My heart is rooted in London. I was born in London, I grew up in London and I spent most of my adult life in London. Yet it is quite remarkable that despite having also spent most of my adult life as a professional artist it is only now that I have started to paint my beloved City.
It could be seen as a long and necessary apprenticeship that has led me to this moment. A combination also of how I see London now and a new style of painting in which I think my subject should be interpreted. I would like to align myself with such stellar company in terms of vision if not talent as Blake, More, Dickens, and Chaucer all of whom were obsessed with the light and darkness of a London. To paraphrase Ackroyd “In a city that is built in the shadows of money and power; all of them were entranced by the scenic and the spectacular, in a city that is continually filled with the energetic display of people and institutions. They understood the energy of London, they understood its variety, and they also understood its darkness.”
I live just outside of London now and going into town allows me to look at it with fresh eyes, seeing the smaller things that I could possibly overlook if I saw it day in day out.
I’m filled with a great sense of excitement when I’m in the streets, I feel like a fly watching a fast-moving City in slow motion. I love watching people, my focus is always on the people of London simply going about their daily business and moving around living their lives, I don’t look for action, just simple beauty.
Of course, this new avenue I have entered has opened up exciting new worlds to me of all the great cities on this planet, a never-ending stream of reference material and so much to see and paint. The truth is though I could spend my whole life in London, never get bored and constantly see something incredible and new.
From 1985 to 1995, Tony worked in advertising and publishing as a commercial illustrator. Inspired by the African wildlife paintings of Wilhem Kuhnert, Tony took his first trip to Africa in 1995 and his first step towards a career as a wildlife artist.
After many trips to South Africa since 1998, he has become firm friends with Carl Olen the Head Ranger of the Kapama Game Reserve. They have worked closely together where Carl has drawn on his years of knowledge and experience with animals and his tracking skills to help Tony get the references he has been looking for.
Of his own work, Tony says “I have always had a love for nature and animals, which is why I try to paint wildlife as it is, as naturally as possible and aim to portray the mood and atmosphere of the moment in my paintings. I like to use contrasting lighting and colours to create a glowing vibrancy. Whilst keeping my work realistic and quite photographic, I try to keep a certain freshness and unlaboured feel to each image with easy flowing and minimal brushwork”.
Constantly traveling extensively throughout Africa, America, Europe, Kenya, and parts of Tanzania, Tony works from his home using sketches, notes, and photographs to produce his highly finished paintings.
Born in Westminster, London in 1965, Tony Karpinski began painting and drawing from the age of 4 ½. Receiving art prizes every year throughout his school years, Tony went on to study the techniques of Great Masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens. He was privately commissioned to execute several pastiches of Dutch Masters paintings for private clients.
From 1985 to 1995, Tony worked in advertising and publishing as a commercial illustrator. Inspired by the African wildlife paintings of Wilhem Kuhnert, Tony took his first trip to Africa in 1995 and his first step towards a career as a wildlife artist.
After many trips to South Africa since 1998 he has become firm friends with Carl Olen the Head Ranger of the Kapama Game Reserve. They have worked closely together where Carl has drawn on his years of knowledge and experience with animals and his tracking skills to help Tony get the references he has been looking for.
Of his own work Tony says “I have always had a love for nature and animals, which is why I try to paint wildlife as it is, as naturally as possible and aim to portray the mood and atmosphere of the moment in my paintings. I like to use contrasting lighting and colours to create a glowing vibrancy. Whilst keeping my work realistic and quite photographic, I try to keep a certain freshness and unlaboured feel to each image with easy flowing and minimal brush work”.
Constantly travelling extensively throughout Africa, America, Europe, Kenya and parts of Tanzania, Tony works from his home using sketches, notes and photographs to produce his highly finished paintings.
