American artist, Donato Giancola.

Donato Giancola (born 1967) is an American artist specializing in narrative realism with science fiction and fantasy content, including images for Tolkien's Middle-earth. He has won many Chesley Awards and other honors for his illustrations.
Born in 1967 and raised in Colchester, Vermont, USA, art was always a passion for Donato.
Donato first majored in electrical engineering at the University of Vermont, but left for Syracuse University to seriously pursue painting in 1989. He graduated with a BFA in 1992.
Donato describes himself and his work as a "classical-abstract-realist working with science fiction and fantasy" and lists Hans Memling, Jan van Eyck, Velázquez, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Piet Mondrian, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian as his favorite artists.
Since beginning a professional career in 1993, Donato's list of clients has grown to include major book publishers and collectors in New York to concept design firms on the West Coast: notables include The United Nations, LucasFilm, National Geographic, CNN, DC Comics, Microsoft, The Village Voice, Playboy Magazine, US Postal Service, Wizards of the Coast, Scholastic, Simon&Schuster, Tor Books, Random House, Time/Warner, The Scifi Channel, Milton-Bradley, and Hasbro. Merits range from the prestigious Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators to twenty-three 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, notable awards from the Art Renewal Center, and six silver and two gold medals from the juried annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art.
Donato has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. He has been described as a "cult hero" among fantasy collectible card game players. In 2008, the Bennington Banner referred to him as "arguably the most popular and successful sci-fi/fantasy artist working today".
From J.R.R. Tolkiens' The Lord of the Rings to Gericault's Raft of the Medusa, Donato Giancola balances modern concepts with figurative realism in his paintings to bridge the worlds of contemporary and historical narrative arts. His influences encompass artistic performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music to pilgrimages to museums around the world - including the Uffizzi, Prado, Louvre and Hermitage.
Donato recognizes the significant cultural role played by visual art and makes personal efforts to contribute to the expansion and appreciation of the narrative genre that extend beyond his clients and exhibitions. To those ends, the artist teaches at the Illustration Master Class and mentors online through the SmArt School. Donato also appears at various institutions, seminars, and conventions, from San Diego to Rome to Tokyo, performing demonstrations in oil paint and lecturing on his aesthetics.
Donato lives with his wife and two daughters in Brooklyn, New York.
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[@nigelmorton3652]

My word ; What extraordinary work , I’m totally hooked on this artist ; a new discovery for me ; amazing talent 🇬🇧

[@AWHaus]

❤️😊

[@dannistor7294]

... a new discovery for everybody... you don't seem to be aware of the distinction between painter and illustrator (Mr. Giancola's status)...

[@user-du1ui9zs8e]

Very dramatic style 👍

[@AWHaus]

❤️

[@RamblingsandRavings]

I love this and Donato but AI VO is rough. Thanks for highlighting Donato all the same.

[@AWHaus]

😊