Cloud Study 2

Cloud study 2| 6"x6" | oil on hardboard

Another study of clouds.

Cloud study

Cloud study | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard

Merry Christmas 2011

The 2011 Vander Stelt Gazette

It is hard to believe another year has passed us by again. We have a lot to be thankful for here at the Vander Stelt household and looking back on the year we have some really great memories. If you click on the photo above, the link is suppose to open a copy of our annual Christmas newsletter. I'm not sure if I got the code embedded correctly, so if it doesn't work I guess you're out of luck.

I need to admit that every year I complain and threaten that this is going to be the last year I write it because it is too much work. We send out more of these than I'd care to admit. I suppose it is my yearly contribution to help save the United States Postal Service.

This is the 23rd consecutive year for the Gazette. We always save at least a couple copies of each issue, and each year when I begin writing, I grab all the old issues to get inspired and to reminisce a bit. It always brings a smile to my face as I read stories of the vacations we have taken or of the things the kids have done over the years.

Typically we start working on the content a week or two after Thanksgiving, and try to publish by mid-December. It has always been a two page document, but it started in black and white 23 years ago and in 2000 it was upgraded to color. You can also see the improvements in computer technology, printing and probably my design skills because looking back at some of the early issues, they look pretty crude in style compared to issue 23. But even though it is 23 years later, it is still an awful lot of work. Maybe I'll give up doing it next year.

Merry Christmas from the Vander Stelts

The Angels' Song

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than three weeks away. Our little town is rather known in the area as a place to come and view outdoor Christmas lighting and displays. I have shown some of my lawn displays in the past, and decided to paint a new one this year.

I also thought it might be fun to take a few snapshots of it as it progressed so you could see how it developed. Above you can see the first shot I took.


This is at the point where I started to block in the fiery bright angelic colors. It started to come to life a bit more at this point.


Here is a close-up at an early stage of a shepherd's face. This particular shepherd is probably my favorite. I didn't put a lot of time into any of the figures, mostly because people are almost always driving past and viewing it from the road. Viewing from that distance forgives a lot of errors.


This is a closeup of the lower part of the angel. This was probably the most fun to paint. Free flowing paint and brilliant colors.


We put it out in the front yard on Wednesday of last week. The paint was not fully dry, but we put it out anyway. It snowed 3-4 inches this weekend, so it looks really nice surrounded by a fresh layer of the white stuff.


The Angels' Song
Here is a little better look at the entire finished piece. It is what I would call a very traditional interpretation of this scene–one you might see in a Sunday school classroom. I think people are drawn to the traditional images and music that permeate the Christmas season.

If you are in the area, I invite you to come view the lights as well as the new painting at the Vander Stelts.

Santa Fe

Here are a few photos I shot on a trip that Denise and I took to Santa Fe, New Mexico this fall. It is a place I've always wanted to see and it lived up to my expectations. The color, architecture, culture, food and art were all wonderful.

The Taos Pueblo




El Sanctuario de Chimayo
I've been working on a large new painting for Christmas. I hope to have it done soon so we can put it out on our front yard for display this Christmas season. Stay tuned.

Dad's Profile

Dad's Profile | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard
My Dad is always a good subject for a portrait. He has had a big white beard for many years and turns the heads of a lot of small children at Christmas time.


I remember drawing his profile when I was a kid. I don't know if that drawing is still around or not. There is something I like about a profile. The window light streaming into the room really worked perfectly in adding dimension to his face. This was based on a photo I took after a Sunday dinner at my brother Bruces' house.

Todd's Cottonwoods

This is a quick sketch I did as my contribution to a 50th birthday scrapbook created by many of my co-workers for our company president and friend, Adrie Groeneweg. Adrie likes nature and particularly trees. I even did a tree commission for him a couple years ago.

I based this sketch on a photo posted on Facebook and shot by another friend, Todd Thompson. In addition to being a great writer and friend, Todd has a good eye for photography too. He says about these trees "My two favorite trees in the world. Cottonwoods. My great uncle L.D. moved here in 1914 and he said they were big trees then."

Chicago

I hope you're having a good summer. It has been busy here, but good. A little over a week ago I was fortunate to be able to attend a design conference in Chicago–what a great city. While there, I squeezed in a few hours at the Art Institute, which is one of my favorite museums. I had not been there in many years so it was a real treat to see some of my old favorites as well as see the new modern art wing and find a few new gems.

Penitent Saint Peter, Jusepe de Ribera
Of all the pieces I viewed during my visit to the Art Institute, this is the one that really grabbed me this time. I am not really familiar with this Spanish artist who painted this around 1628, but the face of Peter was just amazing.

Penitent Saint Peter, (detail)
To me, the artist captured vividly just what Peter must have felt like after denying Jesus three times.

Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") by Anish Kapoor
This sculpture in the Millenium Park, next door to the Art Institute, is truly a magnet for people. I was drawn to it numerous times during my four day visit. It's hard to describe the experience or even why this huge chrome bean is so appealing, but if you are in the windy city, it is worth stopping to see.

A Slice of Tuscan Roma

A Slice of Tuscan Roma | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

I've been thinking about painting a slice of Pizza Ranch pizza for a long time, and when fellow artist and friend, Darren Mauer, recently painted a slice of El Fredos pizza (a Sioux City landmark) it got me motivated to tackle the subject.

I shot a few snapshots of this slice a few weeks ago one night when we were having dinner at the Ranch. The Tuscan Roma pizza is a simple classic that combines tomato and spinach toppings with an alfredo sauce on a crispy thin crust. It's one of my favorites. The lighting was poor for shooting photos, and it made using the reference photo a little more difficult.

I do wonder if a slice of pepperoni may have been easier to paint.

Interested in buying this painting?

View of Landscape West of Maurice

View of Landscape West of Maurice | 30"x40" | oil on canvas

This is a fairly large work that I recently bartered for a new custom iron railing created by, Lauren Ochsner, a talented local artisan. His acreage can actually be seen in the distance toward the far right of the painting.

Lauren stopped me on the street not long after I delivered the painting. He said he had already framed it and hung it in his home. One of his adult sons saw it and said, "Dad, I'd like to have that after you and Mom are gone." Well, we both had a chuckle over that, but it did make me feel pretty good.

I think it's one of the things I enjoy most about being an artist–that hopefully many of my pieces will be enjoyed long after I leave this earth. I know I still continue to get constant enjoyment out of viewing the paintings of my grandfather, and he has been gone nearly 40 years already.

This painting reminds me of those 17th century Dutch landscapes that I love so much. Flat land with big billowing clouds.

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