Donato Giancola: Hugo Nominee Profile

The second of five posts highlighting the Best Pro Artist Hugo nominees:

From The Lord of the Rings to Gericault’s ‘Raft of the Medusa’, Donato Giancola’s influences encompass visits to the well trodden steps of the local library, to pilgrimages to the greatest museums of the world. Donato recognizes the significant cultural role played by visual art, and makes personal efforts to contribute to the expansion and appreciation of the science fiction and fantasy genre that extend beyond the commercial commissions of his clients. To these ends the artist appears at various institutions, tournaments, universities, and conventions where he freely offers advice, performs demonstrations in oil paint, and lectures on his aesthetics: from Rome to Santiago to Moscow. Since beginning his professional career in 1993 Donato’s list of clients has rapidly grown, spanning major book publishers in New York to concept design firms on the West Coast; notables include Wizards of the Coast, LucasArts, National Geographic, DC Comics, The United Nations, Microsoft, Playboy Magazine, Sony, The ScienceFiction Book Club, Tor Books, Random House, Milton-Bradley, and Hasbro. His classical approach to the human form is unparalleled in sensitivity and realism. Merits range from the Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist in 1998 to ten Chesley Awards including one for Artistic Achievement 2002, the Artist Hugo Award, and multiple silver and gold medals from Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art.

He lives with his wife and two daughters in Brooklyn, New York.

PAINTINGS:
Cover for The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald (Tor Books)
Wraparound cover for The Fortress of Glass (Tor Books)
Cover for The Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss (DAW Books)