Portland and Salem Oregon
Google Business Listing
MENU

Before Antonio, There Was Tony

Aug 25 2026 | By: Terri Jacobson Photography

Tony, a Silken Windhound artist, painting an old plum tree in a Willamette Valley garden

Before Antonio, There Was Tony

Long before the beret, the lavender fields and a certain beautiful Newfoundland changed everything, there was simply Tony.

He grew up on a small family farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, surrounded by orchards, fields and gardens that changed with every season. While there was always work to be done, Tony spent nearly every free moment with his paintbox nearby.

The Valley was his first muse.

He painted blossoms in spring, gardens heavy with summer color and the warm evening light that settled over the farm. He wanted to capture the place he loved, but the more he painted, the more he wanted to learn.

And somewhere beyond those familiar fields, one place kept calling him.

Paris.

Tony, a Silken Windhound, boarding a Pan Am flight to Paris with his paintbox and travel bag

Tony dreamed of studying painting in Paris, learning from master artists and discovering just how far his brushes might take him.

Eventually, dreaming wasn't enough.

He packed his paints, tucked away his brushes and left the little family farm behind. With his art box, his luggage and a ticket aboard Pan Am Flight 51, Tony set off for France.

He was going to Paris to become an artist.

He had no idea he was about to become Antonio.

Antonio, a Silken Windhound artist in a red beret, standing beside his easel at a Paris art academy

Tony Becomes Antonio

Paris changed him.

At the academy, Tony studied painting under the masters, learning to see light, color and composition in ways he had only imagined back home in the Willamette Valley.

Somewhere along the way came the striped shirt, the red beret and a new name.

Tony became Antonio.

But for all he learned in Paris, his instructors recognized something that couldn't be taught. Antonio painted what he loved.

As his studies drew to a close, his master gave him one final assignment:

Go into the world and paint something beautiful.

Antonio packed the same art box that had traveled with him from Oregon and headed south.

To Provence.

Follow Antonio to Provence

Leave a comment

Leave this field empty
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA to prevent spam and abuse. Information collected may be processed for security purposes.
Submit

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post

Archive

2026 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2025 Jan Feb Mar May Jun Nov Dec
2024 Jan Feb Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2023 Feb Mar
CLOSE
Portland and Salem Oregon
Google Business Listing