Donato Giancola

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. He has won many Chesley Awards and other honors for his illustrations.

Donato Giancola
Born1967 (age 56–57)
NationalityAmerican
Known forFantasy art
Notable workMagic: The Gathering
AwardsWorld Fantasy Award, Chesley Awards, Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist

Biography

Donato 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]

In 2021 U.S. Postal Service announced that a "three ounce" stamp featuring Ursula K. Le Guin would be issued later that year, featuring a portrait of Le Guin based on a 2006 photograph, against a background scene from The Left Hand of Darkness, created by Giancola and art director Antonio Alcalá.[7] His paintings of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world have been described as making him "the Caravaggio of Middle-earth".[8]

Honors

Chesley Awards

Giancola 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

Art exhibitions
  • 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
  • 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
  1. 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."
  2. Troy, Jeanne (July 18, 2007). "Sci-fi painter Donato Giancola's work on display at SVAC", Bennington Banner.
  3. Magic the Gathering, April 2003 Interview, 'Behind the Canvas: Donato Giancola'
  4. "Donato Giancola - MAGIC: THE GATHERING ART". Archived from the original on 2001-07-19.
  5. Alesia, Tom (August 18, 2000). "Fantasy: the Gathering", Wisconsin State Journal, p. F1.
  6. (July 22, 2008). "'Fantasy' master Giancola debuts workshop at SVAC", Bennington Banner.
  7. "'It Ain't Over Till It's Over' - Newsroom" (Press release). about.usps.com. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  8. LaSala, Jeff (22 April 2019). "Donato Giancola Is the Caravaggio of Middle-earth". Tor.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. "Past Winners of the Chesley Awards". ASFA. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  10. First International ARC Salon Competition
  11. World Fantasy Convention (2010). "Award Winners and Nominees". Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 4 Feb 2011.
  12. "2006 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  13. "2024 Tolkien Society Awards". Locus Online. 2024-04-18. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
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