Donato Giancola (born 1967[1]) is an American artist specializing in narrative realism with science fiction and fantasy content, including images for Tolkien's Middle-earth.
Donato Giancola | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 (age 56–57) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Fantasy art |
| Notable work | Magic: The Gathering |
| Awards | World Fantasy Award, Chesley Awards, Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist |
Giancola has won honors including a World Fantasy Award, a Hamilton King Award, and many Chesley Awards for his illustrations.
Biography
editDonato Giancola was born and raised in Colchester, near Burlington, in the state of Vermont. He has lived in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.[2]
Giancola 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.[2]
Giancola 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.[3]
Giancola has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.[4] He has been described as a "cult hero" among fantasy collectible card game players.[5] In 2008, the Bennington Banner referred to him as "arguably the most popular and successful sci-fi/fantasy artist working today".[6] His paintings of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world have been described as making him "the Caravaggio of Middle-earth".[7]
In 2021, U.S. Postal Service announced that a "three ounce" stamp honoring Ursula K. Le Guin would be issued later that year. It features her portrait, based on a 2006 photograph, against a background scene from The Left Hand of Darkness, created by Giancola and art director Antonio Alcalá.[8]
Honors
editChesley Awards
editGiancola has been awarded a Chesley Award from the Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Artists in the following years:
- 1997: Best Cover Illustration, Paperback[9]
- 1999, 2001: Best Product Illustration[9]
- 2002: 4 awards inc Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2004: Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2005: joint winner Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2006: Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2007: Best Monochrome Work[9]
- 2008: 5 awards inc Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2009: 2 awards inc Best Cover Illustration[9]
- 2011: Best Interior Illustration[9]
- 2014: Best Color Work[9]
- 2015: Best Product Illustration[9]
- 2016: Best Color Work[9]
- 2017: Best Product Illustration[9]
Other
edit- 2004 Art Renewal Center, International Salon, first place, figurative category.[10]
- 2004 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist.[11]
- 2006, 2007, 2009 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist; also nominated six times.[12]
- 2008 Hamilton King Award for Excellence, Society of Illustrators.[13]
- 2024 Tolkien Society Award for Best Artwork for "Frodo's Inheritance".[14]
Art exhibitions
edit- Donato Giancola: From Middle Earth to Outer Space and Beyond, Huntsville Museum of Art, 2013-2014.
- Magical Adventures: Fantasy Art from The Frank Collection, University of Maryland, College Park, 2004.
- Illustrators, The Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition of Illustration, 128 East 63rd Street, New York, New York. 1999-2004.
- The Art of 'The Lord of the Rings', Exhibition of book cover and interior illustration, Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont, 2002.
Books
edit- Middle-Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth (2010), Underwood Books.
- Middle-Earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend (2019), Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1-50671-086-0
References
edit- ^ Barron, James. "Stamps From Space, With Brooklyn Ties", The New York Times, May 24, 2011. Accessed December 7, 2023. "'I wasn’t even a single-celled organism at that point,' said Mr. Giancola, a Brooklyn artist who was not born until 1967."
- ^ a b Troy, Jeanne (July 18, 2007). "Sci-fi painter Donato Giancola's work on display at SVAC", Bennington Banner.
- ^ Wachter, Toby (10 April 2003). "Behind the Canvas: Donato Giancola|Combining Magic with the classical masters". Magic|The Gathering. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Donato Giancola - Magic: The Gathering Art". Archived from the original on 19 July 2001.
- ^ Alesia, Tom (18 August 2000). "Fantasy: the Gathering". Wisconsin State Journal. p. F1.
- ^ "'Fantasy' master Giancola debuts workshop at SVAC". Bennington Banner. July 22, 2008.
- ^ LaSala, Jeff (22 April 2019). "Donato Giancola Is the Caravaggio of Middle-earth". Tor.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "'It Ain't Over Till It's Over' - Newsroom" (Press release). about.usps.com. 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Past Winners of the Chesley Awards". ASFA. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ First International ARC Salon Competition
- ^ World Fantasy Convention (2010). "Award Winners and Nominees". Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 4 Feb 2011.
- ^ "2006 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ "Hamilton King Award". Society of Illustrators. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
2008: Donato Giancola
- ^ "2024 Tolkien Society Awards". Locus Online. 2024-04-18. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
External links
edit- Donato Giancola Official website
- Works by Donato Giancola at the Art Renewal Center
- The Cover Art of Donato Giancola
- SF Artists: Donato Giancola wiki profile with list of covers
- Donato Giancola at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- "Donato Giancola :: Pen & Paper RPG Database". Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- Donato Giancola's Gallery with biography and artbooks on Inside Your ART