Page 23 - North Haven Magazine Issue 26 Holiday 2022

The majesty of the works of

Tony Falcone
by Stephen W. Hoag, Ph.D.

n the earliest days of life, parents will invariably teach a child to wave “bye-bye.” This
Iis a mimicked gesture of wiggling fingers and wrist movements. For a child, these
movements, performed on parental cue, often manifest to “shake hands with uncle Bill”
or “give me a high five.”

Heretofore, the use of hands and fingers evolves in everyone’s life, but for a rarified few,
those of artistic gifts and acumen, their hands and fingers create a form of magic that
shall last an eternity. For Tony Falcone, the very inclination of painting emerged from
his heart to become one of the prominent portrait painters in the country. With no
formal training, only the passion of his overflowing heart, Tony has become one of the T. Falcone - PR - Tony in his Studio
nation's foremost mural and portrait painters.

T. Falcone - mural - Fast Track - T. Falcone - mural - Stepping in Time - Goffe Street Fire T. Falcone - Historic Painting of Parlour Car of Great Republic
Sports Haven - New Haven, CT Dept - NH CT 1975 Steam Train - Choo Choo Lounge - Saybrook Point Resort

As with all young people, there is a time to de- Tony Falcone began painting professionally Museum of Natural History, and a commem-
termine how you will make your way in life, in 1974. One of Tony’s earliest successes was orative “trompe l’oeil” mural for the Alumni
living the “American Dream” as a productive the 10,000-foot aquarium mural painted on Center at the Coast Guard Academy in New
worker and family man while spending the three sides of the Hamden Cinemart Theatre London. In 1994 Tony created a mural for
better part of the daylight hours of each day on Dixwell Avenue, which took four months the Greater New Haven Convention and Vis-
working in some job for which you are proud to complete. It is there and in locations itors Bureau that included a superb depiction
and accomplished. For Tony Falcone, he de- throughout the United States that Tony cre- of the North Haven skyline with some of its
termined that his path would be as a New ated most of his “imagistic” murals, canvas- historic buildings.
Haven firefighter, a courageous path indeed. es, and portraits. Today, Falcone Art Studio
Tony could never have envisioned painting to is known for its broad spectrum of fine art-
be his life’s work, but the call of his incom- works created primarily on a commissioned
parable talent would not be denied. As he basis. Falcone’s monumental murals, high-
has often stated, “he is an accidental artist.” ly detailed canvases, and heirloom-quality
However, consistent with most highly tal- portraits enhance public spaces, corporate
ented individuals, his artistic blessings could settings, and private homes. Widely known
not be contained or ignored. Soon, Tony was for his skill in capturing familiar landscapes
planning the painting of some of the most and cityscapes, Tony also reproduces many of
dramatic murals in all of Connecticut. these nostalgic images as collectible fine art
prints, posters, and greeting cards.
Laying on his bunk at the fire station in New
Haven, Tony envisioned murals that, with Spurred on by Judith Andrews, his partner,
his friend Dave’s assistance, could be painted business manager, and wife, Tony Falcone has
on walls, hallways, and buildings. The first created a series of oil paintings on linen de- T. Falcone - PR - Tony with New Earth - 9' octagon
of many spectacular murals that Tony creat- picting the history of the United States Coast painting
ed was a giant ice cream cone sitting on its Guard from WWII through “9/11”, com-
side with streams of ants walking down the missioned by the U.S. Coast Guard Alumni The majesty of the works of Tony Falcone
delectable cone. With every passing brush Association and the Class of 1962 for the is his incomparable attention to emotional
stroke, Tony discovered that he could bring Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. detail. Far different than just the blending
all that he imagined to life through his hands. The ninth painting in that series, an 11-foot. of colors or ensuring accurate dimension,
He soon realized that he could not bring his canvas entitled “D-Day at Omaha Beach” was Tony captures an emotional mosaic for each
mural painting to its fullest manifestation unveiled at the Coast Guard Academy in a piece. Whether it be the desperation of Coast
unless he committed his entire profession- special D-Day 65th-anniversary commemo- Guard ships evacuating people on 9/11 or the
al life to that endeavor. After serving as a rative ceremony on June 5, 2009. warmth of a mother’s loving smile as she sits
New Haven firefighter for seven years, he left with her children, Tony gives his hands to
the New Haven Fire Department to establish Other notable Falcone commissions include you, the viewer, and brings your heart to a
his studio in a vintage dairy barn located in murals in the Yale University Law School, place of understanding and bliss.
Prospect, Connecticut. floor murals for the Yale University Peabody

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