Stephan Giannini, 47

I’ve seen you out here painting for quite some time.
A couple weeks ago, I was riding my bicycle around looking for something to paint, and the river bridge just caught my eye.

Is this your full-time job?
I don’t do fine art full time, but I work with a paintbrush full time. I paint murals and also do restoration work.

Do you specifically enjoy painting Chicago scenes?
I’ve done a lot of Chicago scenes over the years. Last summer, I was painting down in Hyde Park a lot. There’s a lot of interesting old buildings between, like, 50th and 57th Streets. I grew up in West Rogers Park, and it was really exciting to come downtown and see the El tracks and see all these towers! I think that fascination has stuck with me.

You don’t see too many artists painting outside.
Well, the heritage of painting outdoors comes from the Impressionists. The reason they started doing that is because of the invention of paint tubes. Before that, there wasn’t an easy way to bring your paint outside.

Wouldn’t it be easier to work from a photo in your studio?
To me, it’s obvious that working from a photo isn’t at all the same. What I’m doing is recording the experience of my time here. I’m capturing the air. I actually just got back from an amazing four-month painting trip to Southeast Asia.

What keeps you coming back to Chicago?
When I was in Asia, people would ask, “Where are you from?” When I’d say “Chicago,” they’d respond, “Oh, you’re so lucky!” [Laughs] I’m meeting all these people from a place that I think is so exotic and cool and realizing that they have the same perception of Chicago. I started looking at my home with new eyes.

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