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Donato Giancola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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

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.

Giancola has won honors including a World Fantasy Award, a Hamilton King Award, and many Chesley Awards for his illustrations.

Biography

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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] 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

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Chesley Awards

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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

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Art exhibitions

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Books

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  • Middle-Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth (2010), Underwood Books.
  • Middle-Earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend (2019), Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1-5067-1086-0

References

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  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. ^ a b Troy, Jeanne (July 18, 2007). "Sci-fi painter Donato Giancola's work on display at SVAC", Bennington Banner.
  3. ^ Wachter, Toby (10 April 2003). "Behind the Canvas: Donato Giancola|Combining Magic with the classical masters". Magic|The Gathering. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Donato Giancola - Magic: The Gathering Art". Archived from the original on 19 July 2001.
  5. ^ Alesia, Tom (18 August 2000). "Fantasy: the Gathering". Wisconsin State Journal. p. F1.
  6. ^ "'Fantasy' master Giancola debuts workshop at SVAC". Bennington Banner. July 22, 2008.
  7. ^ LaSala, Jeff (22 April 2019). "Donato Giancola Is the Caravaggio of Middle-earth". Tor.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ^ "'It Ain't Over Till It's Over' - Newsroom" (Press release). about.usps.com. 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  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. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  13. ^ "Hamilton King Award". Society of Illustrators. Retrieved 24 September 2024. 2008: Donato Giancola
  14. ^ "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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