Alley Kat: Jack Kerouac April 13, 2011

Wedged in between City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio the Bar, exists this alleyway, once traversed by the original beater, Jack Kerouac.

The city of San Francisco has done a wonderful thing; They've preserved his legacy by making the alleyway open for pedestrians only, and imbeding in the concrete some significant quotes by other writers and poets of note, like Maya Angelou, and John Steinbeck.

I painted this sketch on location this last Saturday night, from eleven until one o'clock in the morning. It felt safe and groovy; like I was witnessing a movie. Meeting the local homeless and artists/poets like Osirus, or Lenny, the North Beach neon sign maker, both characters helped make up of the fabric of this rich city suburb.

I myself provided the passers-by with something to ponder and wonder about. I was like a street performer lurking in the shadow of a tree, balancing on the curb precariously. As most people passed, they were moving too fast to notice my act, and in a relative flash like Jack, I too was there, then gone.

None of us are really here for long.

Jack Kerouac Alley
8"x6" oil/board 2011
Collection of the Artist

Inside Vesuvio April 12, 2011

Placing my small easel on my lap, with brushes, oils, palette, booklights and Whisky, I painted the hustle and bustle of a Saturday night; looking down from my perch on the balcony at Vesuvio.

Saturday Night at Vesuvio
8x6 oil/panel 2011
Collection of the Artist












Where the Beats, including Kerouac, drank the night away.


TONIGHT


SURREAL BOUNCE

Tuesday, April 12th, 6-7 p.m.

On the Road With Jack Kerouac

Santa Barbara: Channel 17

Everywhere else:

The Santa Barbara Channels | TV

The Pilgram Departs April 8, 2010

Another teaching day, six months later, same location. I was teaching my class (again) at the Montecito Country Club. I decided to do a similar painting compositionally as the one seen in yesterday's post. This time the light was brighter and cooler. I used a bluish purple underpainting and worked from there striving for the same affects. However, this time the colors were much cooler, and expressed impressionistically. the vibration came from complimentary hues of purple and yellow, not so much as warm and cool.

In the middle of the painting process we witnessed a tall ship leaving port. I snapped this photo to capture the immediacy of the moment.

I feel enchantment whenever I see a tall ship. When it sets sail, so doth my imagination!

The Pilgram Departs
12"x12" oil/canvas
2010

Collection of the Artist

Teaching Day. April 7, 2011

A couple of years ago, Spring, I taught my painting class at the Montecito Country Club. The Sun Glistened on the water over the Santa Barbara Channel.

Using Naples Yellow for my highlights, and a light violet for an under painting tone I developed the painting, where the vibration of complements (Lavender/amber) created a vibration. My goal was to keep the painting harmonized in the amber range, so it holds together; the overall painting was warm with an amber tone.

The cooler highlights have contrast, or, "Pop", because of what is next to them: Gray warmer tones, next to cooler, more intense notes of color, and also the subtle contrast of juxtaposed complimentary colors.

One of my students took this picture of me after holding the painting after removing it from my easel.

It's best to get the new creation to a safe environment immediately after completion. In other words, "Gotta protect the goods!!

Summer Light
12"x12" oil/board 2009
Private Collection

ERINGER: SURREAL BOUNCE: WOODY CREEK TAVERN

ERINGER: SURREAL BOUNCE: WOODY CREEK TAVERN: "Painting by Thomas Van Stein"
"Two Hunters Conversing- Woody Creek Tavern" 6x8 oil 4-4-11
Collection: Robert Eringer

ERINGER: SURREAL BOUNCE: USTREAM: "BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE"

ERINGER: SURREAL BOUNCE: USTREAM: "BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE": "American Riviera, Hunter thompson surreal bounce SBChannels on USTREAM. Other Entertainment"

Einstein on the Beach Santa Barbara April 4, 2011

Even the brilliant in mind realize the miracles and restorative nature of the Ocean. The Pacific Ocean has no memory.

I saw this photograph of Albert Einstein on the somewhere near Santa Barbara. Being a landscape painter I saw the landscape behind him in the picture and knew instantly where it was. I printed out the photo, and one Saturday morning I took my two boys to that spot where Einstein once stood, probably in the 1950's.

Remarkably the beach has still the same type of sand. There are houses now, out of the picture on the right.Padero lane runs to that first Promentory known as Loon Point. (Kevin Costner lives just around the bend). Santa Barbara is the furthest land mass in the picture.

Even though Einstein wasn't a painter, his mind was Masterful. My job as a Dad was to try to integrate the importance of history to my kids; to try to get a feeling of what Past Masters may have experienced, as if they could follow in their foot steps.

That is not a requirement, but it would be a comfort it they strived hard.

Einstein: "Genius= 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration"