DONATO ARTS

OPEN STUDIO 2024
Saturday September 21, 2024

11am - 6pm


397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217


NEWLY ADDED - ONLINE LOTTERY!

For all the followers who may not make it to Brooklyn for the Open Studio, I am offering an online lottery for give-a-ways, closing September 21st 11:59 PM ET.

To registered for the lottery to win one of the numerous gifts listed below you can either visit my social media pages linked to at:
and enter a comment on the respective post for the Lottery.  Or you may email me at:
with 'Enter' or any other comment in the subject field/message.

Items for the Online Lottery include:
- Original watercolor, Micro Painted Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof (three winners)
- Bridge of Khazad-dûm 24" x 28" foiled and embossed print (two winners, US shipping only)
- The Great Dragon Smaug 14" x 11" print (five winners, US shipping only)
- Trifold Keepsake of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and 6" x 9" print of Gandalf and the Balrog (five winners)
- Painting Joan of Arc video, 4+ hour process film showcasing the entire development of the painting (five winners, digital download only)
One entry per person.




This Fall (or the end of Summer) will see the annual hosting of an Open Studio here at our home and studio in Brooklyn. Open to you, friends, and anyone who you may like to bring along.


I will be showcasing the newly finished, large scale Middle-earth canvas, the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, alongside handfuls of new oil paintings including recent work for Tad William's Stone of Farewell, D&D themed drawings, Empathetic Robot projects, as well as scores of classics from my 30+ year career as an illustrator.


Of lucky significance for this event is that September 21st is also the 87th Anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien!


I cannot be more thrilled by this opportunity to celebrate the writings and art of Middle-earth.  Keep your eyes out for some very special offerings as I plan events and give-a-ways for this day including a lottery for copies of Middle-earth: Visions of A Modern Myth, a signed The Hobbit  featuring my cover art from the Science Fiction Book Club edition (signed just by me, not Tolkien, sorry!), and other original art and prints to be announced in the coming weeks.




Anchoring the studio for the second year in a row is another massive Middle-earth work, at 66" x 80", and this time - framed!  The successful Kickstarter which just ended this past week will allow me to offer that special print for visitors to examine first hand and enter a lottery for a free large canvas giclee of the art if you missed out on the campaign!

The Lottery will include numerous items in the offering, some are below, and more to be added as we get closer to the date.
In-person Lottery drawing will be held at 5pm on Saturday, entrants need not be present to win.



We are also thrilled that the artist & pianist External link opens in new tab or windowColleen Quint will be playing live on our piano throughout the day and artists External link opens in new tab or windowKelley Hensing and External link opens in new tab or windowCarter Gill will be present to assist once again this year!

New works from Magic:The Gathering as well as interior art for projects with External link opens in new tab or windowGrim Oak Press will be on display throughout the studio.

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For those who may be Darrell Sweet fans, I have his original acrylic painting of the Hobbit cover hanging in our home. This was the artwork used on the paperback book I first read as a young teenager!


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Stratego fans??  Anyone who played the board game in the late 1990's into the 2000's may have seen this artwork on the game box cover!



Heavy discounts on prints and select original artworks will be offered.  I will also have a handful of sketchbooks around for browsing and a few portfolios filled with large, preliminary drawings and studies will also be on display for perusal.

Stop by, take in some art, and kick back in the backyard while you enjoy a lemonade in a little part of the Shire in Brooklyn and raise a toast to Tolkien!


 



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Bridge of Khazad-dûm 

External link opens in new tab or windowOil Painting and Print on KICKSTARTER


I am thrilled to finally be able to share with you my latest epic canvas from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Bridge of Zhazad-dûm.

The painting, 66" x 80" oil on linen, is a continuation of my efforts to evolve a body of work representing various aspects of the stories from these inspiring novels. In celebration of this I will be offering an exceptional quality Lithographic Print through External link opens in new tab or windowKickstarter to focus the orders and extra rewards (bookmarks and a tri-fold keepsake). An extensive discussion with videos will showcase the art to a wonderful degree there.

The Kickstarter is now live for orders through to July 22, 9am ET.


The goal of this campaign is to reach a larger audience for the work and develop resources which will enable the creation of a series of oil paintings and prints along the themes of epic Middle-earth imagery.

Please join me in this journey!

 



OPEN STUDIO
Saturday May 13, 2023
11am - 6pm


397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217


Hello artists, friends, art appreciators, and fans,

This May will see the return of the annual hosting of an Open Studio here at our place in Brooklyn. Open to you, your friends, and the general public, we will showcase an abundance of new oil paintings, drawings, and projects as well as scores of classics from my 30+ year career as an illustrator.
Come eat, drink, and commingle with fellow artists, professionals, and fans of the genre as we plow our creative paths forward in these changing times.

Works on display will include the massive Middle-earth canvas The Beacons of Gondor, anchoring the studio at 78" x 114". This is my largest work ever and was created for the exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama this past winter.  I am excited to finally be able to share this with the New York area audience.


The Open Studio will also feature a dedicated Wall of Magic, displaying over thirty recent Magic:The Gathering oil paintings and preliminary sketches for the trading card game as well as a handful of my earliest works for Wizards of the Coast.


New fantasy works will be on display, from the cover of Kristen Britain's forthcoming novel The Spirit of the Wood to interior illustrations for the new novel King-Killing Queen by author Shawn Speakman of External link opens in new tab or windowGrim Oak Press.


Science fiction works will include my most recent (and still drying) Empathetic Robot painting, Remembering.  Portfolios filled with large, preliminary drawings and studies will also be available to peruse through.


Thank you again for your interest and support of my art.
I hope to see you in Brooklyn!

Donato

Open Studio Lottery!


I realize that many of you who follow my art here will not be able to travel to Brooklyn for my Open Studio this coming Saturday May 13th.

In consideration of that, I have a few items I will be giving away to you online!

The foremost offering, and first to be announced, is an original graphite painting, 11" x 14", created as an interior illustration for Naomi Novik's limited edition novel 'Spinning Silver' with Grim Oak Press. And to keep it fun you will have to choose between one of two works - 'The Other Side' or 'The Mountain'!

Submitting an entry into the lottery may be made via posting 'Enter' in the comments on my social media feeds (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or by emailing 'Enter' to:

lottery@donatoarts.com

(You may also speak 'Friend' and Enter if you know elvish!)

We will close entries at 11:59pm May 13th and make announcements/contacts on Sunday. International entries welcome.
More items will be announced in the coming days, but you need only reply/send once to be entered for all items.


WIN AN ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING!


Visitors to the Open Studio this coming Saturday May 13th can enter a lottery for the chance to take home something more than memories, an original oil painting by Donato!

The lucky winner will have their selection from one of these four original works. Each oil painting was a commissioned illustration, from book cover projects to magazine illustration for Der Spiegel to a Magic:The Gathering card, and are wonderful representations of Donato's approach to dynamic visual solutions.

Lottery draw to be held at 5pm.
Need not be present to win, but must be present to enter.

Which one would YOU choose?


Bonus!


The first 25 visitors to my Open Studio on Saturday May 13th will receive a free pristine copy of my now out of print first edition art book 'Middle-earth: Visions of a Modern Myth' from Underwood Books, 2011.


Now a collectors item, these books are hard to find, and have appreciated in value!


Copies will be signed by me and embossed with the Sigil of the Kings of Gondor!


Bonus PLUS!


Visitors to my Open Studio will be able to enter a lottery for various free art items.

The first up for announcement are these Magic:The Gathering Micro Paintings created on the backsides of Artist Proofs.

Three lucky winners will take these originals home!


Below are some of the works featured at the Open Studio.


 


MoCCA Arts Festival
April 1-2, 2023


This April will find Donato and scores of other creatives at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) Festival held back at the Metroploitan Paviailon in Manhattan.  Celebrating the art of illustration and comics, this is a wonderful gathering of artists, writers, publishers, collectors, and fans of the medium.


The MoCCA Arts Fest is a 2-day multimedia event, Manhattan’s largest independent comics and cartoon festival. With over 500 exhibiting artists displaying their work, award-winning honorees speaking about their careers and artistic processes and other featured artists conducting workshops, lectures and film screenings, the Fest and artists exemplify the limitless aesthetic and social power of comics and cartooning.


Since 2013, MoCCA Fest has been managed by the Society of Illustrators, bringing their passion for education and community building into the world of comics.

Donato will be signing, offering prints, Magic: The Gathering artist proofs , and original art both days at his booth, # 185


MoCCA Arts Festival

Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th St
New York, NY 10011

Hours:

Saturday April 1        11am – 7pm

Sunday April 2         11am – 6pm


For more information on the festival and admission:

External link opens in new tab or windowhttps://www.moccafest.org/


info@societyillustrators.org

(212) 838-2560



 




UPDATE: Painting is SOLD!
AUCTION for Original Oil Painting from Magic: The Gathering

Lyra Dawnbringer
24" x 20" Oil on Panel, framed
Art Director: Zack Stella

End Date: Thursday January 26th, 10PM EST
Reserve: $25,000
Buy-It-Now: $35,000

Gliding in, gracefully landing on the steps of a Benalish Cathedral, my latest from Dominaria Remastered, framed and ready to hang!

Bidding may be made via email to arts@donatoarts.com or phone to 718-797-2438.
The Auction will be run live in the MTG Art Marketplace Facebook Group:

If the final bid does not exceed the reserve price I have the option, but not obligation, to consider the sale of the art at the final winning bid to the final bidder, any below-reserve sale is non-binding upon the final bidder.

Minimum bid increases are $100 until $5000, $250 until $10,000, and $500 thereafter.

Any bids within the final 10 minutes of the auction close will extend auction close by ten minutes from that bid time.
Buy-It-Now option will cease 10 minutes before initial auction end time (10pm EST)

Shipping in the US is $95 via FedEx Ground/UPS, International via FedEx to be determined (likely ~ $450). Any international buyer is responsible for all custom's duties/VAT.Payments may be made by check, wire transfer, or Paypal 'Personal' setting with no additional fee. Paypal invoicing or creditcard payments incur an additional 4% fee domestic, 5% international.

The BIN fee at $35,000 will include the preliminary concept in the final sale price, otherwise auction winner will have right of First Refusal to purchase the preliminary.

Included in the final price is a signed copy of any Artist Proof card (and a copy of any variants) forward to Donato by Wizards of the Coast. These will be mailed once received.

An honor to play in Chris Rahn's shadow from his original interpretation of this card.

 



 

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External link opens in new tab or windowSmArt School 2023 SPRING Online Mentorship with Donato

14 Sessions of Comprehensive Critiques and Lectures on Art, Aesthetics and Business

March 2023 - June 2023
Wednesdays 4:30pm-7:30pm EST

UPDATE:  Donato's Class is Full- Other instructor's classes available


For information on enrollment:
External link opens in new tab or windowThe SmArt School
External link opens in new tab or windowsmarterartschool@gmail.com


With twenty-three Chesley Awards, nine medals from Spectrum, three Hugo Awards, and over twenty-seven years of teaching experience, Donato Giancola offers nearly unparalleled insight to professional practices and techniques within the freelance artist's marketplace. This mentorship runs online fourteen sessions meeting once a week for three hours in a Fall-Spring semester schedule. Extensive critiques, workovers, lectures, and presentations on painting and narrative image creation will be covered in intensive work sessions as well as discussions on business experiences - from contracts to self promotion to client negotiations.


Artists wishing to develop their pictorial image making skills do so under Donato's direct tutelage. Group and individual critiques are emphasized and cooperative development is fostered as a means toward resolving visual solutions. Traditional and Digital media are equally welcome.


This is a 13 class semester with a built in 14th class for unexpected student absences.


One class session will be dedicated to a visiting professional guest near the end of the term in June.


One of the great strengths of the SmArt School program is that mentorees can live anywhere in the world and take part in classes provided they have access to moderate to high speed internet connections. Sessions are run using group meeting software compatable with Macs, PCs, iPads, and iPhones.


Illuminating examples from art history, samples from Donatos portfolio, and works of contemporary artists will be utilized to provide clarity in the discussions. Lectures and critiques transpire via desktop sharing and digital draw overs of mentorees work in Photoshop. Class size will be limited to no more than eight students in order to offer the greatest interaction on individual critiques as well as inspire rich dialog based upon frequent, formal lectures on topics relevant to the production of high-caliber, polished professional art and illustration.


Topics of discussion slated to be covered include:


Painting Between the Lines - Developing Complex Narrative and Emotional Content
Abstract Thumbnailing and Preliminary Drawings
Compositional Aesthetics - Balance, Pattern, and the Modern Eye
Marketing and Self Promotion
Photographic References - Manipulation and Sampling

Creativity Consciousness

Mastering Metal, Textures and Complex Visual Effects

Controlling Color - Theory and Implementation
Composing with Multiple Figures
Challenges - Advancing your Artistic Career
Business Negotiations - Communication, Correspondence, and Collaboration


Visit External link opens in new tab or windowsmarterartschool.com for information about this class with Donato and classes with nine other professional artists.


 




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Adventures in Imagination

October 30, 2022 - January 22, 2023

Huntsville Museum of Art


I am honored to announce the opening of a large exhibition of my work this coming month at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama - Adventures in Imagination, running October 30 - January 22.

The exhibition will include examples from early drawings at the age of seven to the most recent epic canvas from Middle-earth, The Beacons of Gondor, still in progress at the studio this week! Over eighty works will touch upon the techniques developed as a commercial illustrator and oil painter. Rough sketches, finished preliminaries, and photographic references will be shown in context with the finished oil paintings to illuminate the creative processes.

A special section is dedicated to my work for Magic:The Gathering, including my first card illustrations for the game as well as recent favorites.

Opening reception is Tuesday November 1st, 6-8pm. I will be in attendance for the opening and hosting an intensive one-day External link opens in new tab or windowworkshop the next day, Wednesday the 2nd, diving into drawing as narrative storytelling.

My thanks to Christopher Madkour, director of the Museum, for reaching out for another chance to share my work with a growing community.

Details for the museum and workshop may be found at:


Huntsville Museum of Art

300 Church Street S

Huntsville, AL  35801



External link opens in new tab or windowI am happy to announce that I will be returning to my first Magic: The Gathering event in over two years for the CommandFest in Philadelphia, put on by Nick Coss and CardTitan!


External link opens in new tab or windowPennsylvania Convention Center

BALLROOM A & B
1101 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

11th & Arch St Entrance - Across from Reading Terminal Market

SEPTA: Jefferson Station


A few of my good artist friends will be there - Mark Poole, Mark Nelson - and including the buddy who got me into Magic - Bryon Wackwitz!


Details and registration information in the links above.


I will have Original Art, Artist Proofs, Micro-Paintings, Prints, and new Canvas Giclee's available at the table.

Looking forward to hanging out and signing with fans, friends, and pros alike!



 

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AUCTION closed Sunday July 11th, 2021 11:30pm EST

External link opens in new tab or windowhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgartmarket/posts/3081494005414131/


Mordenkainen the Wizard
Planeswalker
34” x 25” Oil on Panel, framed
2020
Art Director: Zack Stella

I am honored to present the portrait of Planeswalker Mordenkainen from the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms D&D expansion from Magic:The Gathering.

This painting is my most detailed and masterfully executed Magic: The Gathering cards as well as one of the finest portraits to grace my portfolio.

This portrait of Mordenkainen envelopes so much of what I love about my career as an artist - from portraiture, to narrative storytelling, rendering of reflective surfaces, dramatic lighting effects, and most importantly conveying a sense of wonder and mystery. We may never know what the wizard was working upon as we interrupted his contemplative thoughts in his study, but we can be certain we will feel the wrath of his ire!
 
Ever since discovering Dungeons and Dragons in my youth, I have enjoyed the complexities, challenges, and excitement of role-playing the character class of wizards. This portrait represents the deep passion I have for gaming and the art creation infused within my youth around roleplaying. It was this wellspring I returned to again and again as this work evolved.

Reaching back deep into those wizardry gaming roots are a set of bookends I created during my hard-core D&D days, with one side a diorama composed with the elements from Grenadier’s ‘Wizard’s Room’ lead figurine miniature set. I loved to paint these miniatures, owning handfuls of the diverse sets produced, and enjoyed endless hours of enjoyment in use in our campaigns.
 
Due to the lack of access to proper art supplies as a young artist, all small details on these figurines were rendered and applied with sharpened toothpicks. I am happy to state those logistical hurdles are no longer a hinderance in my art creation now! I have long ago learned that proper tools are part of the pathway to creating masterful, professional works of art.

To those ends, as this painting came closer to finish, a proper frame was needed to house this image and complement its craftsmanship. Masterworks Frames in Utah was commissioned to create a customized silver frame with a slight accent of dark blue in the broad field of the frame.
 
I am proud to now publicly share this major work with you and the Magic community!

Ps. The final image sent to wizards has a digitally added 'Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound'. I felt that the inclusion of the hound in the oil painting would weaken the ambiguous nature to Mordenkainen’s spell work and take focus away from him as a portrait of a powerful wizard.

Auction ends Sunday July 11th 11:30pm EST with any bids in the final 5 minutes extending closing time by an additional 5 minutes.

Buy It Now: $150,000 active starting Wednesday July 7th at 11:00pm EST, ending at Sunday July 11th 11:30pm EST (will NOT be active if auction goes into overtime). Any party interested in the BIN before the start time on July 7th may contact me directly. If there are two or more interested parties, a private auction will then proceed.

BIN price will include ALL the preliminaries for this work - abstract, rough red-toned concept, final grey-toned preliminary, blue-toned Hound, and acrylic color study (Wizard’s Room diorama NOT included).

Shipping fee $125 here in the United States via FedEx Ground. Overseas upon request.

Minimum Bid increases at $1000. Wire/Bank Transfer preferred for final payment, but other options possible. Bids may be made here in Comments, Private Message, or email at: arts@donatoarts.com



 


I will be participating in a few online programs for the 2021 Boskone Convention this weekend, February 12-14th:


External link opens in new tab or windowHosting an open online discussion (a Kaffeeklatsch) Saturday 11:30 am- 12:30pm


 Panel discussion, External link opens in new tab or windowThe Illustrated Book

 Saturday 5:30-6:30pm


 Panel discussion, External link opens in new tab or windowThe Magic of Art

Sunday 2:30-3:30pm


 Details in the links above.

You must register and be a member of the convention to join in. $25 membership gives you access to scores of panels and professionals across the scope of the genre.

 Come join in!


 

 



 

External link opens in new tab or windowIX Arts Online is now LIVE!


Beginning October 22, 2020 and running through Winter 2021.


The annual gathering of traditional media artists for the IlluxCon convention has gone online for 2020.  The scores of high caliber artists may still be found there, displaying the best of their work from the past year in he Main Show and Showcase, with lectures and presentations sprinkled in the mix.


Donato's lastest additions to his External link opens in new tab or windowEmpathetic Robot series may be found in the External link opens in new tab or windowgallery as well as original graphite paintings executed for the newly released Stranger in a Strange Land limited edition illustrated novel from The Folio Society.


Exhibiting artists include Greg Hildebrant, Omar Rayyan, Julie Bell, David Wenzel, Iris Compiet, Jeff Easley, Allen Williams, Anthony Kosar, Tom Kidd, Annie Stegg Gerard, Dave Seeley, Mark Poole, Tom Kuebler, Eric Wilkerson, Allen Douglas, Justin Gerard, Boris Vallejo, Kelley Hensing, Mark Zug, Vanessa Lemen, and Kristine and Colin Poole among scores of others!

 



 

External link opens in new tab or windowMicrodose: a small works salon

Big artists in a manageable dosage. Drawings, paintings, and sculptures all under 14" in size.


December 13, 2019 - January 18, 2020

Opening reception Friday December 13th from 6-9PM

This event is open to the public and free to attend.

(unfortunately Donato will not be in attendance due to his CommandFest appearance)


Artists Include:

Ben Ashton (artwork shown above), Ronit Baranga, Dave Benz, Zofia Bogusz, Rachael Bridge, Zachary Brown, Nannette Cherry, Nomi Chi, Colin Chillag, Dan Cimmermann, Alex Eckman, Lawn, Donato Giancola, Gosia, Paige Greeley, Baptiste Hersoc, Yun Sung Jang, Kikyz1313, Michelle Konczyk, Boy Kong, Chris Leib, Musidora Levamp, Chris Liberti , Joseph Loughborough, Caitlin McCormack, Emil Melmoth, Alex Merritt, CT Nelson, Daniel Ochoa, Michelle Perez,, Reisha Perlmutter, Horacio Quiroz, Rebecca Reeves, Julio Reyes, Madeleine Rhondeau, Scott, Schiedly, Ian Stone, Mark Tennant, Sid Watters, and John Weldon Wood.

Booth Gallery
325 W 38th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 560-0666
hours:  
Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm



 



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External link opens in new tab or windowMagic:The Gathering CommandFest Washington DC


December 13-15, 2019


Dulles Expo Center

4320 Chantilly Shopping Center

Chantilly, Virginia 20151


Donato will be returning this December to another Star City Games Magic gathering and will be present on the floor of the event hall for the entire three days.  In addition to signing he will have a host of Magic proofs, prints, original art, and a selection of his recent foray into Proof Micro Paintings for sale.  The recently published 200 page, over-sized monograph on Donato's External link opens in new tab or windowMiddle-earth works from Dark Horse Comics will also be found at his table.


A full listing of the cards and art Donato has illustrated for Magic:The Gathering may be found at:

https://www.donatoarts.com/magic


CommandFest

Hall Hours

Friday, Dec 13 10am - 9pm

Saturday, Dec 14 9am - 8pm

Sunday, Dec 15 9am - 7pm


 



IX Arts - 2019

October 23-27, 2019


GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
201 Washington Street
Reading, PA
610-374-4600


IX 12 (IlluxCon) will be opening its twelveth year at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA. One of the most prestigious exhibitions of contemporary fantastic art in the world, IX Arts is a comprehensive exhibition of fantastic art gathering together some of the brightest stars in traditional media for four and a half days of non-stop presentations, lectures, demonstrations, and inspiration.


Incredible names, new and old, within the science fiction and fantasy genre will be exhibiting the very best and most recent works from their studios, guaranteeing that this will again be a show to inspire and remember. Scott Gustafson, Ruth Sanderson, David Wenzel, Tom Kidd, Tran Nguyen, Tom Kuebler, Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Omar Rayyan, Dave Seeley, Vanessa Lemen, Steve Hickman, Mark Harrison, Colin and Kristine Poole - the list goes on and on and on.


Donato will be featuring many new works, including numerous interior drawings and the cover wrap around oil painting from the recent Limited Edition novel illustrations for Jacqueline Carey's Elegy for Darkness, the revised astronaut epic - LifeSeeker, a new Empathetic Robot painting, and handfuls of new fantasy and science fiction oil paintings, drawings and prints - From  Middle-earth to Dungeons&Dragons - the full range of Donato's interests will be on display.


For more information about IX Arts, visit External link opens in new tab or windowhttp://illuxcon.com/.


 



External link opens in new tab or windowTRANSFORMATIONS: The Art of Donato Giancola


September 6-27, 2019


Opening Thursday September 5th, 6-9 pm
Open to the public


A new retrospective exhibition featuring 40 works spanning my entire artistic career, fan and pro alike.


Selections include studies, drawings, sketches, and major career milestone oil paintings will be on exhibition and presented by Laguna College of Art and Design's (LCAD) BFA program in Illustration at the LCAD Gallery. 

Works exhibited range from early childhood drawings to my first and latest interpretations of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, from beginnings as a book cover artist in New York City to commissions for Magic: The Gathering, and from calendar art for George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) to the recent series, Empathetic Robots.


External link opens in new tab or windowLCAD Gallery

External link opens in new tab or window374 Ocean Avenue

External link opens in new tab or windowLaguna Beach, CA 92651


Admission is always free and open to the public


GALLERY HOURS

11AM – 4PM, Wednesday through Sunday

External link opens in new tab or windowClosed Monday and Tuesday


 



This September will see the launch of a new convention centered around the art and creators within the fields of Concept Art, Illustration, Animation, and Gaming.  Begun by Bobby Chiu, a character designer and founder of Schoolism, and Jim Demonakos, founder of Emerald City Comic Con, for although there are quite a few conventions which draw in the talent from the afore mentioned fields (from San Diego Comic-Con to Spectrum Live to E3), there had yet to be a convention held in the backyard of Los Angeles.  The proximity to Hollywood and Southern California’s dense animation and gaming business is guaranteeing the floor at the Pasadena Convention Center will be packed and rocking with an incredible wealth of creative individuals over these three days.


This is one of the main reasons why I love to attend gatherings such as Lightbox Expo, for the chance for something unexpected to happen with my art and career.  I love the thrill of meeting new professionals, fans, and future accomplices in an ever evolving career in the arts – new lights beckon through cracks and keyholes.

External link opens in new tab or window


From the LightBox website:


Renowned character designer and illustrator Bobby Chiu, the team at Schoolism, and Emerald City Comic Con founder Jim Demonakos have teamed up to launch LightBox Expo, a three day celebration of the visual arts in Pasadena, California.

LightBox Expo (LBX) was conceived as a way to bring together the best artists in animation, illustration, live action and gaming industries under one roof. Why? To hang out with fellow creators, share our art with the public, meet other artists, further our skills and educate those coming up in our respective industries.


External link opens in new tab or windowhttps://www.lightboxexpo.com/


PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
300 E Green St
Pasadena, CA 91101
USA

September 6-8, 2019

Donato Arts

Booth 916


EXPO HOURS
Friday – 12pm-6pm
Saturday – 10am-6pm
Sunday – 10am-5pm

                                                                                                                                   

I will be hosting a lecture:


Painting Between the Lines

Friday, September 6th, 2:30 pm Room 212

on the theme of creativity


Check out the amazing programming planned for LightBox Expo:


 



External link opens in new tab or window

External link opens in new tab or windowSmArt School 2019 Fall Online Mentorship with Donato

14 Sessions of Comprehensive Critiques and Lectures on Art, Aesthetics and Business

September 11, 2019 - January 8, 2020
Wednesdays 4:30pm-7:30pm EST


For information on enrollment:
External link opens in new tab or windowThe SmArt School
External link opens in new tab or windowsmarterartschool@gmail.com


With twenty-three Chesley Awards, nine medals from Spectrum, three Hugo Awards, and over twenty-four years of teaching experience, Donato Giancola offers nearly unparalleled insight to professional practices and techniques within the freelance artist's marketplace. This mentorship runs online thirteen sessions meeting once a week for three hours in a Fall-Spring semester schedule. Extensive critiques, workovers, lectures, and presentations on painting and narrative image creation will be covered in intensive work sessions as well as discussions on business experiences - from contracts to self promotion to client negotiations.


Artists wishing to develop their pictorial image making skills do so under Donato's direct tutelage. Group and individual critiques are emphasized and cooperative development is fostered as a means toward resolving visual solutions. Traditional and Digital media are equally welcome.


This is a 13 class semester with a built in 14th class for unexpected student absences.


One class session will be dedicated to the exceptional professional guest, Irene Gallo, publisher of Tor.com near the end of the term in December.


One of the great strengths of the SmArt School program is that mentorees can live anywhere in the world and take part in classes provided they have access to moderate to high speed internet connections. Sessions are run using group meeting software compatable with Macs, PCs, iPads, and even iPhones.


Illuminating examples from art history, samples from Donatos portfolio, and works of contemporary artists will be utilized to provide clarity in the discussions. Lectures and critiques transpire via desktop sharing and digital draw overs of mentorees work in Photoshop. Class size will be limited to no more than ten students in order to offer the greatest interaction on individual critiques as well as inspire rich dialog based upon frequent, formal lectures on topics relevant to the production of high-calibre, polished professional art and illustration.


Topics of discussion slated to be covered include:


Painting Between the Lines - Developing Complex Narrative and Emotional Content
Abstract Thumbnailing and Preliminary Drawings
Compositional Aesthetics - Balance, Pattern, and the Modern Eye
Marketing and Self Promotion
Photographic References - Manipulation and Sampling

Creativity Consciousness

Mastering Metal, Textures and Complex Visual Effects

Controlling Color - Theory and Implementation
Composing with Multiple Figures
Challenges - Advancing your Artistic Career
Business Negotiations - Communication, Correspondence, and Collaboration


Visit External link opens in new tab or windowsmarterartschool.com for information about this class with Donato and classes with seven other professional artists.

 




External link opens in new tab or windowWhat Dreams Are Made Of

Exhibition Featuring works from Michael Whelan, Donato Giancola, Michael Alfano and Robert Remsen Vickrey


August 3 -16, 2019

Opening reception August 3rd from 5-7PM


In a first time showing at the gallery, Donato will be sharing new works related to his astronomical series and fascination with the merging of nature and humanity.  Donato will be in attendance for the opening, and willing to sign items related to his published book and game artwork, from Middle-earth to Magic:The Gathering.  Come join us for an exceptional exhibit!


Free and open to the public.


Below are a few of the images to be on display.

 



Middle-earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend

Published by Dark Horse, April 2019


After three years of working with editor Scott Allie, I am very happy to announce that the revised edition of my book on Middle-earth art will be avialable coming this April from Dark Horse Publishing. It has been a real pleasure putting this together and the talents of Chris Horn and Patrick Satterfield have insured its absolutely gorgeous production quality.


The new edition will be massive at 14" tall by 10 wide, offering great panoramic views of double page spreads for all the large scale paintings depicting landscapes inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as viewing many drawings at 100% scale. The tome is now 200 pages, adding over 100 new works of art to this collection beyond the first edition!


As a peek into working methods in the studio, included is a five page process section on the epic canvas, Beren and Luthien in the Court of Thingol and Melian


200 pages, large format

14" x 10" full color hard cover
April 2019 publication date


To pre-order the book visit:

External link opens in new tab or windowbarnesandnoble.com


For those who wish for a little more special edition, Shawn Speakman of the SignedPage.com

and I are offering signed and embossed books. The emboss is that of the sigil of the Kings of Gondor!

External link opens in new tab or windowsignedpage.com


 

 



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External link opens in new tab or windowIMC 2019

June 10-16, 2019


Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts


This June will find Donato once again at the twelfth annual gathering of the Illustration Master Class.  Begun by Rebecca Guay to bring together some of the most talented teachers and students in science fiction and fantasy illustration, this week long, mind numbing, action packed and sleepless night filled experience has no rival in other workshops.  In addition to the usual faculty of Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Irene Gallo, Greg Manchess, Rebecca Guay, Dan Dos Santos,  Scott Fischer, and myself, The IMC welcomes back the incredibly talented and respected Iain McCaig, Mike Mignola, Lauren Panepinto, Marc Scheff, and new comer Karla Ortiz as its guest additions for the week.  A handful of visiting artists and professionals, will also fill out the engagements throughout the week.

Visit External link opens in new tab or windowartimc.org for information about this years housing and registration. Spaces still available!

 




Spectrum Live! & Planet Comicon Kansas City

March 29-31, 2019

Kansas City Convention Center
Bartle Hall
301 W. 13th St
Kansas City, MO


External link opens in new tab or windowplanetcomicon.com


Planet Comicon Kansas City this year will be co-hosting the gathering and exhibit Spectrum Live as a sub-convention within their event. One of the largest gatherings of science fiction and fantasy artists, Spectrum Live offers a chance to connect with other professionals within the industry while reaching out to interact with the thousands of fans attending the Comicon.


Respected talent within the science fiction and fantasy genre will be presenting and lecturing at Planet Comicon - Ian McCaig, Miranda Meeks, Chris Claremont, Amanda Conner, J.A.W. Cooper, Bill Carmen, Tran Nguyen - as well as scores of other exhibiting artists.


Donato will be featuring many new works, including the newly expected revised edition of art on J.R.R. Tolkien's world - Middle-earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend published by Dark Horse and due in the states the same week as the convention! The Donato Arts booth will also including nearly 30 interior drawings from the recent Limited Edition novel illustrations for Naomi Novik's Uprooted, interior illustrations for Warrior by Terry Brooks, a new Empathetic Robot painting, and new fantasy and science fiction oil paintings, drawings and prints - From Middle-earth to Game of Thrones - the full range of Donato's interests will be on display.


For more information about Planet Comicon and SpectrumLive, visit:

External link opens in new tab or windowplanetcomicon.com
External link opens in new tab or windowspectrumfantasticartlive.com