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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 6h

Red Sonya
29" x 21" Oil on Panel 2007
Collection of Cathy and Arnie Fenner

Began the drawing for this on a flight to San Diego Comic-Con back in 2006. The image was so powerful, the Fenners commissioned to turn it into a painting.
Thank you for giving me the chance to shine you two!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 6d

A very productive and informative life drawing session last night at the Society of Illustrators with model @giofitartmodel. Some great hands and feet captured in this grouping!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 7d

IX Arts (IlluxCon) is now just 3 weeks away and I am thrilled to be attending once again, filling exhibition walls with all new drawings & paintings from the past year. Link for tickets & general show info:
imaginativerealism.com/buy-tickets/

Sithi Standing Stone
18" x 14" Oil on Bristol Board

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 8d

..Many of these works, including the cover, will be making the trek to IX Arts convention October 22-26 in Reading, Pennsylvania!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 8d

.. instead of just 6 like I had for the two previous books 🙂
So much to love in these stories and so few images to represent the massive cast of characters and events. George R.R. Martin credits this series by Tad as opening to door to his writing of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' (Game of Thrones)...

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 8d

Here are a few of the interior illustrations for Tad Williams' new limited edition release 'To Green Angel Tower' from Grim Oak Press. This is the 'third' book in the trilogy of Memory, Thorn and Sorrow, which is so large it is broken into two volumes which means I was able to paint 12 images..

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 10d

Working on a new cover painting for a science fiction novel and playing with the themes of geometric abstraction which helped build this piece for an anthology, Down These Dark Spaceways.
Psychohistorical Crisis II
30" x 18" Oil on Panel 2005
collection of Edie Stern and Joe Siclari

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 12d

dragon eggs held by the statue wardens, a small youngling perched on the tip of the lance challenging the weapon of the vanquished knight, and lastly a visitor reflecting upon the long ago conflict.
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Honor for the Dragon
30" x 24" Oil on Panel 2025

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 12d

Narratively for me this work is about challenging perspectives as I tackle the theme of St. George and the Dragon. We now see the dragon as hero of the story, protecting the realm from a renegade knight. References in the work support the dragon, from motifs on markers in the cemetery, to ..

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 12d

Off to a new home.
The oil painting 'Honor for the Dragon' has just landed in a private collection along side two of my other dragon works. The work was featured as cover art on this years 2025 DragonCon program book as I returned to the convention after 15 years as the Artist Guest.
.
..

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 13d

..odds of winning one of the 17 prizes was ~ 1 in 24. We'll do it again next year!
For those who are traveling to IX Arts convention in Reading next month, I will have new art to show, and another chance to win a drawing on site.
Thank you for your interest in my work!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 13d

Donato Arts Open Studio Online Lottery
All of the winners have been contacted for the prize give-a-ways - Evelina, Miguel, Ricardo, Mike, Mike, Pete, Andi, Ricky, Paul Kaitlund, Katie, Irene, Daksha, Stephen, and others.
Thank you all who participated, there were 384 entries, thus your..

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 13d

Great costumed session last night at the Society of Illustrators NY. Thank you @Kayleigh.Laymon and @Jackburlesque for the excellent modeling. Forced me WAY outside my comfort zone.
Serious foreshortened moment-Kayleigh's Madame X, but remembered 'just draw what you see, not what you think you see'

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 13d

I'll play!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 16d

Edward with the Middle-earth: Visions remarqued book, Paul with the Graphic novel, Jackson with the Middle-earth:Journeys remarqued edition, Ron, Joey and Daksha with Magic Proofs, and others for the prints.
Thank you all who came by to celebrate the community and pursue your interests in art!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 16d

Donato's Open Studio Lottery Winners
The winner of the Grand Prize of an original oil painting was picked up today by Svante, a visitor and Magic player from Sweden.Congratulations Svante, a safe flight for you back home tonight!
The other winners include David who won the Empathetic Robot drawing..

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 19d

Less than 12 hours to go before the Open Studio!
Photos below of the lottery items going home with some lucky winners tomorrow - an oil painting, drawing, Magic Proofs, remarqued books, and prints!

Donato Arts Open Studio
Sat. Sept 20
11am -6pm
397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 20d

All finished setting up for the Open Studio this coming Saturday, September 20th, and the new Empathetic Robots preliminary drawing for a new work 'Breaking' will be resting on the drafting table!
11am - 6pm
Donato Arts Open Studio
397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn , NY 11217

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 21d

Wait...there is more!
Every year DragonCon produces a limited run 18" x 24" poster of the art for the program, which this year features my oil painting Honor for the Dragon. We will be giving them away at the Open Studio this Saturday! ~ 40 free copies, all signed, limited supplies while they last.

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 21d

Something new for the Open Studio & Online Lottery - Middle-earth Playmats!
These feature some of my greatest works for Tolkien.
I have a very small sample of the first press checks, with just two copies for sale of each mat here for this Saturdays event. First come first served.
donatoarts.com/news

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 22d

Bursting onto the scene just in time for the Open Studio this Saturday, September 20th, a new Empathetic Robots piece!
Breaking
24" x 18" Graphite and Chalk on Toned Paper
- in progress still!

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 22d

Updating my drawing portfolios for the Open Studio. For those who cannot make the trip to Brooklyn, see the Online Lottery and your chance to take home your own original drawing!
Details :
donatoarts.com/news
Donato Arts Open Studio
Saturday Sept 20
11am - 6pm
397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 27d

Donato Arts Open Studio - Online Lottery!
We have original artwork, print and books as free give-aways!
Please be aware that last year I had scammers spamming/phishing my social media with solicitations.
Details: donatoarts.com/news
To enter, email:
[email protected]
Notices go out (Sept 22).

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 27d

Had a wonderful evening at the Society of Illustrators last night! Live figure drawing with the dynamicly posed ninja Aaron, then dinner with friends-Pete, Tamsin & Lauren.
Thank you for the reminder to go Lauren!
Already looking at the next session to see about booking more trips into Manhattan.

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Donato @donatoarts.bsky.social · 28d

Open Studio Update - Lottery
I've added the three oil painting selections which a lucky lottery winner from the Open Studio Lottery will be able to select from to take an original home with them.
Which painting would you shoot for?

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