria Second View 26x32 oil/canvas. 1999 Collection of the Artist www.thomasvanstein.net