Anthony Augustin Papini

New Blog

2010-08-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

I will be doing three hundred and sixty five paintings this year. I have created a blog for this.
I will not be updating this blog this year so please check my new blog at: www.365paintings.wordpress.com

2010-05-02T22:01:00.001-07:00

2010-05-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

365 Day Challenge Starts Now

2010-05-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

365 Freeway Paintings in 365 Days

uhhhhhhh

2010-04-02T21:26:00.001-07:00

The painting in that last post does not exist anymore...it happens

Changing the Name

2010-03-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

I added ferocious crowd to the top right of the painting. Its crowd that is cheering as if the Superbowl winning field goal kick is flying through the air. The crowd is a figment of the goalies imagination. In reality this is just an under 11 soccer game and he is lucky if half of the handful of people in the crowd are paying attention. To the child he is in the spot light. It is his chance to be a hero. I am not being sarcastic with this painting. I think it is very important for a child to take sports seriously because it is here where they learn important life skills, victory, and failure. Sports was my way of being a hero. This painting is about this imaginary mind space I would travel to you as a young boy in sports. It was like every weekend was Superbowl Sunday.
Anthony Papini
www.goingyellowgreen.com

Defensive Breakdown

2010-03-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

The new painting I am working on is an action painting of everyday life. Everyday there are events going on that mean the world to people. I remember when I played soccer when I was young. Game day was like the Superbowl every weekend. That is what I am trying to show through these kids plying soccer. Yeah it's just an under 11 soccer match and there are thousands of them each weekend. But I wanted to paint it as a player sees the game, and to these kids it's a Big deal. I want to add glorify something that is often overlooked.

About birds in a tree

2010-03-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well i have decided now not to go with the trash in the painting. It would take it in a direction I don't want this particular painting to go.
This painting's core is about coping with this concrete jungle. I have always enjoyed skateboarding, in fact I skate to work and to my studio. I was first interested in skateboarding because it was creative expression. Here you have all these things that were built for various reasons and with a skateboard you could use them in a completely different way than they were intended for. Sure I would of probably rather been running through the forest or fishing but I did not have that. I was born in Sacramento and I had to make my surroundings my playground. For me the street was my creative form of expression. In a way it is the same thing for the city birds in this painting, they have to make it work. There may be certain advantages for them by living above a freeway. They would rather be in a wild forest some where but they are not. In a way I am facing reality in this painting. Like it or not we are must cope with modern life. City's, Garbage, Pee smell, Cancer and everything else that comes with what we have created. You can be for it against like it or hate it but you are part of it as the birds are.

Birds in a tree over a freeway

2010-03-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

I started this painting about two months ago. I have gone back to work on it some more. This painting has been evolving before my eyes. It started out as simply just a freeway scene as I always do. But I went in a little thick on the first coat. So I had to scrape some paint of. As a result there was a very smooth surface and a very ruff surface, As I began to pint the freeway I started looking at the ruff surface and I could see tree branches. I thought it would throw some branches in there as see what goes. After that I decided to add robins in the tree branches. So I have this moving freeway and birds living above it. We have this natural creature living above freeway of concrete. I thought of how sometimes there is nothing we can do but accept that we live above a freeway and move on.
Now the question is do I want to add trash in the trees. Like candy bar wrappers that the birds are using for nest material. This will change the meaning of the painting. Because now it wont just be beauty contrasting against ugly but beauty intertwined with ugly. Nature will be not just coping with this modern mess but using it.

My gut tells me to add the trash.

Shotwells

2010-03-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

A note to myself in the future. When I look back at this painting years from know and ask myself how did I do it. My answer is effort, dedication and persistence. There is no formula for painting like this it just has to happen. I could never paint another one like it that is what I love about it. If I can't repeat it then sure as shit nobody else will be able to. There are no blueprints just raw feeling thrown on a canvas.

2010-03-22T21:11:00.001-07:00

Painting Complete

2010-03-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

It is a painting about everyday life. A painting about the average person and a typical night out.

The Painting is Titled Shotwells, it is a painting that is meant to describe a bar from the eyes of a bar goer who has been enjoying some of the beverages. There is no higher meaning in this painting, I simply wanted to capture the essence of this place. Shotwell's is a bar in San Francisco, down the street from my art studio. It is bar I like to go to with some of my studio mates to relax and play some pool and forget about the work week.

In the top right of the painting there is abstract lines that describe a thought of outside. It is as if a smoker is thinking of leaving to go get some air and have smoke. Below that is a couple of guys having a conversation while viewing the pool table. I let the layers of paint cover these guys a few times to make them bleed into the bar and just become a background thought.

Under those guys is a man shooting a pool stick with a lazy dog under him who does not move but is looking t the viewer bringing him into this painting. The dog is used to connect to the outside world. The dog is also used to set a relaxed mood as he is relaxed. Behind the pool player is a man with his hands up as to not get hit with the stick. Below him is a girl with her bottle up taking a big sip of beer. She is enjoying it as the beer at Shotwell's is always good. The direction of the bottle in designed to draw your attention up to the pool stick which shoots you into the pool table.

The pool table is meant to look distorted as if the balls may roll of the table. I painted the balls quickly and loose to keep your eyes from getting stuck on the table. My goal here is to keep your eye moving through the table. There is a big thick patch of red on the pool table. This color here is very important for balancing the entire painting. It is the first thing your eye sees and it tells the viewer where to start looking so I can guide there eyes through the painting. It is like the red flag bull fighters flash at the bull.
To the left of the table are a couple of guys just relaxing waiting for there turn to shoot. They are in the most extreme foreground so they are painted loose and almost see through not important characters but again used to set the mood....just extras. They catch your eye but not long enough for you to care enough to get stuck on them.
You then travel through a cluster of figures who almost combine to create one shape. I wanted this group of people to look at home in the bar. Perhaps the are waiting to order or they are just letting the bright lights hypnotize them. If this wee a painting of a zoo they would be the animals in the cage that look like they belong as they are right at home in there surroundings. They the are bar animals, I almost added a monkey above them but he did not make the cut.

Your eye then travels to the meat of the painting the bar. The bartender is my studio mate, I had her pose for picture then that I painted her in. She had the idea of holding her hand up as if she was pulling a tap. So I created the bar around her. The people at the bar are just relaxing having in juicy conversation. The girl is meant to catch your eye. I did this by her placement as she is facing the viewer. The man behind her with a light shirt which boxes her out also making her stand out. She is not meant to acknowledge the viewer as the dog but the viewer is meant to acknowledge her.

I tried to paint the effects of alcohol. Some things are in focus some things are blurry. Your eye has trouble staying in one place it wants to keep moving as if you have no control over it.

The whole painting is a simple story leading the viewer on a colorful journey into everyday life

Almost there

2010-03-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

I was able to give this painting CPR and I have brought it back to life. The colors are really are coming together. Added some new subject matter to draw the eye through the painting. On interesting thing is starting to happen is the pool table is starting to get tweaked out and distorted. Not only at the pool table but all over the painting. It looks as a scene through the eyes of an intoxicated person.

I am getting close to completion. I don't think I am going to risk this painting any more. Time to take her home.

I took it to the edge and almost lost it.

2010-03-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have overglazed before and I will overglaze again. Heavy glazing is embed in my painting style. I glazed this painting so deep that it was almost at the point of no return. People coming into look t my painting said things like oh what happened. Did you start over? People often don't understand the way I paint. In college I got these comments all the time. Even Art teachers did not know why I was glazing so deep. I remember on my final critique my senior year I had been working on the Red Room. The night before this final I had done a purple glaze over the painting, the entire thing. In critique I got reamed, Why did you do a purple glaze. Why would you do this right before critique ? Why purple. It was such a good painting before you layered purple over it. I herd it all. I knew what I was doing and I knew why I chose purple because it was a glaze that bridged the gap between the yellow and blue without turning green. I went on to finish this painting I was awarded a scholarship and the painting was and still is one of my strongest paintings ever. If I would of quite early yeah it would of been a good painting but not a great painting. I am over painting good paintings from now on I only paint masterpieces. This means that I am going to paint a lot of crap painting in the process. That means a lot of wasted hours at the studio,money and time when it dos not work out. I am ok with that.

This painting that I am working on I almost lost tonight. But I think I brought it to the edge and now if I can tackle this beast it will be my greatest creation ever. Or it may end up torn up on the street outside my studio....we will see.

OK final decent

2010-03-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

I'm almost there, I have taken many risk and they have all worked out. Most of them better than I thought they would. I just got to bring this thing home now!

fCK SHT

2010-03-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

The problem with working the way I do is that I am re creating the same painting over and over. Layering deeper and deeper allowing the previous layer show through. At one stage you get a painting to a certain point and you really like it. But then I must move on and bury it and start over. I have been painting this way for at least six years and I started this painting knowing that this is how I was going to construct it. However it is never easy to take something that is working and break it. I know what I did with the painting was right so I will have to push on. I will pull this bar scene back out of these layers.

2010-03-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

Ok I have worked on it for another three hours. Added a dog the bar tender who is my studio mate and an idea for a space in the top right corner. It will be for a thought that looks right outside the bar.. The walls will just disappear in that area. Almost like a smoker thinking of leaving the bar to get some crisp air.

Update

2010-03-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

Now tonight I worked for about three more hours on the bar painting and it is really coming together which believe it or not is a bad thing. Th painting is still far from finished. I could finish it right now and it would be a strong painting. The thing is I am not going for a strong painting I am going for a masterpiece. This means I am going to have to put my strong painting in jeopardy in pursuit of my greatest painting ever.

Painting in Progress

2010-03-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a Bar Scene Painting for the last two weeks. It has been full of ups and downs and that is the way these involved paintings go. One day it is the best painting ever then one day I want to throw it out the window and give up. I think the best paintings the masterpieces must go through this struggle. It is this struggle that makes it work. It should be hard .

Childrens Book

2010-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

I think I would like to make a childrens book. Just something simple like one of those with letters of the alphabet with animals.
A for ant eater
B for Boar
C for Cat
D for Dog
E for Elaphant
F for ?
G for Goose
H for Hippo
... And so on. I figure I could self publish at first. Just using I photo or something and then try to get a publisher if the book is a hit. It would be good for my portfolio and open me up to a new market. Also I enjoy animals so it would be fun to paint.

Concerns.
1. Way more work than I think it would be....I understand this is a lot of work but I am not going all in this project just. I m just testing out the waters. Worse case the book is a flop and I have a bunch of paintings of animals, which I paint anyway.
2. Text. I hat text it does not adapt to my style. I will paint all the letters. There will be no typed text.
3. Copyright. When I can I will take photos of animals myself. It is possible if I use Zebra photo from the internet to paint from somebody may get mad. I believe they wont have grounds to sue but I want at least let the people know my idea and get their permission. Perhaps this will even help promote the book as people who took the pictures will like to see how they look as painting.

New painting

2010-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

Come to our Group Show at City Art

2010-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bringing it back way back

2009-11-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

2009-11-07T15:51:00.001-08:00

2009-11-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

Please Come To my Next Show.

2009-11-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

Portraite of Robert W. Mahley Presadent of the J. David Gladstone Institutes

2009-11-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

This painting will be added to the permanent collection at the J. David Gladstone Institutes.

The Bay Brige when it was open

2009-11-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Painting Small

2009-09-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

New small paintings. Also I build cool frames for these little guys

2009-09-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

2009-09-29T20:48:00.001-07:00

2009-09-29T20:47:00.001-07:00

2009-09-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

2009-01-31T08:52:00.000-08:00

My most recent traffic scene

2009-01-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

I think I have always wanted to paint this way I just did not know how. Masking tape and clear Gesso have allowed me to achieve things I can't do freehand. I work out all of the visual problems first with tape. That way the struggle to make things work is completed before any paint is mixed. Because I am not repainting anything the result is a much cleaner painting.

Migrating Duck 2

2009-01-07T07:56:00.001-08:00

Migrating Duck

2009-01-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

The Worst is Yet to Come

2008-12-07T14:42:00.001-08:00

Disclaimer.....I am no financial expert. I am just a normal guy who reads the paper three times a week and keep an eye on the small amount of money that I have in the stock market. I have an opinion of the financial crises. I think it is important for people like me to voice there opinion on these matters because if not us then who. It will be the so called experts financial advisers, banks and lenders that voice there opinion. I believe the whole problem of this financial crisis is that people blindly trusted others with there investments they did not understand what there money was doing.

This Recession happened because of poor investments. People wanted something for nothing. Because the stock market had done so well in the past the belief was that it would continue to return 10% every year. To maximise profits people took there money out of savings and CD's which give 4% to 6% returns and invested into the market. People went all in without thinking of the risk of failure.

People would rather risk than work. I think American forgotten what work is, we want something for nothing. We want or money to grow but we don't want to put in the work. The unemployment rate now is the highest since the 1970 yet skilled workers are in very high demand. What does this tell us? It's simple nobody knows how to do anything so they become unemployed. People want to get paid for simply showing up to work. It used to be a carpenter could build a whole house. Now nobody builds entire houses anymore. One job is devided into many jobs done by professionals who specialize is individual tasks. One guy for the pluming, one guy for the Dry Wall, one Guy for the Roofing. I think this goes across the work force. People can do one task but can't peace the whole thing together.

I think Americans have become very Lazy and unless we start putting in some effort we will fall behind. Lately I have had a desire to paint this American Cynicism

The painting above is called "The Worst is Yet to Come" We have to business men with ridiculous reactions. They look as if they just witnessed there whole family fly of a cliff to their death in a mini van. Actually they are watching a number go down. Don't get me wrong it hurts to lose 10% of your money in one day but these reactions are ridiculous. To react like this over money shows great greed. I have painted this in a almost comedic approached.

The Hitchhiker

2008-12-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

"11 By 14" Oil on Canvas.

2008-10-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

ART EXPLOSION OPEN STUDIOS 2008

Free to the Public

Please join us for our 14th Annual Fall Open Studios. Each fall, the talented artists at The Art Explosion open their studios to the public for one remarkable weekend of art & entertainment. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, The Art Explosion has 3 locations within easy walking distance. You will find more than 140 artists, painters, photographers, ceramic artists, metal artists, sculptors, jewelers, fabric artists and more! It’s an incredible chance to view hundreds of quality artworks at studio prices, meet the artists, hear what inspires them & see where they work.

Preview Party: Thursday October 16th 5pm-8pm

Opening Reception: Friday October 17th 7pm-11pm

Open Studios: Saturday October 18th 11am-6pm

Sunday October 19th 11am-6pm

744 Alabama St. @ 19th Street.

Also I will be displaying work at the UCSF Faculty Art Show.

A variety of works of art will be on display at the UCSF Faculty and Staff Art Show, which runs from Monday, Oct. 6, to Friday, Oct. 10, at Millberry Union on the Parnassus campus.
The community is invited to the opening reception on Monday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Millberry Union Event & Meeting Center, 500 Parnassus Ave. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by Grupo Falso Baiano.

The viewing times for the art show are Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 7 through 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there

A bunch of work for the last two weeks!

2008-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Some New Paintings And Some Re-Shoots

2008-09-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I need to re-shoot work. My last post many of the paintings were to light so I re Shot them. Plus......I re-shot the 405.....Prints to come soon

2008-09-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Plein Air ...is the desire to paint outside over?

2008-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

No, I will still paint in the plein air method, lately I have been enjoying studio painting. I have been at the freeways again but this time I am taking what I learned in the field to the studio. Plein air has taught me many new approaches. The most use full tool I leaned that has carried over is the ability to finish paintings. I can plan a painting from start to finish with a beginning and an end. Plein air is defiantly not over! Check out my latest work both in the studio and out in the field.

Plein Air Club Show

2008-08-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Some New Painting's Post Plein Air Club Show

2008-08-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Plein Air Club Interview

2008-08-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

Painting sold during interview

"Everything becomes so complex that the human brain simplifies it to make since of it"

2008-08-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

July is gone and August is here. I have just completed my second book and I am excited to start a new two month period. For those of you who don't know I produce a book every two months. These books work for me on two levels.

The first level allows me to have a mobile portfolio. I am able to take it with me and display it to many without having to bring pictures or originals.
The second level, It allows me to see my progress. Often things get bad before they get better. A bad painting is only a couple of steps away from becoming the greatest painting of all time,...... I truly believe this. The book allows me to view my success and see the failures that led to them. It is for this reason that I print everything......The good and the bad. Most recent my style has began to loosen up. With this loose style I paint in water color and oil. I paint in the two mediums in the same technique and I discovering the which medium I prefer .

To explain this discovery I will briefly explain the process. I will explain this process as a paint an oil and a watercolor which is the same method. I start by laying down some ground color. Usually a yellow orange or a pale yellow. Then I mix in a Violette and loosely describe linear forms allowing the yellow to mix with the Violette Producing a color the shoots through the spectrum changing from yellow to a desaturated red(AKA brown) to Violette. This play with the color spectrum gives the painting movement and lust full color. I then proceed to fill in color fields with reds greens and blues. These colors react with the Yellow brown Violette lines in exciting, unpredictable, and dramatic ways. After everything is filled in the wrestling match begins........ Trying to direct the eye, using line, through the color fields of the painting. I Complete the painting when all of these colors, line, and form in there complexity become simple. .....Everything becomes so complex that the human brain simplifies it to make since of it. A good painting plays with the mind. When a viewer looks at one of my paintings he or she first sees a simple design then they are pulled into a overwhelming complexity. They then become fascinated as there brain tries to make since of this image. "How can something be so complex and so calm" they ask them self's.

This complexity balance works better in oil than it does in watercolor because of drying time and texture. Watercolor prepares me and trains me for oil. I see watercolor more as sketching.

COME TO THE SHOW.....

2008-07-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

2008-07-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

The traffic painting was done in Water Color on Sunday night. It was nice to return to an old visual obsession.

The golden Gate Bridge Painting was painted on Monday. I rode on my bike from my house to the North side of the Golden Gate. I started this painting with a light yellow. Then worked into it with a blue violet. I added red highlights and shades of green and blue to finish. I then packed up my stuff and rode my bike all the way home. I left my house at 11:00 am and returned at like 4:30 PM. very tired. I had to ride up some huge hills with all my equipment.

From my Trip To Costa Rica

2008-07-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

1. Flight 2466 To Dallas
4" by 6" Water Color
6/27/2008

2. Tagin
4" by 6" Water Color
6/28/2008

3. North Playa Hermosa Beach
5" by 7" Acrylic on Canvas
6/29/2008

4. Thunder Storm at Play Hermosa Beach
4" by 6" Water Color
6/29/2008

5. Playa Hermosa Pennensula
5" by 7" Acrylic on Canvas
6/30/2008

6. Playa Avellana Beach Bungalow
4" by 6" Water Color
7/1/2008

7. South Playa Avellena Beach
5" by 7" Acrylic on Canvas
7/1/2008

8. Alarm Clock
4" by 6" Water Color
7/2/2008

9. Who Stole my Sandles
4" by 6" Water Color
7/3/2008

10. Santa Teresa Beach
5" by 7" Acrylic on Canvas
7/3/2008

11. Santa Teresa hippy
3" by 5" Water Color
7/3/2008

12. Hippy Hill
3" by 5" Water Color
7/3/2008

13. Hippy Surf Boards
3" by 5" Water Color
7/3/2008

14. Ferry Crossing From Paquera
3" by 5" Water Color
7/4/2008

15. Costa Rican Man Waiting For The Fairy
3" by 5" Water Color
7/4/2008

16. "Pig Roast" South of Joco
5" by 7" Acrylic on Canvas
7/5/2008

17. A Late Night
3" by 5" Water Color
7/5/2008

18. 4:30 AM in Jaco Costa Rica
4" by 6" Water Color
7/5/2008

19. Quick Painting due to good Surf
4" by 6"
7/5/2008

New Post

2008-06-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

2008-06-16T21:46:00.001-07:00

These were all painted on Sunday (June 16, 2008. They are all 3" by 4", Water Color

It was a good paint day. I painted the Jazz in the morning at Phillz Coffea. Then drinks at Nappers and then the Humming Bird when I got home. A lazy paint day, my favorite kind.

City Window

2008-06-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

JUNE 14, 2008
11" by 14"
Oil on Canvas Board
300$

Painted with the San Francisco Plein Air Club. I spent at least 5 hours on this one. I got sunburned on my knees because they never see sunlight. I did not get burned anywhere else. It was a good turnout.

I was so used to painting in watercolor that I forgot that I was doing an oil painting. I did not listen to my own blog entry the other day when I told myself that a oil painting should be painted as an oil painting. Well I stared out very light and soft. I worked on only sections at a time as I would on a watercolor. It took me about two hours 4 hours to realize that this painting was not going to be completed as a watercolor. So I began really painting. I am happy with the results of this painting because it is like my studio paintings but outside. I fell back into my old habit's painting as I used to before I started plein Air painting. I have been re issued my artist licence. Yes you can use an artist licence in Plein Air. I feel this describes me. Good or Bad it describes me it is my painted personality. I cant run from this way of painting for to long.

While painting a group of five 12 to 15 year old kids were walking down the street near my house. I could tell they were up to no good. They did not see me. In fact one of the kids peed right right in front of me and he did not know it. The kids were throwing rocks at cars. I figured they were just little pebbles so I did not pay much attention to it. Then I herd a crash. The little punks broke my neighbors back windshield. As quickly as I could I ran into the street but they were gone. I went back up and secured my paints so the wind would not blow my canvas away and I told my landlord that one of the tenets car had been vandalized. I know what these kids look like and I know they live around here. I am going to confront them the next time I see them. They don't think anybody saw them but I did.

Mission Bay Bridge

2008-06-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

June 10 2008.
5" by 7"
Water Color

I had so much fun at lunch painting the broken dock that I came back and painted the bridge next to it. In this painting you can see the lights to the Giants Stadium. I started this painting after work and pretty muck painted until it got dark. I found myself using vanishing points. This is something I do not normally do but I went with it. I feel I rarely paint in this manner and it was a good change and a lot of work!
It was a nice evening, warm and bright. Nobody really bothered me.

Lunch Break Painting

2008-06-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Broken Dock
3" by 3"
Water Color

Painted on my lunch break. I did not have a lot of time but what time I did have I used it wisely. For these quick paintings water color is the way to go because you can describe things very Loosely and still get away with it. A couple of guys were very interested in this painting. It nice when people show there interest.

The Napper Tandy

2008-06-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

June 9, 2008.
Happy Hour
2.5" by 4"
Watercolor

Painted at happy Hour at The Napper Tandy - Mission - San Francisco, CA. In the table in the back of the bar. I had three Stella's. Nice paint session

Sun Tan Lotion

2008-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

June 10, 2008.
4" by 4"
75$ Frame and Matt included
Watercolor

Talk about another perfect beach day. These days bring out great paintings. The day consisted of surfing and painting. The two things I love most in life. If you look closely you can see the head of a surfer on the break. Painted on 21st street beach in Santa Cruz.

White Wash

2008-06-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2008.
4" by 4"
Watercolor
75$ with Frame and Matt

This was painted right as you enter the park. Again I ditched my friends to paint this one....sorry guys.. Man talk about a view. I have never seen anything like this before. You can see the waves come in from miles away. The waves collecticly become diffrent shades of blue and white. I think I could move to Big Sur. To see this view every day would be worth it.

Sandy Air

2008-06-10T18:52:00.001-07:00

Saturday June 7, 2008.
11' by 14"
300$

What a drive it is into Big Sur. This was painted in about 4 hours. Man talk about windy my paint box proved very useful. There was sand blowing all trough the air. I let it fly onto the canvas and into the paint. I have painted with sand before and the texture has worked, so I went with it. These sea cliffs are one of my favorite things to paint. I am very happy with this one, it was worth ditching my friends to paint it.

2008-06-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Boat Painting

2008-06-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

I spent 45 minutes on just the boat and then I was like "Ah man I need to give it a setting a place to live". The last fifteen minutes I frantically tried to place this little boat a home.

May 4 2008

2008-06-04T21:14:00.002-07:00

I was fighting some serious battles in my mind while trying to paint this one. The paint just was not doing what I wanted it to. Compared to yesterdays painting this painting did not come natural. I took on more subject matter there was more to describe. I made up a couple things to resolve this painting.
When I paint I feel my head clears. I observe the world and it's complexity. I step out of being individual and become everything. It's a great feeling and I wish more people would turn off their their I pods there cell phones and watch the day die. Painting is just the tool I use to get me out there. The real experience is observing. When I paint I'm just taking down what I observe. Some people may say that my plein air painting is not my strongest work...They may be right but I don't care. Fishing is not about catching fish and painting is not about production. It's about the journey and enjoying where it takes you. It is nice to catch a fish now and then. I feel I caught a good one today. Plein Air painting has brought me closer to reality.

Oakland Views

2008-06-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

OK this works. I just went in light and I painted what I saw. Quite simple really. Love that blue violet and that blue on the green shade.

Another Lunch Break Painting

2008-06-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

Man an hour is not a lot of time!

Bernal Park

2008-06-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

Water Color
4"by4"
Bernal Park
Great evening to paint. A nice quite stair case on Bernal Hill. A few dog visitors came by to say hi. I feel I painted this approach as a water color painter and not a oil painter.

Mission Bay Boat

2008-06-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

4" by 4"
WaterColor
Painted on my Lunch Break at a park in Mission Bay. I've been eager to paint in this area for a long time. The area where this was painted is very unique. There are plants in pots laid out everywhere even on the boat that I was painting. The lady who lives on this boat house came out to water while I was painting it. These paintings are good practice because you have a deadline and you have to make important decisions.

Helmet Rock

2008-06-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

This was a meeting with the California Plein Air Club. It was a good meeting with the California Plein Air CLub and there were lots of quality paintings produced. Lands End is a great place to paint and I will definitely come back here soon. I went in thick real thick. Sometimes you have to pull out the palette knife and have a little fun. This rock was a struggle in the begging because the shadows were a undefined. Then as the sun dropped the shadows became solid. Its enjoyable when the waves crash in to the rocks I am not bold enough yet to paint the flying waves

Bernal Palm Trea

2008-05-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

This tree is above my house
This is one of those paintings that comes very easy. Its like my hands just knew what to do. For the most part I was on auto pilot I just sat back and watched my hands paint this one. High clouds were rolling in at a medium pace. They were the type of clouds that when I was little I remember tuning them into animals and monsters. I don't see clouds that way anymore its sad in a way I just see them as clouds.

Again I started with thick white and I worked into this with light color. Also I learned that when you penetrate this thick oil paint with a sharp pointed brush with medium the line becomes sharp defined and deep. I believe the first painting where I did this thick textured white overlay was Bernal Stair Case maybe a month ago. It was an experiment then and a process now. I feel my last three paintings have been very consistent.

Yellow is the Night

2008-05-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

I started this painting at 6:15 PM. I painted and painted and then it got dark. When it got dark I figured I got this far so I just kept on painting. As it got darker I used more muted darker color in contrast with just yellow and white. I learned that night time with street lights can pretty much be achieved with black and yellow and slight variations of these two colors. I painted until 9:30. It got so dark I could not see my pallet. But I knew where the yellow ws and I knew where my black was. So I just painted with those colors and White. These colors mixed with the colors that I painted when it was light. People walking by were amused to see an artist painting in the dark. Nice evening to paint.

Sea Paste

2008-05-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

Painted at Rodeo Beach on May 26, 2008. Michelle Jader and I set of a 7:30 AM we got to the beach around 8:15 and painted until about 10:40 AM.
It was great painting with Michelle because she is so talented. She painted the Northern rocks and I painted the south. The last three times I painted Rodeo Beach I painted rite by the surfers because I wanted to be close to the action and if any super sets rolled in I could jump into my wet suit and be in the water for the next set. This time I wanted to distance myself from the surfers because of an open wound on my back wouldn't allow me into the water. If a super set did come it I did not want to be near it. On this day the surf was small and blown out so I did not miss being in the water.
Again I started out with thick chunky white. I then used my Pallet Knife to describe the seascape with textured white. After I got the t\lay of the land I slowly added in color. These Painting of the ocean for me or always wrestling matches. Sometimes you are winning and then sometimes you look at your canvas and you are like what happened. I wrestled this one the whole time. Michelle and I did not talk much I think we were each fighting major battles in our minds. We painted the whole time undisturbed except for one lady who asked us if it was legal to collect shells. I did not know the answer. In the End I am happy with my painting. I pulled it off and t times I did not think I could. Some paintings come easy this one did not. I had to work for it but I am very happy with the result. It was another good day at Rodeo just not sunny, foggy and cold.

New Rooster

2008-05-26T19:47:00.001-07:00

They Are Called Rooster Now.....Not Chickens!h

Carnival

2008-05-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Robert

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Alisha's Painting

My Painting.
Robert's to come soon
Painted on May 26, 2008.
This was the second Plein Air Club Meeting. Alisha Wilson is new to the club and it was my first time doing Plein Air with Robert Ramos. We got out there at 8:30 Am and when we did people were begging to set up for Carnival. We posted up on a street corner near the studio. We began painting in the scene. Then after 20 minutes the Jamacian Carnival team set up their float right in front of us. What a challenge, the scene we painted was flooded with dancers and giant Peacock costumes. They were beautiful. We just had to work through it. I am excited for the work that was produced. I am planning on doing a studio pinting of the parade again this year as I did last year. Thinks for coming out.

Phillz

2008-05-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Painted on May 24,2008.

Bernal Toilet

2008-05-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Painted at my house on May 23, 2008.

Bit Torrent

2008-05-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

On this one I decided to paint something that is not as iconic as a car. I chose a construction site at 20th and Alabama. The painting was a good challenge because I was painting things that are not easily identified. Stacks of two by fours and other various pieces of wood. If I had another 8 hours to paint this I am confident it would tightened itself up. I only had an hour and an half so the shapes and colors did not have time to find a place of there own. In this painting I am happy with how loosely everything is described. A studio mate told me to really emphasise tone. Emphasize the darks, cool and warm. He may have a point. But what would that really do? Make it more realistic make certain shapes stand out so they can be identified. I know what he is saying but I think attention to indavidual shape tone will identify the scene but it will lose spontaneity. This would brake the unity of the painting as a whole and constrain the eye. I like the painting the way it is because it doesn't describe anything it just grabs bits and pieces of everything.

Bay To Breakers

2008-05-18T20:34:00.001-07:00

It was a great day for Bay to Breakers. I did not run or dress in costume but I was there with my paint box. I saw a fight, Nudes and people urinating everywhere, by the time the bulk of the parade got to Golden Gate Park people were pretty tossed. It was very fun to watch and for the most part everybody was in a very cheery mood. This painting was done where they roller skate by the De Young. It was the only spot I could find that was elevated with music. The rollerskating DJ masters plays some good cuts.

This painting was the most ambitious plein air painting I have ever attempted. I painted a moving parade. Wow what a challenge and a brain exercise. After four hours of painting this scene I was mentally exhausted. I've said it before and I'll say it again a Plein Air Painter must expect and anticipate change. For this scene nothing was guarantied to stay still. I whole croud of people that was sitting infront of me just up and left unexpectidly. They did not even ask me if it was ok for them to leave.

I learned so much in this painting. The most challenging part was painting the people as they were walking. To do this I would use ten different people to model as one person. I am happy with this painting and I am happy where painting in this style is taking me. A hundred years from now there going to call this Neo Plein Air....No gold frames here.......

Plein Air Club First Meeting

2008-05-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

We met for the first time on Saturday, May 17 2008. It was a great get together. People were attempting styles that they had not tried ever or in a log time. There was a good energy in the air. Some really great work was produced. I am excited about the future of this club. If anybody has any show ideas for this club or paint spots please let me know.

My painting started of black and white. I painted that way for two hours. Then as the sun started to set i decided I needed some color. Some of the old masters would start there paintings black in white, get there tonal values correct and then move on to color. I was working this way but the difference is I think they let there paintings dry first. Well I am happy with this painting I think it describes the corner in front of our art studio. Pic to come

Earthquake Weather

2008-05-14T22:52:00.001-07:00

CLICK TO MAKE ME BIGGER PLEASE
Why is it called Earthquake weather? I overheard locals say that when it was hot in San Francisco they call it earthquake weather. Painted in a new style I m calling Plein Air Collage. Where you paint something and then you move on and paint something else on the same canvas. A break through painting.

Bernal Hill with Nathan Sobo

2008-05-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

It was a warm day out there. I told Nathan that his painting turned out very clean and it is. Nathan has this clean percise approach . I will post the painting he did if he allows me to. I painted two paintings this evening. One of Nathan painting and the other of Nathans Bike. I go out painting by myself so often that when somebody comes with me I just end up painting them and their belongings. Nice day on the hill, I brought up a beer for me and Nathan but we were both so busy we did not even have time to drink them.

Bell View

2008-05-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-11T08:59:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-01T21:19:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-01T21:05:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-01T20:22:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

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.

Anthony Augustin Papini

New Blog

365 Day Challenge Starts Now

uhhhhhhh

Changing the Name

Defensive Breakdown

About birds in a tree

Birds in a tree over a freeway

Shotwells

Painting Complete

Almost there

I took it to the edge and almost lost it.

OK final decent

f*CK SH*T

Update

Painting in Progress

Childrens Book

New painting

Come to our Group Show at City Art

Bringing it back way back

Portraite of Robert W. Mahley Presadent of the J. David Gladstone Institutes

The Bay Brige when it was open

Painting Small

My most recent traffic scene

Migrating Duck 2

Migrating Duck

The Worst is Yet to Come

The Hitchhiker

A bunch of work for the last two weeks!

Some New Paintings And Some Re-Shoots

Plein Air ...is the desire to paint outside over?

Plein Air Club Show

Some New Painting's Post Plein Air Club Show

Plein Air Club Interview

"Everything becomes so complex that the human brain simplifies it to make since of it"

COME TO THE SHOW.....

From my Trip To Costa Rica

New Post

City Window

Mission Bay Bridge

Lunch Break Painting

The Napper Tandy

Sun Tan Lotion

White Wash

Sandy Air

Boat Painting

May 4 2008

Oakland Views

Another Lunch Break Painting

Bernal Park

Mission Bay Boat

Helmet Rock

Bernal Palm Trea

Yellow is the Night

Sea Paste

New Rooster

Carnival

Phillz

Bernal Toilet

Bit Torrent

Bay To Breakers

Plein Air Club First Meeting

Earthquake Weather

Bernal Hill with Nathan Sobo

Bell View

Dolores Park

True Democracy

Bernal Hill Red Truck

Started a new Bernal Hill Painting

Folsom Hydrant

Bernal Stair Case

Thank You Gilad Doitsh

Return to Rodeo Beach

Thank You Vicente Sancenon

Thank You Nick Duffort

Thank You Ruben Edelson

Thank You Deborah Hirsh

Lucy Moon with her Painting

Unauthorized Cows

Bay Bridge #2

fCK SHT