Shivan Dragon Donato Giancola 2001 copyright Wizards of the Coast
by Donato
Having a little fun today with this post, tracing back the years and my various approaches to dragons. If there is anything to be learned from this, it is that your first drawings and paintings of dragons will never come out the way you see them in your mind’s eye, you need to revisit the theme again, again, and again….and again. And again. Did I mentioned revisiting the theme?
With each interpretation, I find a new quality or characteristic I wish to emphasis about my particular relationship with dragon mythology – Are they an adversary? Companion? Recluse? Beast? Threat? Weapon? Mystic?
As the years pass, I am more interested in portraying a dragon as an intelligent, mindful individual, representing tremendous potential energy, withheld, but ready to be released. I think this expression of power in reserve, rather than power outwardly amplified is what I love best about dragons. I also find these qualities of checked power a theme running through many of my other works.
Keep an eye out for me and my dragons this summer as I return to GenCon for their 50th Anniversary convention and my appearance as the Artist Guest of Honor! I am honored, and thrilled to be attending!
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Great to see the evolution over the years and admire them together as a collection. Amazing to see the nuances and character you've given to Dragons among the many pieces.
What happened between 1994 and 1999? It seems like you really discovered your style and voice in that time and it really shows in your work. Very inspiring!
I discovered that publishers wanted my internal 'voice'. Rather than trying to make art that pleased them, I began to make art that please my inner self first, then solved their narrative needs. Nice catch and notice that something big happened around 1998-1999.
A great collection of beasts. Thanks for sharing!
I really love the toned paper drawings. I'm still hoping to see one of these on Every Day Original early enough to buy it.
This feels very apropos, as I'm struggling with a dragon in a painting right now. I wish I'd seen that 2016 Shivan dragon before starting my painting!
Great to see the evolution over the years and admire them together as a collection. Amazing to see the nuances and character you've given to Dragons among the many pieces.
You missed my favorite one, the one with the dragon carrying away a horse. -Dan
Hmmm, they're ALL my favorite one! You are the BEST Donato!
Added!
What happened between 1994 and 1999? It seems like you really discovered your style and voice in that time and it really shows in your work. Very inspiring!
I discovered that publishers wanted my internal 'voice'. Rather than trying to make art that pleased them, I began to make art that please my inner self first, then solved their narrative needs. Nice catch and notice that something big happened around 1998-1999.