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MASTERS OF THE FANTASTIC
March 20 - June 8, 2019
Opening Friday, March 29th
Museum of American Illustration
Society of Illustrators
128 E. 63rd Street
New York, NY 10025
I am honored to be a part of this exhibition curated by Vincent DiFate. With over a dozen contemporary artists joining selections from science fiction and fantasy history, the show will represent a wonderful sampling of work from some of the amazing talents in the genre.
A slate of the contemporary artists represented : Michael Whelan, Boris Vallejo, Kinuko Craft, Vincent Difate, Diane Dillion, Peter de Sève, Julie Bell, John Jude Palencar, Julie Bell, Greg Manchess, and Rowena Morrill.
I have will have five works in the exhibition, including my first cover painting for Penguin Books - Construct of Time - and my first Magic:The Gathering card art - Amber Prison. Also included is the epic cover to David Wenzel's illustrated graphic novel of The Hobbit (above) by J.R.R. Tolkien , the visual ground breaking cover to Donald Kingsbury's Psychohistorical Crisis, and my latest Empathetic Robot painting - Despair - featuring my daughter Cecilia!
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Pricing, Aftermarket, and Secondary Market Artist Compensation
This is the part of artist relations Wizards of the Coast is NOT going to like to talk about in public. This is why laid-off employees need to sign Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to receive severance packages. Corporations do not like public facts.
Since I will likely never work for Wizards again, and have already stopped accepting new commissions from them for over a year now, I feel the need to share all of this factual, public information to drive the conversation regarding compensation into the light and force Wizards to engage in change for those artists, digital and traditional, who still rely upon them as an income source.
Let’s start at the beginning.
The fee for my very first Magic:The Gathering card back in 1996 was $1000.
That was modestly good pay for small, work-for-hire spot illustration artwork where the artist had a large creative control in the process. Over the years I continued to work with new commissions from Wizards even as the art management of the content grew with heavily directly style guides and the basic fee stayed the same. I did my best to deliver exceptional high quality oil paintings at those fees, including illustrations like Cartographer, Mirari, the 7th Edition Shivan Dragon, and the suite of characters for Ravnica - Razia, Tolsimir, Szadek, Agrus, and the Sisters.
Stepping forward two decades, the fee for one of my artworks in a recent set from Magic, Murders at Karlov Manor, commissioned in 2023 was also $1000… 27 years and not a cent raised from my base rate. Or, when accounting for inflation, the fee is actually far lower, at $516 in relative dollar value comparison ( in acknowledgement Wizards has raised their base rate to a whopping $1250 in 2024. Thanks Wizards).
Why would someone work for a client who did not raise their pay after 27 years?
I have asked that question of myself many times. Mostly it was that I did not depend upon Wizards as a primary client, taking just a card commission here and there as desired. The connection to the game and fans was part of the deal to accept low pay.
I actually stopped working for Wizards back in 2010 over these exploitatively low fee issues. I concentrated my energies on many other professional projects. But I returned to accept new commissions from Wizards in 2017.
Why?
First, two of my artist friends and mentorees had moved into positions at Wizards as art directors. They reached out to me, and I wanted to help them create great art for the game of Magic. We are all part of an artistic community.
Secondly, I enjoy making high quality, labor intensive oil paintings for my projects, and the art directors knew the growing secondary aftermarket for Magic art was a way I could get ‘paid’ for my quality work, even if the initial commission fee did not justify the labor.
I returned not to work for Wizards’ low fees, but to stay connected to the community and aftermarket associated with Magic - convention appearances, sales of original art, signing artist proofs, cards, and playmats to fans, players, art collectors, and other artists all connected to Magic. I am a fan of this genre.
The private, secondary original art market for Magic: The Gathering card illustration has seen tremendous growth over the past two decades - from practically ‘giving away’ Magic art back in the late 1990’s for a couple hundred dollars, full color finished card art can now sell from $2000 to $10,000 and up, sketches sell for $300 to $800 and more.
The only way for me, and many other artists, to bring an exceptionally high degree of craft to the art at the pay scale Wizards offered was to recapture that invested labor in the secondary aftermarket connected to private collectors and fans. It is this aftermarket which allows Magic artists to make a modest living, knowing that financial recoupment existed beyond Wizards of the Coast’s meager initial fees.
The secondary aftermarket has helped fuel the creative energies of artists and allowed them to invest tremendous labor and quality in an extremely low paid commission.
Until it didn’t.
Recent Magic:The Gathering set releases in their Universes Beyond themed expansions appears to prohibit the sale and creation of ANY physical art and removes ALL secondary aftermarket sales - no original art, no artist proofs, no prints, no playmats, no repainted interpretations, no convention/event sketches of ANY kind for ALL of the commissioned images. All commissioned art was to be expressly and purely digitally executed, the initial low work-for-hire fee was the ONLY compensation. Using a conservative estimate, Wizards removed secondary aftermarket sales of $3+ million from artists working upon the Universes Beyond, The Lord of the Rings set. Thank you for supporting your artists Wizards.
This digital only art requirement is in no way an industry standard for commercially commissioned artists. Wizards has introduced a new level of contractual obligations which specifically targets to destroy the private, artist based secondary aftermarket sales which was directly benefiting the Magic artist, fan, and collector community.
Why? I have no reasonable assessments.
The aftermarket has zero impact on the initial sales of the game and product to the millions of players worldwide in ten languages. In fact the aftermarket greatly benefits the game through player interactions with artists at events, the collecting and signing of cards, the public display and excitement of original art in game shops around the world, and the use of original art by Wizard’s itself as prizes to players.
More importantly, the aftermarket provided a broad incentive for artists to vest labor and quality into the products they were creating for Magic. This removal of incentive means that Wizards has guaranteed that the quality of art they will receive for these sets will diminish, likely impacting sales negatively.
Recently Wizards has seemingly thrown traditional artists a scrap from the table with the new Marvel set, allowing them to sell a painting from their commission into the secondary market, but treating digital artists differently with no such offering it appears. How do you feel digital artists? Excited to work on that next Universes Beyond set knowing Wizards contractually thinks less of you as artists?
Although these new contractual obligations are only occurring with the Universes Beyond sets, it is not too hard to see them implemented on standard Magic contracts in the future. Hasbro has stepped up the Universes Beyond to be nearly half of their set releases in the future. Sadly looking forward to even more exploitative digital only contracts reducing the secondary aftermarket even further.
To add gasoline to this fire, Hasbro’s current CEO is quoted as welcomingly embracing A.I. art creation and it’s use on Magic and D&D products. It is not hard to see the leap of a digital only artist contract being replaced with digital only A.I. art now that the CEO has openly stated such a direction. Thank you for supporting, respecting, and valuing your artists Hasbro.
To all the artists working, and hoping to work on Magic, I am sure Wizards will raise the base rate again in 27 years to properly compensate the prompted A.I. robots.
In frustration and sadness for my peers,
Donato Giancola
November 2, 2024
You should be ashamed Wizards of the Coast.
These past six months, I have been quiet on the issue that follows - an infringement against my work by Wizards of the Coast concerning the Magic: The Gathering card ‘Trouble in Pairs’ from the Murders at Karlov Manor set released on March 2024. My lawyer and I were finally able to reach a settlement with Wizards in September which would put this infringement issue behind us, my silence in commenting on a legal issue as it was resolved showed my good faith toward my ex-client.
Apparently, Wizards of the Coast would rather continue infringing upon and damaging my reputation in the commercial illustration marketplace.
It has come to light that a painting I created (as an educational demonstration in oil painting and conceptual themes of ‘metal’) has been used by Wizards and Marvel without my permission within the style guide for Wizards’ recent Universes Beyond Marvel card set.
This is the VERY set and the very CHARACTER that I REFUSED to work on because Wizards would not negotiate in good faith and agree to modify their contract with seven simple words clarifying a legal phrase. I rejected the contract. So, instead of partnering with me to work on the set in an official capacity, I am now UNWILLINGLY FORCED to be a part of a professional commercial enterprise I PROFESSIONALLY and MORALLY object to.
I am almost beyond words. Really, Wizards of the Coast. REALLY???
It was this very contractual issue over Wizards’ Universes Beyond Marvel set, along with other ongoing issues around compensation, which finally convinced me to stop working on new projects for Wizards back in November of 2023. Their contracts, compensation, and artist relations had become far too exploitative. I have not created a single new Magic card in nearly a year, nor do I foresee doing so again in the future, as I reject the contractual and compensation structures Wizards now offers.
Marvel was already on my exploitation list dating back to 2004 when they refused to add a clause in their contract which would allow me to sell prints of Iron Man covers. I intended to create prints to recoup my labor costs from the very low fees they were offering for the commission. Marvel and Upper Deck doubled down again on financial and artistic exploitation when they approached me in 2019 for their Marvel Masterpieces set with an even more outrageous contract. Marvel’s legal team both times refused to modify the contract to an acceptable, and reasonable solution, so I refused to work for them twice - and I have not done so since.
Three strikes and you are out.
These contractual issues with Marvel has been a defining example I refer to as “corporate exploitative practices” in all the classes and lectures I have given over the past 20 years as a professional in the illustration marketplace. It seems I now need to add Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro to that infamous list.
I have used my voice for 32 years to build community with the artists and professionals within the science fiction and fantasy genre. This voice has educated, mentored, and inspired new generations of artists - in the thousands. I’ve taught classes at the School of Visual Arts for twenty-five years. I’ve taught and lectured at Syracuse University, the SmArt School, the Illustration Master Class, Laguna College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, San Diego Comic-Con, GenCon, the World Science Fiction Convention, and even Magic: The Gathering-sponsored events and tournaments throughout these 32 years.
I refuse to be silenced.
I refuse to be quiet when critical issues for so many freelancers are at stake.
Since 1996, nearly the entire time I have been working as a freelance illustrator, I have created over 177 cards for the game Magic: The Gathering. From my very first commission, ‘Amber Prison’, to recent cards like ‘Demonic Tutor’ and Sheldon Menery’s portrait on ‘Inkshield’, I have poured my passion for craft and love of the fantasy and science fiction genre into these artworks. I’ve created some of the greatest pieces of art in my portfolio for this company, celebrating the game with players and art collectors, and building a community of support and respect with the artists of this incredibly inspirational genre.
I am stunned by what this company has become. I am disgusted.
The recent mismanagement of the Magic: The Gathering brand by Hasbro has led to stressed and overworked Wizards’ staff, freelance artists being underpaid for their highly complex, labor intensive work-for-hire illustrations, and the over saturation of the card market with product. This ongoing mismanagement has created an environment where costly, poor decisions pass through unchecked in the commissioning process, damaging the brand, diluting players engagement with the product, and exposing Wizards of the Coast to significant legal risk.
It is with these issues in mind that I place the full responsibility of this recent infringement of my work on the card ‘Trouble in Pairs’ and the style guide infringement on the shoulders of Wizards of the Coast’s corporate and legal management.
This is the fourth such infringement in as many years, reflecting what is obviously a systemic issue within both Wizards of the Coast and parent company Hasbro.
Low upfront commission fees paid to freelance illustrators deter established professional illustrators from working with Wizards of the Coast and disincentivizes commissioned artists from investing high-quality labor in their projects for Magic: The Gathering. Overall, these low fees reverse the standards Wizards expects of its commissioning artists through Wizards’ own recommended guidelines.
As Wizards grew from a small, creative-controlled company to the massive, multi-billion-dollar, critical, financial heart of Hasbro - did they ‘support’ their artist community? No. Instead, they managed to drastically lower the rates they paid their artists, damaging the artistic resources they rely upon. Although Wizards finally did raise their base rate in the middle of 2023, it is far, far short of the equivalent inflationary and labor-adjusted rate needed to compensate artists for such complex, style-guided artworks. To add insult to injury, Wizards has recently begun to deny artists access to aftermarket products and secondary sales of their artwork, further decreasing the incentives for artists to produce their best work for Wizards’ products and to leverage sales to raise their modest standards of living.
The hardworking art directorial staff of Wizards who I have engaged with and respected during the commissioning process through the years deserves better. The shareholders of Hasbro deserve better. The artist community deserves better. And, most importantly, the players - the true financial supporters of the game of Magic: The Gathering - deserve far, far better.
You should be ashamed Wizards of the Coast.
Donato Giancola
October 25, 2024
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DONATO ARTS
OPEN STUDIO 2024
Saturday September 21, 2024
11am - 6pm
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.
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.
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 
Colleen Quint will be playing live on our piano throughout the day and artists Kelley Hensing and Carter Gill will be present to assist once again this year!
New works from Magic:The Gathering as well as interior art for projects with Grim Oak Press will be on display throughout the studio.
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!
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!
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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Oil Painting and Print on KICKSTARTER
Kickstarter 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!
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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 Grim 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.
I hope to see you in Brooklyn!
Open Studio Lottery!
In consideration of that, I have a few items I will be giving away to you online!
WIN AN ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING!
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!
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.
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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
Hours:
Saturday April 1 11am – 7pm
Sunday April 2 11am – 6pm
For more information on the festival and admission:
info@societyillustrators.org
(212) 838-2560
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AUCTION for Original Oil Painting from Magic: The Gathering
Lyra Dawnbringer
Buy-It-Now option will cease 10 minutes before initial auction end time (10pm EST)
An honor to play in Chris Rahn's shadow from his original interpretation of this card.
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SmArt 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:The SmArt School smarterartschool@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 smarterartschool.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 ArtI 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 workshop 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.
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church Street S
Huntsville, AL 35801
I 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!
June 24-26th, 2022
Pennsylvania 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
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgartmarket/posts/3081494005414131/
Mordenkainen the Wizard
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.
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
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I will be participating in a few online programs for the 2021 Boskone Convention this weekend, February 12-14th:
Hosting an open online discussion (a Kaffeeklatsch) Saturday 11:30 am- 12:30pm
Panel discussion, The Illustrated Book
Saturday 5:30-6:30pm
Panel discussion, The 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!
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Stranger in a Strange Land - Illustrated by Donato
https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/stranger-in-a-strange-land.html
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IX 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 Empathetic Robot series may be found in the gallery 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!
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Microdose: a small works salon
Big artists in a manageable dosage. Drawings, paintings, and sculptures all under 14" in size.
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.
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Magic: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 Middle-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
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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 http://illuxcon.com/.
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TRANSFORMATIONS: The Art of Donato Giancola
September 6-27, 2019
A new retrospective exhibition featuring 40 works spanning my entire artistic career, fan and pro alike.
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.
Admission is always free and open to the public
GALLERY HOURS
11AM – 4PM, Wednesday through Sunday
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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.
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.
Donato Arts
Booth 916
I will be hosting a lecture:
Painting Between the Lines
Friday, September 6th, 2:30 pm Room 212
on the theme of creativity
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SmArt 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:
The SmArt School
smarterartschool@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 smarterartschool.com for information about this class with Donato and classes with seven other professional artists.
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What Dreams Are Made Of
Exhibition Featuring works from Michael Whelan, Donato Giancola, Michael Alfano and Robert Remsen Vickrey
Opening reception August 3rd from 5-7PM
hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5:30pm
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.
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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:
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!
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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 artimc.org for information about this years housing and registration. Spaces still available!
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Spectrum Live! & Planet Comicon Kansas City
March 29-31, 2019
Kansas City Convention Center
Bartle Hall
301 W. 13th St
Kansas City, MO
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:
