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January 11, 2012
PAINTING JOAN OF ARC with Donato Giancola
A new process documentary recording the entire creation of an oil painting
Joan of Arc
I am pleased to announce the release of a new film documenting the creation of another oil painting, Joan of Arc.The desire to create a painting about Joan has been flittering about in my sketchbook for years, ever since returning from a visit to Burgundy, France, the region where she lived. Thus when considering what subject matter to tackle for my second step-by-step process DVD, Joan was an obvious choice, not withstanding the celebration of her 600th birthday occurring this year.
As a professional and teacher I wanted to both challenge myself and illuminate as much of the creative process as possible, given the restraints of producing this documentary. From portraits to hands to armor, we have filled the four-plus hours of the DVD with content we deemed most relevant. Aaron Fagerstrom, who shot and edited my first film The Mechanic has done a brilliant job with the cinematography, editing and packaging of the final film.
I would like to thank all the teachers who have contributed to my growth and continued development as an artist. Their willingness to take the time to illuminate and present art in all its varied complexities opened creative doors for me I could never have found on my own. I could not be the artist I am today without standing on the shoulders of those before me. I hope this painting and video provides you with the joy, knowledge and inspiration to take your art to another level.
Happy Birthday Joan!
The DVD is available directly from the studio of Donato.
Painting Joan of Arc
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November 3-6, 2011
IlluxCon 4
Altoona, Pennsylvania
IlluxCon was held this past month, and my head is still spinning from all the lectures, demos, inspiration, and conversations with professionals, fans and students from all walks of the science fiction and fantasy genre. From masters like Boris Vallejo to new talent like Tyler Jacobsen, artists make incredible journeys to attend this event - John Harris from England and Didier Graffet from France to name a couple.
The convention has limited attendance, a decision by its founders Pat and Jeannie Wilshire to contrast with the crazy experience of the San Diego ComicCon. While this may seem a detriment for retail sales, it affords the attendees the time and pleasure to hold in depth conversations with anyone willing to make the trip, and facilitate incredible peer to peer reviews and critiques of the art. It is an environment like none other.
The one biggest draw back to this event is that it is not long enough! There are so many friends in attendance that I can only fire off a passing hello to them. I always regret not having found the time for another conversation.
A special thanks goes out to fellow Muddy Colors blogger Jesper Ejsing, who kept the drive to and from the convention lively as we counted the deer, alive and dead(mostly). We spent some wonderful time wondering where do we all go from here...
At least from me, it is back to the studio playing catch up, but thought to I'd share a few images from the event.
Enjoy!
 The talented Tom Kuebler talks shop!
 Petar Meseldzjia offering up his lecure skills.
 Alan Williams (right), the latest addition to the concept world of the West Coast.
 The reknown agent Jane Frank who with her husband, Howard, have amassed one the the greatest science fiction and fantasy art collections in the world.
And here is the list of participating artists! What an amazing group!!!!!
John Harris
John Jude Palencar,
Boris Vallejo,
Bruce Jensen,
Ralph Horsley,
Cynthia Sheppard,
William O'Connor,
Jeff Easley,
Gary Lippincott,
Justin Gerard,
Donato Giancola ,
Anthony Palumbo,
David Palumbo,
Mark Zug,
Joe Kovach,
Vincent Villafranca,
Thomas Kuebler,
Jordu Schell,
Tom Kidd,
Bob Eggleton,
E.M. Gist,
Christopher Moeller,
Lars Grant-West ,
Jeff Laubenstein,
Travis Lewis,
Marc Fishman,
Matthew Stewart,
Dan Dos Santos,
Randy Gallegos,
Jesper Ejsing,
Mark Poole,
Eric Fortune,
Tyler Jacobsen,
Raoul Vitale,
L.A. Williams,
Sam Burley,
Caniglia,
Dave Seeley,
Daren Bader,
Lucas Graciano ,
Michael C. Hayes,
Robh Ruppel,
Steve Prescott,
Tom Taggart,
Stephen Hickman,
Petar Meseldzija,
Julie Bell,
Alan Pollack,
Eric Velhagen,
Omar Rayyan,
Christopher Rahn,
Steve Belledin,
Ryan Pancoast,
Didier Graffet,
Winona Nelson
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August 25, 2011
2011 Chesley Award for Best Interior Illustration
from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA)
Eowyn and the Lord of the Nazgul
Two years ago Tim Underwood and Arnie Fenner approached me with the idea of producing an Art of Middle-earth collection and I leapt at the chance. On the drafting table was an epic image, long delayed for a private collection as I was waiting for the right time and inspiration to hit for me to build up the drive and finish the work. I am happy to say Eowyn and the Lord of the Nazgul, not only rose to my own level of standards, but with this award it is now acknowledged by the even larger audience of my peers. Thank you members of ASFA!
The book is available directly from the studio, in both the regular binding and a special 26 piece leather bound limited edition:
Middle Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth
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August 25, 2011
ART OUT LOUD
September 24, 2011
1 - 5 p.m.
Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street
New York, New York 10065
212-838-2560
Join Donato Giancola and four other artists at the top of the science fiction and fantasy illustration field as they demonstrate their skills and techniques in an open, live forum. The artists will be working on various projects while attendees are free to roam from station to station, asking questions and observing the methods which have landed these artists world-wide acclaim.
Featuring:
Julie Bell,
Rick Berry,
Greg Manchess,
Boris Vallejo,
Donato Giancola
Tickets: $40 Members, $50 Non-Members, $20 Students
Food will be available for an additional $5.
rsvp@societyillustrators.org or call 212-838-2560
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August 25, 2011
Fantastic Worlds: Masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art
August 13 through November 13, 2011
Kenosha Public Museum
5500 First Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
262-653-4140
An invitational exhibit is now showing at the Kenosha Museum of Art of some of the most talented artists working in the field of science fiction and fantasy art today. Donato will be showcasing his painting 'An' including the preliminary drawings and studies which went into its creation, as well as a handful of other works.
Artists exhibiting include:
Scott Altmann, Steven Anderson, Daren Bader, Volkan Baga, Edward
Binkley, Aaron Boyd, Tim Bruckner, Linda Dockey Graves, Jeff Easley,
Bob Eggleton, Marc Fishman, Donato Giancola, Scott Gustafson,
Christina Hess, Ingrid Kallick, Kristin Kest, Thomas Kuebler, Don
Maitz, Jeff Menges, Aaron Miller, Jeff Miracola, Jim Nelson, Mark
Nelson, John Jude Palencar, Vincent Proce, Steve Rude, Dave Seeley,
Cynthia Sheppard, Lothar Speer, John Stanko, Matthew Stewart, Vincent
Villafranca, and Janny Wurtz
Visit http://www.kenosha.org/museum/exhibits.html#fantastic for information about the show.
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August 25, 2011
Worlds Collide: The Art of Science Fiction
October 3 - 28, 2011
Communication Arts Technologies Gallery
Technical Center
Montgomery College
Rockville Campus
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 10 am - 6 pm
Thursdays 10 am - 8 pm
Fridays, 10 am - 1 pm
240.567.7521
Donato will have six pieces of Giclee art hanging at an exhibition of science fiction illustration this Fall. Included are some of the most widely known and loved professionals from today and yesterday.
Vincent DiFate, Don-Ivan-Punchatz, Greg-Manchess, James-Gurney, Leo-Diane-Dillon, Paul-Alexander, Paul-Lehr, Richard-Powers, and John-Berkey.
Visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/~mvaughan/technical_center/index.html for information about the exhibition.
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August 14, 2011
Figurative Award in Art Renewal's 2011 Annual Salon
I am happy to announce the painting, Waiting, has won the First Place Award in the Figurative Category of Art Renewal Center's 2011 Annual Salon. Two new collectors purchased this painting at the San Deigo ComicCon, just weeks before this announcement. They had sharp eyes! Two other works received recognition as well, Undulations, as a finalist in the Landscape category and Knowledge, as an Honorable Mention.
My thanks to the judges and congratulations to the other award winners and accepted artists.
Visit http://www.artrenewal.org/ to see the full list of this year's winners.
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August 14, 2011
San Diego Comic Con 2011
San Diego
Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
For the past 12 years, I have been attending the San Diego Comic Con to visit with friends, fans, and professionals to once again share the work I love to create. I have recently posted on a collective blog, Muddy Colors, regarding my experiences and shared a few new photos from this past years event. Again, I was amazed and surprised by the talent and friendliness of so many of the artists in attendence. I will certainly be back next year...
(left to right, Bill Carman, Arnie Fenner, Donato, Paul Tobin, and Cathy Fenner)
http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2011/08/san-diego-comic-con.html
Visit http://www.comic-con.org/ For information about panels, exhibitors and registration for 2012.
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May 5, 2011
US Postal Service Stamps:
Alan Shepard and Mercury Messenger
I am honored to announce the release of two stamps I have created for the US Postal Service in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Alan Shepard's historic ride as the first American into space and the recent development of a new space mission, Messenger, as it enters into its final obital phase around the planet Mercury, the first such mission dedicated to the inner most planet. The first day of issue is May 4th, with the stamps available at Post Offices around the country.
Below is the Press release:
BROOKLYN ARTIST'S WORK FEATURED ON NEW US POSTAGE STAMP HONORING SPACE EXPLORATION
(BROOKLYN, NY -- May 4, 2011) -- Two new postage stamps go on sale today celebrating 50 years of American space exploration: Alan Shepherd's historic flight on May 5, 1961 and NASA's unmanned MESSENGER mission that investigates the planet Mercury.
Titled "Alan Shepard: First American in Space" and "First Spacecraft to Orbit Mercury," the pair of stamps were designed and painted by Brooklyn-based artist Donato Giancola, who used both NASA photos and the Mercury Capsule on view at The New York Hall of Science as references. Like all of Giancola's paintings, the stamps were rendered in oil.
Giancola is well-known in science-fiction and fantasy circles for his meticulously painted illustrations, which includes cover art for The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein as well as numerous games and trading cards. The stamp images are representative of Giancola's most recent paintings that go beyond traditional sci-fi subjects to depict humans relating to their changing environment, which encompasses space exploration, among other themes.
Giancola, a lifelong aficionado of space exploration, traces the genesis of the commission back to "Prometheus," a 7-foot by 8-foot image of astronauts he painted to celebrate human achievements and advancements. The painting is currently on view at The New York Hall of Science in one of the main exhibition halls.
"Prometheus" led to a series of space-themed stamps Giancola painted for the United Nations Postal Administration. These attracted the attention of Phil Jordan, an art director with the U.S. Postal Service who formerly worked on Air & Space magazine.
In addition to the USPS stamps, Giancola's astronaut portraiture can also be seen in the April 2011 issue of Playboy , accompanying a story on the economics of asteroids.
Giancola, who also teaches at New York's School of Visual Arts, credits the combination of his expertise in portraiture and knowledge of science and astronauts for securing the stamp project.
For Giancola, 44, who grew up in the dawn of the Space Age, it was a humbling experience to create the stamps that celebrate historical achievement in space. "It is an honor and thrill to have created these stamps celebrating space exploration and technology through individual achievements and the hard work of countless engineers and scientists," says Giancola.
"Astronauts like Alan Shepard have inspired a new generation to push the limits of our science and make the dreams of the future a reality. "
The Project Mercury and MESSENGER Mission stamps will be issued as Forever Stamps for use in mailing a one-ounce letter. Regardless of when the stamps are purchased or used, no matter how prices may change in the future, these stamps will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
Born and raised in Vermont, Giancola began his art studies at Syracuse University where he received his BFA. His has received numerous awards including the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, 18 Chesley Awards from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, three Artist Hugo Awards for outstanding professional work from the World Science Fiction Society, and multiple silver and gold medals from the juried annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art.
Current clients include major book publishers such as Random House and Simon & Schuster; worldwide collectors; and corporations such as LucasArts, National Geographic, CNN, Microsoft, Milton-Bradley, and Hasbro. His work is shown at the Richard J. Demato Fine Arts Gallery in Sag Harbor.
Giancola lives and works in his studio in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, which he will open up to the public during the annual Atlantic Avenue Art Walk on June 4-5 in Brooklyn (www.artwalk2011.com).
For more information on the artist, visit www.donatoart.com.
Media Contact: Carey Johnson
carey.johnson@verizon.net
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June, 2011
Silver Award in Spectrum 18
I am very pleased to announce my painting, Mind Machine, has won the Silver Award in the Institutional category of Spectrum 18. I am very grateful for this recognition and to once again be included in the most prestigious annual of science fiction and fantasy art in the world.
My thanks to the judges and congratulations to the other award winners and accepted artists!
Visit http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/ to see the full list of this year's winners.
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February 2011
International Arists Magazine
February/March 2011 edition
Rebecca Guay, the founder and head of the Illustration Master Class, was recently asked by International Artists Magazine to produce an series of articles on the artist who teach at the IMC. Thus past months issue featured an incredible 12 page expose on all of the talented artists who will be lecturing, demonstrating, and teaching at the seminar this summer. Enjoy!
Visit www.illustrationmasterclass.com/ For information about space availability, housing and registration for the 2012 IMC.
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February 2011
American Art Collector Magazine
June 2011 edition
The recent June 2011 issue of American Art collector has featured a few of my 'Water' paintings, created for exhibition at the Richard J. Demato Gallery in Sag Harbor, in their survey of Amercian Marine Art. It is an honor to be in such company as Jopseph McGurl, William Storck, and Russ Kramer. One of the featured pieces, Leviathan, is now hanging at the gallery.
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February 2011
Creative Quarterly 23
Summer 2011 edition
Three works have been selected for inclusion in Creative Quarterly 23, a journal featuring the best of contemporary art and design. Of those entries,
St. George and the Dragon was selected as an award winner in the illustration category and
Waiting and
Mind Machine were runners up in Fine Arts.
My thanks to the judges and publishers at CQ 23 for giving artists the chance to share the work we love to create!
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January 2011
Middle Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth
Last year Tim Underwood and Arnie Fenner approached me with the idea of producing an Art of Middle-earth collection and it has finally come to fruition. This has been a dream project to work on as Tolkien's writings were in part what inspired me to pursue a career in the arts. The book showcases a number of new pieces I am very excited about, including the epic Eowyn and the Lord of the Nazgul, and is now available directly from the studio, in both the regular binding and a special 26 piece leather bound limited edition:
Middle Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth
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