With far too many of my current projects under NDA’s ( Non-Disclosure Agreements), I haven’t much to share with you except a few glimpses of what is to come. Between multiple conventions, a museum exhibit of my work later this Fall and teaching weekly courses with the SmArt School and the School of Visual Arts I am at a loss for words and the time to clarify my thoughts. Apologies to you long time readers, but I will move into substantial content by the end of the year. As I always say, I would rather be painting than typing…
So, to let art speak for me:
Eragon: 10th Anniversary Edition novel by Christopher Paolini 18″ x 24″ pencil and chalk on paper
Hephaestus 16″ x 20 ” Pencil and chalk on paper
The Hidden Kingdom 46″ x 33″ Oil on Panel
Huor and Hurin Approaching Gondolin detail of a painting 112″ x 73″ oil on linen
Born in 1967 and raised in Colchester, Vermont, USA, art was always a hobby for Donato as a young man, he would steal away into the basement of his parents' home to work on drawings, create his own maps for the game Dungeons & Dragons, paint figurines, read comics, and construct model tanks and dinosaurs. His love of imaginative play dominated his childhood, both indoors and out. At the age of twenty Donato enrolled in his first formal art class, the beginning of his professional training. Immediately after graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Painting from Syracuse University in 1992, Donato moved to New York City to immerse himself in the inspired and varied art scene. Formative years in the early nineties were spent as the studio assistant to the preeminent figure painter Vincent Desiderio, and long days of study in the museums of New York. It was then that his love and appreciation of classical figurative art took hold. He continues his training even now, visiting museums regularly, learning from and sometimes copying original paintings by Rembrandt or Rubens, attending life drawing sessions with illustrator friends and constantly challenges himself within each new project. Pilgrimages to major museums are his preferred reason to travel.
Donato has released a revised hard cover compilation of his works on the theme of J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-Earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend from Dark Horse Comics.
It's not often you get to see a painting like 'Huor and Hurin approaching Gondolin in person. It was truly an epic piece both in scale and execution. Reminiscant of Albert Bierstadt's grand work. Thanks for sharing it at Illuxcon!
Yes…thank yo….hang on I wasn't there…! Oh no…I missed it 🙁 Oh well…one day…probably. If I'm good, the gods may smile down on me. One day…sigh…. . . . . . . .
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The bottom painting is huge! The largest I've painted so far is 84 x 48″. I hope you'll show us the full painting some day.
The art speaks 🙂 It always does. The Eragon drawing really gets me excited!
James Gardner
He had it at Illuxcon 6, it was monstrous.
The Huor and Hurin painting is simply breathtaking, Donato. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I would love to see it in person!
-Will
It's not often you get to see a painting like 'Huor and Hurin approaching Gondolin in person. It was truly an epic piece both in scale and execution. Reminiscant of Albert Bierstadt's grand work. Thanks for sharing it at Illuxcon!
Yes…thank yo….hang on I wasn't there…!
Oh no…I missed it 🙁
Oh well…one day…probably. If I'm good, the gods may smile down on me.
One day…sigh…. . . . . . . .
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