Thomas Van Stein Blog

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes May 22, 2012

2012-05-22T15:29:15Z

It is unusual for me to create a commissioned painting depicting the constructiion of a motorcycle. In this painting Harry Erskine is in process of welding together a frame for a Metisse Motor Cycle, called, the, "Steve McQueen Desert Racer". The blue Green harmony gives the appearance of the visual through a welding mask. The high contrast is pushed to give the optimal affect of chiaroscuro. To get all these affects I utilized a large degree of glazing techniques, pushing and pulling the middle to darker values/tones, then adding the highlights at the end.

Welding Frames

14x18 oil/canvas 2012

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes May 17, 2012 Old Michelham Church

2012-05-17T13:32:15Z

Old Michaelham Church in Surrey, is One Thousand Years Old. The view from my room at the Running Horses Inn, looked out of lead filled glass, on to the graveyard surrounding the west portal to the church, making it a surreal view.

I used a limited palette to paint this painting of the church, reminded by some of the early work of Vincent Van Gogh.

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes May 15, 2012

2012-05-16T13:48:30Z

I had one day left to paint and it was typical nasty weather outside, so I set the Steve McQueen Desert Racer; (Light and Dark contrast). up inside the garage. I set up a single light sourse, set low, giving the Rig a classic, moody, look in Chiaroscuro.

I feel Vermeer and Rembrant would approve of the approach to painting this beast, and maybe would have wanted to take it for a ride.

The Desert Racer

9x12 oil/panel private collection

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes May 15, 2012

2012-05-15T14:40:46Z

What better way to depict the STEVE McQUEEN DESERT RACER than to place it in front of the 15th Century "Running Horses Inn", in in the town of Surrey...

Running Horses Inn

9x12 oil/panel Private Collection

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes May 14, 2012

2012-05-14T14:10:28Z

Hanging out in the Metisse House where the legacy of the Metisse Brand was being created was surreally fun. We wheeled this MK V in to this show room, and then I spent about five hours drawing and configuring the painting on to the little 9x12 panel. In the end I gained a greater awareness on how motorcycle parts fit together in porportion, without knowing their function.

Inside Mitesse Motorcycle Factory May 12, 2012

2012-05-13T02:03:11Z

Just a hop, skip, and jump away from the Trout Inn was the Mitesse House. Inside some workers were busy handcrafting and welding the motorcycle frames for the Steve McQueen Desert Racer. So, I set up shop, and went to work painting the activity.

Harry Erskine Welding a Frame

12x9 oil/panel Private Collection

Harry Erskine Welding, Jerry Lisi, Operating Manager

Moonset over the Tad Pole Bridge

2012-05-11T15:43:51Z

Staying at the Trout Inn in Oxfordshire, we were flanked by the tip of the Thames, and the 15th Century Tad Pole bridge. It was quiet and dank, and into the bog I sank while painting this picture at dawn. Lots of water has passed under this bridge, and by the look of it there's more to come.

Moonset Over the Tad Pole Bridge

9x12 oil/board Private collection

Metisse Motorcycle Commission and UK Landscapes

2012-04-26T16:16:49Z

I received a commission which sent me to Oxfordshire and Surry, England to paint paintings which had Motorcycles made by Metisse. In the six days I was away I created eight 9x12 oii paintings in six days.

This is the first. It is a plein air nocturne I created about 2am outside the 16th Century Trout Inn, where I was residing for a few days. It was quite cold and damp, but I wa inspired to paint the clearing skies, and view the silent moon setting over the Cotswolds.

The Trout Inn Nocturne

9x12 oil/board 2012 Private Collection

Ice Moon Cometh, Homer Alaska

2012-03-27T15:26:00Z

All I know it it was freezing cold (15 degrees F). but I was there to paint aloneness. Eringer and I had traveled to this remote destination to capture the surreal depth of desolation.

Out on the Homer Spit, nothing was moving except the wisping fog and lapping waves on the shore.

The rocks I stood on were black and Orca in shape, and I did my best not to slip on the ice that covered them while painting.

My -140 degree boots from Cabellas, made all the difference in my attitude to stick it out, and paint away. I added extra linseed oil into my paints (adding viscosity); in order to keep them from freezing

One has to be like leather when painting in this weather.

the Ice Moon Cometh
10x14 oil/board

Collection of Robert Eringer
Surreal Bounce

The American Flag

2012-03-25T15:23:00Z

When traveling with Robert Eringer, on one of our Surreal Bounce Journeys, I captured on film, this Bald Eagle; perched like a postage stamp on top of this flag pole. Old Glory waving proudly with resolve through the damp and bleak breeze.

Eringer and I traveled to Homer, Alaska in the dreary cold of Mid Winter, to try to experience the concept of "Aloneness". It was indeed dreary and desolate, yet expansive on many levels. However, nothing was more heartwarming than to witness this sight as we arrived the Homer Spit.

www.surrealbouncers.com