Thomas Van Stein - Daytime Paintings

flower fields.jpg

The Carpinteria Bluffs have now become part of Carpinteria's reputation for being known as the Flower Growing Capitol of the World. These Larkspur and Delphiniums Bloomed almost patriotically in the month of June, getting ready for the 4th of July.

Flower Fields in Morning Light
18x40 oil/canvas 2012

Painting is available for purchase through James Main Fine Art, Santa Barbara California. (805) 637-8632

Waiting on the Tequlia Express 11x14 oil/canvas

This was a demonstration painting for my plein air painting class, "Light and Shadow in Art" through Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education. It was a blustery day, and few students chose to paint but instead watch the demo.

As the demo drew to an end along comes a passenger train, and on the tail end of the train was a car that was painted green with yellow lettering, "Tequila Express". (google it!).

If interested please contact the Dentzel Gallery, Santa Barbara ((805) 570-7335

Summerland Vista, 8 x 8 | oil on board

Available, please contact Thomas Van Stein (805)962-2776

Summerland Beach Overlook Park near Santa Barbara is pleasant place to view the expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Framed by bougainvillea, this vista painting, captures the mellow glow of afternoon light looking outward toward Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Bird Refuge11x14. oil/boardjpg

First class of the Fall Quarter meets at the Santa Barbara Bird Refuge. After the lecture I performed this demonstration painting, looking into the glistening sun on the brackish water. To simplify the palette we used the Valesquez pallette of four colors; Ultramarine Blue, Alizarine Crimson, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ocher, and white.

The painting was on exhibit at the Los Angeles County Municipal Art Museum in a show titled, "Saving Paradise", featurning the California Art Club Members, March 8-May 6, 2012. It is now on exhibit in Paso Robles at the Studios on the Park, Plein air Master's Exhibition.

If interested in the painting please contact Ann Landon at the Studios on the Park

130 Pine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 238-9800

Coastal Fog, 11 x 14 | oil on canvas

Available, Please contact James Main Fine Art (805)637-8632

Whistler welcomed the gray coastal fogs, calling them, "Silvery Days". This painting was a demonstration painting for my plein air painting class, Light and Shadow in Art. The palette criteria was restricted to Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, and Titanium white. Tonalism is alive and well in this representation of a cool moody day.

Castle on the Coast 6x8 oil/board

This is a quick sketch for my class, done on Santa Clause Lane beach near Carpinteria. I've always been intrigued by the Moorish architecture of these buildings hugging the coast. The original buildings, created by George Washington Smith burned down sixty years ago, but have now been rebuilt resembling something one might imagine, out of the Arabian Nights.

If interested in this painting please contact James Main Fine Art Santa Barbara California (805) 637-8632

St Anthony's Fall, 14x12, oil/canvas

After the big earthquake in 1925 Santa Barbara Rebuilt with a theme of Old Spain amongst its architecture.

This painting, "St. Anthony's in Fall"; when the Sycamores begin dropping their leaves and the old Monestery under low light begins to show her age brings back memories of the old world. St Anthony's Seminary reminds me of the architecture I witnessed in Segovia, or Sevilla, Spain. This painting was created as a demonstration painting for my plein air painting class; where the theme was Antiquity.

The challenge or criteria, was how to maintain the "feeling" of antiquity and historic nature of a subject by rendering it in a timeless light.

If you would like to purchase this painting please contact James Main Fine Art, in Santa Barbara California (805)637-8632