Open Studio 2018

Serra Angel -Dominaria Donato Giancola Oil on Panel 24″ x 30″

Time has come around once again to open up the studio, share the results of numerous commissions and new projects, and hang with a bunch of talented folks who are sure to drop by.

I typically host an event like this as it coincides with our local ArtWalk in the Fall, but last years conjunction of the ArtWalk and New York ComicCon prevent such a gathering. The recent stellar alignment of many projects – commercial, private and personal – coming to fruition in the coming weeks made this an excellent time to host a party! So set aside some time and if you are in New York City in May, swing on by the neighborhood in Brooklyn:

Donato Arts Open Studio
Saturday May 19, 2018
10am – 6pm

Open to the Public

397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-797-2438

On display will be dozens of new drawings, many for the newly (and still ongoing!) illustrated limited edition novel of Uprooted by Naomi Novik to be released by Shawn Speakman and Grim Oak Press later this year. A few choice images from that project are below:

Uprooted-Chapter 2 Donato Giancola Watercolor Pencil and Chalk on Toned Paper 14″ x 11″

Uprooted-Chapter 4 Donato Giancola Watercolor Pencil and Chalk on Toned Paper 14″ x 11″

Uprooted-Chapter 15 Donato Giancola Watercolor Pencil and Chalk on Toned Paper 14″ x 11″

Also on exhibit will be the newly finished commission for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (nearly completed, as it is on the easel even now!). This is a private commission revisiting the original concepts generated as cover proposals for this project back a few years ago for the Science Fiction Book Club.

I shared that project in progress here last month:

One Step After Another

Adding some magic into the mix, the recently released Serra Angel from Magic: The Gathering‘s Dominaria expansion set will be framed and ready for display (shown at top of this article). This is my first Magic card in 8 years, and to celebrate I made an appearance at my first Magic Tournament since 2005, the Grand Prix in Hartford, Connecticut, this past weekend:

Old and New Art friends, Scott Murphy and Joseph Meehan, and a handful not pictured – Lindsey Look, Zack Stella, Victor Minguez, Eric Deschamp and Richard Kane Ferguson!

And lastly ‘That Guy’ who got me into Magic 22 years ago – Bryon Wackwitz!! (seated) with Mark Aronowitz. What a great and honored time to spend with these guys, and be back in the ring sharing our passions around art.

Expanding the list of featured art for this Open Studio will be new Middle-earth paintings and drawings created for a forth coming book project with Dark Horse Comics, a new Game of Thrones ‘hand’ portrait of Jon Snow, the wrap around cover for the Uprooted novel, the new (and 13th cover!) in the ongoing Imager Portfolio series for Tor books with author L.E. Modesitt, maybe even another Magic Card or two, pending what gets spoiled in the coming weeks from Wizards of the Coast, and the latest beginnings in the next creation in the Empathetic Robot series…and more Astronauts!!

Life Seeker Donato Giancola Oil on Panel 36″ x 48″ While not exactly at the studio, this piece with another space painting will be hanging at the Rehs Gallery in Manhattan April 28-May 18th, for those who arrive one day early for the Open Studio.

You can see why I am excited to open the doors to the studio next month! And this just skims the surface of all the other paintings, drawings, sketches, prints and artworks to be perused at the opening.

Hope to see you there!