“I read somewhere that the most noble thing you can do is teach art to kids,” Ty smiled, clearly excited with the opportunity to expand young lives through the world of art. “Getting to nourish a kid’s mind with art is very rewarding.”

 Born in the Netherlands, Ty was surrounded by beauty and artistry at a tender age and attributes his grandparents for his artistic inspiration. “Both my  grandfathers were Dutch artists,” Ty said.

Ty’s father had been a merchant marine. He’d traveled to California and fallen in love with San Diego; later moving his family to the seaside city. Then, in 1976, the Vollebregts headed north to San Clemente where Ty entered first grade at Concordia Elementary School. “I first got turned on to creating art at Concordia when I was asked to draw pictures for my friends,” Ty recalled. “It was pretty fun coming up with things!”

The artist’s ‘happy suburban’ childhood with siblings Dave, Mike and Monique included the usual work and play, but there was also a lot of traveling.

“Sometimes my Mom would get homesick so we’d go to the Netherlands,” Ty said. “There was a lot of back and forth.”

Later attending Shorecliffs Junior High, Ty was active in studies and sports; he also became fascinated with the pop art taking place all around him. “My brother had all these records and I would just study the art on the albums,” Ty smiled, shaking his head. “Some of the sleeves were incredible.”

When the cutting-edge video network MTV launched in the 1980s it was like a lightning bolt. “It catapulted me!” Ty exclaimed. “All those neon, bright colors--the slick art and influences of the eighties, it was mind-blowing!”

At San Clemente High School Ty’s passion for creating art really ignited under the guidance of notable area artist and teacher Rick Delanty. “He really influenced me and my love of art,” Ty said.

Considering what to do next, his SCHS water polo and swim coach Steve Yancey advised him on colleges with good art departments, and after graduating Ty enrolled at Long Beach State where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. “At the time I know my Dad was a little concerned and thought that going into art was a risky thing to do,” Ty said. “But I wanted to go.”

With degree in hand, Ty continued his longstanding job with the California State Parks as both San Clemente Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard trainer. It was a good call-- he met wife Kirschel, a former lifeguard, on the beach in 2000 and they married in 2005. Having worked with kids for so many years, Ty knew teaching was a natural next step and he joined the Capistrano Unified School District as a part- time/substitute instructor. “I started out working in a classroom anywhere from one day to multiple months, depending on what was needed,” Ty said, giving him an opportunity to create art in his free time. “I was doing a lot of digital art and began playing with a postcard idea.” 

 

Taking inspiration from the bright retro art of the eighties Ty created a San Clemente prototype card-- reminiscent of yesteryear--complete with bold lettering and local images. “I’d never seen one for our town yet, so I had it printed - and there it sat for a while,” Ty laughed.

A chance meeting between Kirschel and The San Clemente Store Owner Nicky Magnuson at their daughters’ volleyball game in 2017 led to a discussion of Ty’s work. “I kept hearing about this amazing store dedicated specifically to San Clemente artists,” Ty explained. “My wife told Nicky about my postcards and she invited me to put them in her store--that’s how my sales started!”

Soon after Ty was rendering stylistic designs of local classics: Bonded Cleaners, Pedro’s, Denny’s, along with the cities of Dana Point, Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano. He also produced cards, stickers, 5x7 and 8x10 matted prints - all to glowing response. “People really love the iconic look and the cool, coastal colors,” Ty said.

Teaching, lifeguarding, creating, and attending daughter Riviera’s volleyball games with Kirschel kept him busy, then another brushstroke of luck came his way … Meet the Masters. 

“I went to audition to work for the company and I was hired!” Ty beamed.

The prestigious Meet the Masters K-5 Elementary school program is an educational series focused on bringing art to youth and is funded primarily through the CUSD PTA and private sources. “We go to the schools and present famous artists in a slide show, then later teach the kids how to make the art,” Ty explained. These one-hour classes can encompass many presentations per day, keeping the traveling master busy.

“The kids really love it and so do I!” Ty enthused, noting how this valuable curriculum has made an impact on youngsters and teachers, alike. “At some of the schools I’ll have teachers come up to me and tell me how they remember doing art in class - it made such a difference in their lives!”

Thirty master painters are covered throughout K-5, with some artists being clear favorites with students. “The kids really love Andy Warhol, plus they get to make soup cans!” Ty laughed. Another favorite is working in pastels to achieve Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ or molding with clay as they study Maria Martinez.

 

   “The young ones are impressionable so they’re not thinking about phones or technology but about making art,” Ty said, adding how important it is when art becomes the early language of a child. “I’m pretty excited about teaching these courses and I sign up for everything I can!”

When work doesn’t feel like work... that is truly the art of living, and Ty has indeed mastered that. Perhaps his native Netherlands instilled an early appreciation for creation and beauty, later realized even greater in San Clemente. For certain, our community is richer for his talents and the gifts of heart and art he so joyfully shares with us.