Shivan Dragon Donato Giancola 2001 copyright Wizards of the Coast
by Donato
Having a little fun today with this post, tracing back the years and my various approaches to dragons. If there is anything to be learned from this, it is that your first drawings and paintings of dragons will never come out the way you see them in your mind’s eye, you need to revisit the theme again, again, and again….and again. And again. Did I mentioned revisiting the theme?
With each interpretation, I find a new quality or characteristic I wish to emphasis about my particular relationship with dragon mythology – Are they an adversary? Companion? Recluse? Beast? Threat? Weapon? Mystic?
As the years pass, I am more interested in portraying a dragon as an intelligent, mindful individual, representing tremendous potential energy, withheld, but ready to be released. I think this expression of power in reserve, rather than power outwardly amplified is what I love best about dragons. I also find these qualities of checked power a theme running through many of my other works.
Keep an eye out for me and my dragons this summer as I return to GenCon for their 50th Anniversary convention and my appearance as the Artist Guest of Honor! I am honored, and thrilled to be attending!
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.
Great to see the evolution over the years and admire them together as a collection. Amazing to see the nuances and character you've given to Dragons among the many pieces.
What happened between 1994 and 1999? It seems like you really discovered your style and voice in that time and it really shows in your work. Very inspiring!
I discovered that publishers wanted my internal 'voice'. Rather than trying to make art that pleased them, I began to make art that please my inner self first, then solved their narrative needs. Nice catch and notice that something big happened around 1998-1999.
Cameron bellonPainting She-Hulk & ElektraLooks amazing! The artist is fantastic and the music choice is spot on! I’m almost finished with my picture too, just been caught up with work. Apprec…
A great collection of beasts. Thanks for sharing!
I really love the toned paper drawings. I'm still hoping to see one of these on Every Day Original early enough to buy it.
This feels very apropos, as I'm struggling with a dragon in a painting right now. I wish I'd seen that 2016 Shivan dragon before starting my painting!
Great to see the evolution over the years and admire them together as a collection. Amazing to see the nuances and character you've given to Dragons among the many pieces.
You missed my favorite one, the one with the dragon carrying away a horse. -Dan
Hmmm, they're ALL my favorite one! You are the BEST Donato!
Added!
What happened between 1994 and 1999? It seems like you really discovered your style and voice in that time and it really shows in your work. Very inspiring!
I discovered that publishers wanted my internal 'voice'. Rather than trying to make art that pleased them, I began to make art that please my inner self first, then solved their narrative needs. Nice catch and notice that something big happened around 1998-1999.