An artist first and last

Tony Mendez — the retired CIA operative whose exploits during the Iranian hostage crisis inspired the movie “Argo” — has retired from the spy business. But he’s still an artist. And his wife and son are artists, too.

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Dec. 12, 2012

At home in rural Knoxville, Md., Tony Mendez carries recently sold photos that were taken by his wife, Jonna, who, like him, is a former CIA operative.

Jonathan Newton / THE WASHINGTON POST

Sept. 14, 2012

Retired CIA operative Tony Mendez sits at home in front of a recent painting of boats at Fletcher’s Boathouse along the C & O Canal.

Jonathan Newton / THE WASHINGTON POST

Jonna Mendez, center, and Tony Mendez, second from right, join Ben Affleck on the set of “Argo.” Affleck directed the movie and played Tony Mendez, who as a CIA operative organized the January 1980 rescue of six U.S. diplomats during the Iranian hostage crisis.

Claire Folger / WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Dec. 12, 2012

Tony Mendez, his wife, Jonna Mendez, and son Antonio “Toby” Mendez in the family art gallery, which is next to the Mendez home in western Maryland. Tony is a painter; Jonna, a photographer; and Toby, a sculptor.

Jonathan Newton / THE WASHINGTON POST

The Major Taylor Monument, by Toby Mendez, in Worcester, Mass. The monument honors Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, an American cycling champion who overcame racial bias to set numerous world records.

Antonio Tobias Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

The Thurgood Marshall Memorial, by Toby Mendez, at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. The memorial honors the civil rights lawyer who became the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Celia Pearson / COURTESY OF CELIA PEARSON

“Glorious Moment,” an oil painting by Tony Mendez, depicts cherry trees in bloom at the Tidal Basin in Washington.

Tony Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“Gateway,” an oil painting by Tony Mendez.

Tony Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“Study of Boats — Key Bridge,” a photo of Washington by Jonna Mendez.

Jonna Mendez / COURTESY OF JONNA MENDEZ

“Tribute to the Oyster Tonger,” a sculpture by Toby Mendez, at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden in Solomons, Md.

Antonio Tobias Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“Gandhi,” by Toby Mendez, a tribute to Indian independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, in Suffolk County, N.Y.

Celia Pearson / COURTESY OF CELIA PEARSON

Dec. 12, 2012

Some sculptures by Toby Mendez in his studio in Knoxville, Md.

Jonathan Newton / THE WASHINGTON POST

“Jim Palmer,” by Toby Mendez, a tribute to the Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Antonio Tobias Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“Eddie Murray,” by Toby Mendez, a tribute to the Orioles Hall of Fame first baseman, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Antonio Tobias Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“Cal Ripken,” by Toby Mendez, a tribute to the Orioles Hall of Fame third baseman, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Antonio Tobias Mendez / COURTESY OF ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ

“At the Fair,” a photo by Jonna Mendez.

Jonna Mendez / COURTESY OF JONNA MENDEZ

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

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A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Skagit Valley Herald, Frank Varga)

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SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

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epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

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A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

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Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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