Love Abides, so Paddle Hearter! Nov. 31, 2011

Hear the Art
Heart he Art
Hearthe  Art
H earth eArt
Heart  heArt

Steam Train: Los Angeles November 29, 2011

Gone are the days when sights like these we took for granted; thinking they would always be there, forever.  

Now, I'm inspired, to get up a full Head of Steam, and take on the day, before it gets away.

High Flight November 14, 2011

Memorial Flight, Santa Barbara California, Veteran's Day 2011
Formation of WWII Aircraft; a B-25 Mitchell, being escorted by four Yaks above State Street.

Autumn Night November 6, 2011

Cars Come to Carpinteria October 3, 2011

I didn't quite know what to make of this characature but someone attempted to animate this old pickup truck nearby my house.

Charles Hawthorne use to tell his students, "It is a higher art to take something ugly and make something beautiful out of it.

Whomever decorated this truck didn't hear those words of wisdom. In fact they went the opposite  direction; taking something cool and creating something ugly out of it.

Anthropomorphism in Downtown Los Angeles Sept. 26, 2011

Three amigos,
Three musketeers, 
Three Stooges
Three's a crowd.
Atrophied together- their silence is loud.
Growing old; decrepit, hunching and bowed.
Nothing much left of what once was so proud.
Turn out the lights and cover with shroud.

Vintage Dream Sept. 17, 2011

Face in the Clouds Sept. 14, 2011

Gleaming Luar, Venice August 31, 2011

It took me 50 years to make it to the canals of Venice, California. It was full of charming houses, intimate vignettes; lots of paintable subject matter.  Jim Morrison of The Doors traipsed around these watery streets (according to the way-back-when machine).

There is something surreal about it all, but  enhancing,  nonetheless: An Impressionist's Playground.

www.thomasvanstein.net 

Dog Beach August 23, 2011

Bella  Hovering at Sunset

Another day's gone by, and my dog gets to play on the beach.

Another Sun sets,  just out of reach.

Life is fleeting.

Time flows to and fro like the waves that carry the sand to shore.

Not a bad life to live... once more!

Static SR-71 August 21, 2011

 Not so fast... (any more)

Chevy, Aye Candy August 17, 2011

Sun Day at the County Fair August 12, 2011

Sunset, Ventura County Fair

Peeking Duck-- Chinatown August 8, 2011

Hot Rod Aug. 6, 2011

Dashing Red Hot 34  Rods and Roses show 2011 Carpinteria California

www.thomasvanstein.net

Sunset Shroud August 6, 2011

 Sunset Shroud
Montecito Fire House, Montecito, California 2011
Photo: T. Van Stein

www.thomasvanstein.net

Truly Vetted August 5, 2011

Orange 34 August 4, 2011

56 Chevy August 3, 2011

Cobra August 2, 2011

0 to 60 in six seconds flat.

I'd never seen one in Yeller before.

www.thomasvanstein.net

Rods and Roses, Carpinteria California 2011

Classic Blue August 1, 2011

Total Eye Candy: Rods and Roses, Carpinteria California, 2011 Attention to Detail

Rods and Roses, Carpinteria July 31, 2011

Nomad Eye Candy

Sun Dog July 31, 2011

Sometimes good things come from looking up.

www.thomasvanstein.net

Auto Eye Candy July 29, 2011

A Classic T-bird 2010 seen at the Master's of the American West Show, Gene Autry Museum Los Angeles

The World Wide Spider Web July 28, 2011

Miracles abound, constantly. If one keeps their head on a swivel, scanning and searching for them, seeking out the patterns and details...

Then, life unfolds.

Until then, hang in there, everything works out eventually.





Photo: T. Van Stein

Angel Fire July 28, 2011

July 4, 2010
Santa Barbara

Photo: T. Van Stein

Meditate July 26, 2011

Reminder

 Photo: T. Van Stein

www.thomasvanstein.net

Nocturne July 25, 2011

Blue Bellied Lizard now has Blue Legs to Match July 24, 2011

I didn't ask my little friend to visit, but he jumped inside my palette and scurried into the piles of paint. Then off he went, to paint the town Blue.

Photo: T. Van Stein

www.thomasvanstein.net

Tea Fire July 21, 2011

One night I was painting the full moon rise in Santa Barbara, As the Moon rose, I witnessed the beginning  flames of the Tea Fire. I shouted out to passer's by in a helpless attempt to spread the word of what would become one of Santa Barbara's costliest fires.

The Flames behind Santa Barbara grew skyward warm underneath, illuminated by the moonlit sky above. A beautiful spectacle, but a tragic event.

Tea Moon Fire Begins
12x20 oil/canvas Private Collection
www.thomasvanstein.net

A Phenomenon: July 20, 2011

Remnants from a Vandenberg AFB Rocket Launch

Image photos: T. Van Stein

Setting Sun July 19, 2011