by Donato
A couple of months ago I posted the progress and reference shots to a recently developing image, The Silk Road. I am happy to announce that the piece is now finished, ready to ship to the client when the final coats of medium harden enough to safely package the work.
This is the second commission for my client, and it has been a real pleasure to tackle his ‘very difficult constraints’ for the assignment. I state that jokingly, as the only requirement from him was to incorporate three women, a dog, and a dragon within a fantastic setting, somehow desert themed. My first assignment placed those characters within a jungle/forest environment.
To set up a challenge for this project, I wanted something a bit more exotic, a theme I had not tackled yet. The orientalists came immediately to mind, but the big tipping point was after a wonderfully coincidental visit to an exhibition of the Silk Road at the Museum of Natural History here in New York. At once I could ‘feel’ the place which this story needed to occur, and understood why so many European artists tackled the theme of North Africa. It was familiar yet alien all at the same time – much in the way fascinating fantasy and science fiction art and stories are woven. To top it off, the idea of traders played right to my love of group compositions through the venue of a marketplace where goods are exchanged. If you need to do three figures, why not do 15!
Of course this image ended up being more than I originally planned to manage. But as the work came together through the drawing stages, then into color, it was a true joy to have fulfilled the dream of the art I love to create.
Enjoy.
Oil on Panel
2011
Wow!..
This is stunning, such a wonderful combination of themes. The dragon looks so natural in this setting.
Brilliant work. Love the lighting in this one.
Love this one… Let it be known if the original will ever be exhibited anywhere.
Very cool, thanks for sharing! I love the final piece, but seeing the road you took to get there is just wonderful.
You sparked a question I've had for a while and that's about finishing a piece. That is, do you always apply a varnish to your paintings? In this case it sounds like you're using medium as a varnish? How long does a painting actually need to dry before such can be applied?
This is beautiful Donato! I love the color palette.
Just awesome. You did a wonderful job.
Gorgeous! Is there any chance of posting a some of your reference please Donato?
Awesome Donato. Such a cool world you've immersed us in. Thanks
Absolutely stunning work. The color and light are gorgeous.
Wow, this is a very complex and gorgeous piece. Thanks for sharing process work:)
Wasp dudes! Awesome stuff keep it up.
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