Stefan H. Verstappen (born 1957, Toronto, Canada) is a writer, world traveler, artist, and martial arts expert.

Verstappen's introduction to art was at the age of fifteen after his first solo canoe trip into the wilds of Algonquin Provincial Park. There he first learned of Tom Thomson one of Canada's famous Group of Seven painters. Following Thompson's example, Verstappen became an adept woodsman and later worked as an out-tripper in the very same park.

At the age of sixteen, he backpacked solo through Europe where he spent many hours wandering the Louvre in Paris, the Vatican Museum in Rome, and the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. 

Verstappen traveled across Canada, the US, and Europe again before entering Ryerson College in 1977 and then York University from 78 to 80. While at York Verstappen drew a weekly comic strip published in the college newspaper The Seer titled Zero that lampooned the college pub scene.

Verstappen opened his first studio, SunDog Studio, in 1981 in historic Kleinberg Ontario nearby the McMichael Gallery; the largest collection of Group of Seven paintings. During his Kleinberg Studio days, Verstappen worked in Stained Glass creating both traditional designs as well as unique city and landscapes. He also created dozens of watercolor paintings of area farm houses.

From 1985-91 Verstappen lived and traveling throughout China and East Asia and is one of the few westerns to have lived and studied Kung Fu in China. During this time he worked in acrylics focusing on oriental themes.

Verstappen is also author of four books. For his book, The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, he designed the cover and drew18 Pen & Ink illustrations for the chapter headings in the book. For his Little Warrior children’s book series he drew over 200 color cartoons

Recently Verstappen has been working on multimedia art based on oriental themes and  multi-sensory public art installations.

Verstappen's Kleinburg Studio 1981

Public Art

Tubular Zen, Temporary Public Art Installation, Ventura, CA, Sept – Nov, 2008 www.chinastrategies.com/Tubularzen.htm

Chinese Treasure Box, Ventura's Streetscape  Project,  Artwalk Arts Festival, August 18, 2007 www.chinastrategies.com/artwalk.htm

Artwalk Arts Festival, exhibitor, Ventura, CA April 30, 2005

Comics

Zero, weekly comic strip published in the Winters Seer, York University, 1979 - 80 www.chinastrategies.com/zero.htm

Book Illustrations

Drew 18 Pen & Ink illustrations for his book, The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, www.chinastrategies.com/portfolio5.htm

Shows

Two Lands views of Asia, acrylic on canvas, A-Space Studios, Toronto, 1983 www.chinastrategies.com/portfolio4.htm

Gingerbread, Victorian style country homes in watercolors. Kleinberg Gallery, Kleinberg, Ontario, 1982 www.chinastrategies.com/portfolio3.htm

Through a Glass Fantastic, Landscapes in stained glass, Kleinberg Gallery, Toronto. 1981 www.chinastrategies.com/portfolio2.htm

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? By Tim Pompey, The Ventura Breeze, Ventura, California, November 5, 2008

www.chinastrategies.com/artnews.htm

 

CNN reports on Tubular Zen and Ventura's Public Art Program, Reporter Phil Taggart, Time Warner Cable, Ventura, CA, November, 2008, http://www.chinastrategies.com/artnews.htm

 

Secrets of Chinese business etiquette,  by Erick Peterson, SHANGHAI STAR Business Journal, Shanghai, China, April 21, 2008  www.chinastrategies.com/cbenews.htm

Perfectly Suited; When in China, buy new clothes that fit you—and only you, by Stan Williams, Executive Travel Magazine,  New York, NY, September 2007, www.executivetravelmagazine.com/page/Perfectly+Suited?t=anon

Chinese Treasure Box Radio Interview, KCLU Radio, Santa Barbara, reporter Lance Werosko,  California, 2007 www.chinastrategies.com/KCLU_artwalk.mp3

Local Explorer: Kung Fu Master, LA-TV, reporters Elina Chang and Kelly Howard, Lake Casitas, California, 2006 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lLhtH-XVv8

Radio Interview with Stefan Verstappen on his book Blind Zen, reporter Mark Vidas, The Talking Book Radio Network. Minneapolis, MN, 2004 www.chinastrategies.com/bzinterview.mp3

Author Travels East for Ancient Strategy, by Perlita Ettedgui, Richmond Hill Post, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 1999, www.chinastrategies.com/post.jpg

Book Review: The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, by Jim Hanson, Canadian Institute for Strategic Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, 1999, www.chinastrategies.com/CISSBookReview.jpg

Stefan Verstappen, The Many Adventures of this Amazing Man, by Bill Whitbread, Bolton Enterprise Magazine, Bolton, Ontario, September 6 1988, www.chinastrategies.com/amazingadventures.jpg

Kung Fu Arrives, by Mark Pavilons, The Hurontarian, Shelburne, Ontario, December 24, 1988

Stefan Verstappen, Multi-talented artist hard at work, by Bill Rea, Caledon Citizen, Caledon, Ontario, January 2, 1985, www.chinastrategies.com/artisthardatwork.jpg

 

Published Manuscripts

The Art of Urban Survival, A Family Safety and Self Defense Manual
Woodbridge Press, Toronto, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9869515-0-3

The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, China Books & Periodicals, San Francisco, 1999, ISBN-10: 0835126420,  ISBN-13: 978-0835126427, www.chinastrategies.com/home36

Chinese Business Etiquette: The Practical Pocket Guide, Stone Bridge Press, Berkeley, 2008, ISBN-10: 1933330635, ISBN-13: 978-1933330631, www.chinastrategies.com/cbe.htm

Blind Zen, A Case Study of Sensory Enhancement for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Red Mansion Press, San Francisco, 2004,  ISBN 1-891688-03-0  Library of Congress Control Number: 2004095543 www.chinastrategies.com/blind.htm

The Little Warriors, Street Safety Teachers Guide, Woodbridge Press, 2012
ISBN 978-0986951558,  www.chinastrategies.com/littlewarrior.htm 

The Little Warriors, Street Safety Workbook, Woodbridge Press, 2012
ISBN 978-0986951565,  www.chinastrategies.com/littlewarrior.htm

Published Articles

The Dragon's Gaze, Black Belt Magazine, April 2009

The Power to Destroy, Black Belt Magazine,  May 07

Decoding Chinese Forms, Black Belt Magazine, September .05

The Three Hidden Functions of Forms Training, Inside Kung Fu Magazine, March '05

The King, the Fool, and the Fox, Black Belt  Magazine, October '04

The Spirit of Tiger & Crane, Black Belt Magazine,  April 03

The Real Sixth Sense, Four Ways to Build Better Balance, Black Belt Magazine,  October 2002

Shamanic Origins of Tai Chi, Jade Dragon, 2002

The Shadow Warriors, Training for the Blind, Jade Dragon, 2002

Strategy for the Streets, Black Belt Magazine,  June 2001

Fight Smart II: More Strategies, Black Belt Magazine,  August 2000

Fight Smart: How to Use Chinese Strategy in the Sparring Ring, Black Belt Magazine, January 2000

The Flying Phoenix Kick, Inside Kung Fu Magazine, July 2000

The Wind Devil Staff, Inside Kung Fu Magazine, August 2000

Double Dragon Pole, Inside Kung Fu Magazine, September 2000

Automotive Retailing in the 90’s, Car Magazine, November 1991

Taipei's Rehouse Industry Unchained Business Taiwan, July 1990

Overseas Realty Investments: How Desirable Are They?, September 1990

Memberships

The Writers Union of Canada

Clips