Bell View

photo to come soon. Painted on May 12, 2008 at Dolores Park. Nice day to paint I was undisturbed and I just let it flow. I challenged myself with this one. I am starting to understand that the best time to paint is actually right before it gets dark. Everything becomes simple. As I was finishing up a man who was cleaning up the park told me he envied us. He was speaking about us artist. He then said god is everywhere. I am not religious but something about that moment made me think. If god were real he would probably show himself in a sunset. I don't go to church but I do believe there is something out there. God and I have an understanding we meet every night before the sun goes down in return I don't have to go to church.

Dolores Park

Photos to come soon
Nick Duffort and I make a pretty good team. He did a drawing of me while I was busy painting a playground slide.

The first painting I did is titled Match.Com.....Why is it called match.com? Because as we were painting a couple met a few feet from us. I knew from the first second that it was a match.com. I asked Nick how much he wanted to bet that they met on an Internet dating site. At first nick did not believe this to be true. But after eavesdropping for twenty minutes he found that I was rite. Its funny how observant you become when you are painting. You can't help but eavesdrop it would be counter productive to ignore your surroundings. I now understand how Paul Modonna can fill a whole book of just ease drop drawings.

The second painting was done solo. As the sun went down everybody left nick, the match.com people and the sunbathers. I was alone with my thoughts and it was very peaceful. I felt very close to the scene and I had a strong connection with the dieing day. I can't get enough of this plein air. My paint obsession reminds me of this movie I saw with a Young Robert De Niro. It was about junkies. One part that will always stick in my mind is the part where one Junky is telling the other that they have it pretty good. Because when they wake up in the morning they know exactly what they want. Most other people have to figure it out but a junky just wants his fix.
Art to me is the same way. When I wake up in the morning all I think about is where and when my next painting will be.

True Democracy

Painted on may 11, 2008 at Rodeo beach looking north up the coast line at the first group of rocks that bring the beach to an end. I am happy with this painting! I took my time and wrestled it for a while. As the sun moved the shadows changed. I must of worked non stop for five hours reworking the painting constantly. A Plein Air painter must accept and anticipate change. As the tide rolled in I followed it on my paining. As the shadows grew I followed them. This painting is a painted history of the day. I have a new understanding for Rodeo beach and the ocean. Why is it called True Democracy? The refers to the paint process.

Bernal Hill Red Truck

OK, I love this truck it has character, it's old it's long and I'm sure there are a lot of stories to be told bout how it got it's many dents. I love the red against the green, it makes this truck pop out. This painting flowed everything lined up perfect and I am more happy with this one than most that I paint. Thanks for checking in tomorrows Friday hurray. A special shout out to my brother ADAM PAPINI because it is his Birthday.

Started a new Bernal Hill Painting

I plan to be finished with this painting by Sunday night. Here is what I got so far. This one is going to be a studio painting all though it started off in my house. I painted bernal hill so many times I feel its time to respect it and take it into the studio and spend 10 hours on it. The rectangle on the top is the proportions of the canvas. Stay tooned and watch it grow!

Folsom Hydrant

Folsom Hydrant what can I say, My friend Nate painted a hydrant a couple of days ago. I thought it was an awesome painting. I wanted to get a taste of the action, thanks nate you inspired me!

Bernal Stair Case

Photo to come soon. Nice day on the hill. It's been a while almost to long. I have been busy working on my new web site and learning how to work my new mac book. I love painting outside. This painting was done on a dirt stair case surrounded by Violet and white flowers. I started the painting with a thick layer of white. Then I worked into it. In starting with all of this white allowed me to create texture that was easily influenced by color. Texture can take your eyes in directions and set the mood for a painting......Try to use texture to create mood in a photo or print......good luck. These type of painting are very much like sculptor.

This paragraph doesn't have much to do with the last one but it is something I need to get off my chest. Painting should be original. When I here of artist that are afraid to share there process because they feel somebody will steal it I get very confused .....We are not making cookies here.....I couldn't copy my own process for any single painting I have ever done, I don't think anybody else could. These paintings have a life of there own and the grow on top of themselves. So what am I saying...Am I saying that somebody who is worried about people stealing there process is not original?.....Yes that is exactly what I am saying!

Thank You Gilad Doitsh

I had a great time with you at open studios. It's great that you are so into art and I am glad you had a good time. I hope you enjoy your new painting of me and who knows....Maybe I'll have you over at the studio to pose for a portrait. You rock
Tony

Return to Rodeo Beach

Nick and I set out at about 10:30 to the beach. It was a nice day. Nick did a nice drawing that I will post at a later date. The day consisted of surfing a picnic and a lunch. Nice day. Thanks for coming nick we will do this again soon.

Thank You Vicente Sancenon

Thank You Vicente,
First off thank you for helping me hang my show. Your eye proved to know my own work better than mine. You have strong ability to critique. You balanced my wall so that I showed a portfolio of work instead of just what I was into at that moment. May your new painting remind you of American Traffic.

Thank You Nick Duffort

Thank You Nick,
Hey man thanks for always supporting me. Now you own a complete painting instead of half finished ones. I don't have a picture of your new freeway so I posted that portrait of you. We should get together soon to do some more portraits. Again thank you for all of the support over the years and for always attending my shows. I hope the SF freeway brings you joy and reminds you when you are old of all of the fun we are having now.

Thank You Ruben Edelson

Thank You Ruben,
I will miss this painting but mostly I will miss the conversations it brings. May it bring your living room some interesting discussion. People Eaters will be missed dearly but I am proud to give it to you. Thank you for always supporting my art over the years and my this gesture be a good financial decision for you in the future!

Thank You Deborah Hirsh

Thank you Deborah for your purchase and I hope this chicken keeps you company and stays with you for many years. Goodbye Chicken, don't worry you have found a good home.

Lucy Moon with her Painting

Hey everyone, here is one that I am proud to display. It's Lucy Moon Papini holding her first portrit. It took a while to get this painting to her but it eventually made it. I am glad it has found a good home. Isn't she cute. I'm keeping busy with open studios so I have not had a chance to upload the photos of my most recent paintings. I will upload them soon....thanks for checking in.

Unauthorized Cows

Unauthorized Cows
April 20, 2008
11" by 13"


It was very windy. This was painted near the Benicia Bridge. I was kicked out of the land, "hence the Name".

Bay Bridge #2

Bay Bridge #2

I painted this in the same spot as yesterday. I've tried painting the same photograph twice and it has never worked out( With exception to the Chicken series). Painting from life is a different story. I think I could paint from this spot a hundred times and not get bored. Painting from life allows you took take your painting in any direction you choose. Because you can see so much detail you have to choose an approach that will allow you to capture what is important to you. One day you may be inspired by color and the next day shape or shadow. Today I played it safe. I went in very light and described only one piece of the painting at a time.

Bay Bridge #1

The Bay Bridge # 1
8" by 10"
April 6, 2008.
This is my first attempt at the Bay Bridge. It painted from a large parking lot that goes out into the Bay. I've been taking my lunch break here from time to time. On this particular day it was warm and sunny. For the most part nobody bugged me and I was free to do my work. At times I felt I went in a little to thick with this painting but I worked through it. In retrospect I think I went in thick but with the right colors and this let me keep control of the painting. I was very loose in the saddle on this one. After the painting was over I had a pleasant bike ride home along the harbor by The Giants Ball Park.

Turning Point

PHOTOS OF MOST RECENT WORK TO COME

Turning Point
April 15, 2008
8" by 10"

Half way through this painting I asked myself, "why am I up here?" It was so cold and the worst part was I could see my house. It looked so warm and cosy. As it was getting dark I could see inside the house and see that somebody had the TV on. I pictured in my head somebody heating up tea warm and comfy. As it got darker it got colder and the wind blew harder. I remember at one point when I was trying to paint a fine line the wind blew my brush across the canvas. My fingers were numb and shaking so it was hard to draw a controlled stroke. I stuck it out until it was to dark to see my canvas. It was cold but now that I am in my warm cosy house, watching Dancing With the Stars, I am glad that I was up there earlier. In fact I wish I was back up there right now.

Oakland Views

Oakland Views
8" by 10"
4/14/2008

It was another cold windy evening. The wind was so strong I had to repaint the sky because so much pollen was blown on to the canvas it changed color and had tiny spots all over it. This was an ambitious painting for me. There was a lot to explain visually . I really liked the spot and I will try another painting from this spot soon.

As the fog rolls in

Photo to come
As the fog Rolls In
8" by 10"
April 13, 2008

This one was painted at the end of a warm day. On Sunday evening I watched the fog roll in quite fast. When I started this painting the tower was very visible. After only twenty minutes the tower was covered in fog. It was a challenging day to paint for two reasons. One I was looking right into the sun, and to the colors changed drastically as the sun vanished behind the fog. I've never tried painting into the sun. I can see some benefit in painting into the sun. The bright sun can simplifies shapes creating extreme lights and darks. I want to try it again but with sun glasses. I remember falling pretty hard while trying to hike up the hill. I did not get hurt but people asked if I was OK.

Wish Wash

Wish Wash
8" by 10"
Painted on April 8, 2008.

It was a windy day. I rode my bike around everywhere looking for a spot to paint. I could not find anywhere ideal. Finally I decided on this spot. Just a couple hundred feet from my house. It was a perfect spot because the wind did not hit me there. I remember a group of three joggers. They were running up and down a hil. One of them asked me keep an eye on a rose and an envelope for
one of the other joggers birthday. I gave it to the jogger when she was done working out. It was a night of giving because a dog left his ball with me. Then another dog traded his old slobbery ball for my new clean ball. A nice day on the hill.

Rodeo Beach

Rodeo Beach
11" by 14"
April 11, 2008

When I see this painting I think of the great day we had. I was in good company Girlfriend Jill, Linsey, and Neil. We got up early and it was a pain getting out of bed . Rising early proved to be a great decision because when we got to the beach the conditions were perfect. Three foot rolling waves and sunshine. The day consisted of two surf sessions, one painting and a nap.
the surf was small but fun. The painting was quick and easy. While painting I met a man who knew one of my old teachers Hannah. He showed me a picture of his work Via Cell phone. The nap was nice but it hurts now. I missed a few spots with the sun block. When I look back at this painting years from now I hope it brings me back to this pleasant day.

To Rodeo Beach

To Rodeo Beach.
Painted on April 12, 2008.
24" by 24"


This is a studio painting done from a photograph that I took on the way to breaker Beach. It's different painting from photograph. I find myself having to invent color instead of pulling it out of the air. I had a lot of fun with the 12" pallet Knife on this one. I love those windy roads that vanish into a curve. The roads on the way to Rodeo beach just over the Golden Gate Bridge are beautiful but should be drove with caution. One road was closed do to an accident. The painting took 5 hours.

Rite Way Market

The Rite Way Market
Painted on April 11, 2008.
8"by10"

Painted down the street form my house near the Rite Way Market, a place I pass everyday to and from work. I was first attracted to the blue and red pepsi sign. While I was there people were very curious as to what I was doing behind my box. I had conversations with many nice people that day. One Gentleman offered to pay me to paint his house. ( I am still willing to do this so let me know if you are still interested.)
After painting here for an hour and a half I discovered that 3 hours before there was a shooting. There was a white van with a bullet hole in the passenger side. It's a nice neighbor hood but it reminded me that violence exist everywhere.

Solitude

Solitude
Painted April 10, 2008
8" by 10"


This one was painted a block away from my studio next to a construction site. This painting is called solitude because I felt very connected to my painting. It flowed very easy. This is one of those paintings that painted itself. I remember a man in a suit told me looking good.