Donato Arts Open Studio and DragonCon

In celebration of a new body of illustrated work for Grim Oak Press and the revarnishing of the epic canvas Beacons of Gondor, we will once again be welcoming visitors to our annual Open Studio in Brooklyn, New York.

DONATO ARTS
OPEN STUDIO 2025
Saturday September 20th, 11am – 6pm
397 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

The door is open for you, your friends, and anyone who you may like to bring along.

Like last year, the Open Studio hits close to the anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (September 21st)!

This past year found me working intensively upon a new illustrated special edition of Tad William’s To Green Angel Tower for Grim Oak Press. The cover above features more than fifty calvary riders and represents the most challenging work from this past year. The oil painting is now framed and will be on display for the Open Studio alongside the dozen of other interiors executed for these books (a few of the works are shown near the end of this post).

If you are traveling to DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia this coming weekend, August 28-September 1st, a preview of a few of these interiors will be on display at the convention.

Which brings me to the other round of news, that I will be the Artist Guest of Honor at DragonCon!

It has been nearly fifteen years since I was last at DragonCon and for this return visit have created a new painting, Honor for the Dragon, appearing as the cover of the program book.  This is a visit to the theme of St. George and the Dragon but with a twist on the narrative, where the dragon is celebrated as a hero of the story.

Given the identity of the convention I thought it appropriate to provide a complex look at dragons and place a positive spin on the much maligned antagonist.

The painting will be on display in the Art Show along with works from scores of other talented artists and friends.  Over a dozen new paintings, new prints, Magic:The Gathering MicroPainted Artist Proofs, and a large portfolio of drawings and artworks will be found at my booth.

At the Open Studio in September, the main workspace wall will be filled with the massive Beacons of Gondor as I am placing a final varnish upon the surface.  I am excited to be able to share this painting with you once again and offer visitors a second chance to take in my largest work to date.

The artist & pianist Colleen Quint will again be playing live throughout the day, and artists Kelley Hensing and Carter Gill will be present to assist and share their own works.

Keep your eyes open for another Studio Update, and on my social media channels, as we will be detailing the give-aways planned for the attendees of the Open Studio as well as hosting online lotteries for fans who cannot make the trip so they may participate in free prints, books, and original art.

Last year nearly $10,000 worth of artworks and products were awarded between the two lottery systems!

Here are some of the oil paintings to be shown at DragonCon and the Open Studio.

And in addition to those interiors above, some new works below for the Open Studio in September.