Christmas Lights, Carpinteria December 22, 2011

Its the first night of Hanuka and the Near Beach Hotel is all lit-up and cozy. Even the Orbs have come out to play.  

I imagine...with hope, and give thanks for the chiaroscuro of the moment.

The True Christmas Spirit December 18, 2011

Tis the season, spirit's tappin';

Try to witness miracles happen.

Mother Nature; when she calls,

Reveals to us orb-like balls.

Light the way for us to see;

The metaphor of a Christmas Tree. 

Deep and meaningful is it's light;

Guiding the hopeless through the night.

Relax, enjoy this time of year.

An attitude of gratitude, 

Will bring great cheer.

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.