From Snow to Sand...

Beach Time Memories
Commissioned Family Portrait
Mixed Media wrap around painting
12"x16"x1.5"
© Laura DeDonato

One of the best parts of my work is bringing memories to life, and sometime back to life. The gentleman who commissioned this portrait of his kids for his wife as a Christmas gift came to me with a cute picture. The only problem was that the photograph was a printed scan of the original, which was washed out, scratched and had a fold in it (see photograph below). I was able to take the photo and recapture the memory as he described it in a painting. I brightened the colors and added more contrast and a light source. I also added some textured medium to the sand which gives it a great 3D effect in person. The painting continues around the edges, so it doesn't need a frame, and it draws you in from all sides. The kids are now 18 and 20, so I hope the whole family had a Merry Christmas and enjoys the painting!



Happy Holidays and wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Winter Dreams - Update

Lanam Club, North Andover, MA
Holiday Card Illustration

Painting size: 11" x 14"
Print size: 5"x7" Folded Card
Mixed Media
© Laura DeDonato

I was excited to receive a Lanam Club holiday card in the mail! I had a great time painting a classic snowy scene without needing any snow gear to go outside here in Boston!

Website Updates and Another Sneak Peak!

I recently updated my website and will be adding new sections over the next few months, so check it out to make sure you don't miss anything! LNDstudio.com


I am in love with a portrait I am working on, which will be a Christmas present for my client's wife. I couldn't resist sharing an in progress detail of it! It will be done next week, but of course, I won't be able to share the entire painting until after Christmas!

"Playing in the Sand" - detail
12" x 16" Commissioned Portrait
Acrylic Mixed Media (sand texture!)
© Laura DeDonato

Still trying to come up with the perfect present???
Laura DeDonato Illustration GIFT CERTIFICATES are available, give the gift of custom art! Contact me for more information at LNDstudio@comcast.net

Winter Dreams - Sneak Peak

Holiday Card Illustration - detail
5"x7" Folded Card
Mixed Media
© Laura DeDonato

The best of both worlds... I have thoroughly enjoyed the recent, but unusual 60 degree days, sipping gingerbread coffee and painting this winter wonderland scene for a client's holiday card mailing. I have to wait until it's sent out to share the entire image, but I couldn't wait to share a detail of it... Enjoy!

It's a Wonderful Life!

"It's a Wonderful Life"
Ursuline Academy's Brescia Ball
Brochure Cover, 8.5" x 11"
Mixed Media
© Laura DeDonato

I had the pleasure of working on the print material for this year's Brescia Ball. I was excited to be able to incorporate a painting into the design and enjoyed the early start of the holiday season in my studio! Above is the brochure cover, the same theme follows through in the invitation, rsvp, directions and envelopes.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Holiday illustrations based on
"It's a Wonderful Life" theme, Mixed Media.

Holiday season is in full swing
with holiday cards and event invitation illustrations!

Two versions of an illustration commissioned for an upcoming event's invitation and print materials (they're using the top version, but I always love to look at saturated versions). The event logo will go in the center red ornament. Once the invitation packet is mailed, I will post the complete designs.

When I was asked to sketch ideas for an "It's a Wonderful Life" themed event, I thought back to the many times I've watched that movie with my family...I mean it's on every Christmas! I thought about my favorite scene when George Bailey returns home, the ringing of the bells on the tree to give Clarence his wings, and the uplifting moment when his community pitches in to help him and his family. This moment was my inspiration for this piece.

These illustrations can be modified to accommodate any logo. Please contact me to use these illustrations or to commission your own!

Educational Mural

"Rising", 2011

Keith Center
175 Warren Avenue, Brockton, MA 02301

Adding some color to brighten up downtown! This is the second mural at the Keith Center and it is in view of the 2010 Shoe Industry Mural on Legion Parkway. The Brockton Mural Crew is taking over the area!

This year's Summer of Work and Learning program mural has been well received by the community and visitors using this entrance to the Keith Center. With the support of the program, the 21st Century, and BPS we were able to get the dumpsters to the right of the mural moved. It can now be viewed from Warren Ave, Legion Parkway, and Frederick Douglass Ave!

We'll be starting the search for next year's wall soon, so send us your ideas!

Pathways Center Mural

"The Road Not Taken"

Pathways Center panel mural
Downtown Work & Learn after-school program
Keith Center, Brockton, MA
2011

It's all finished and up in the Pathways Center! I'm so proud of the students and their hard work, it looks amazing. There have already been some great stories about teachers and visitors talking to the "student" in front of the mural, asking them about it and then discovering that they were only talking to a wall. Priceless.

Now it's time to gear up for the summer mural program! See you all outside in downtown Brockton!

A Wedding in Mexico, how it should be remembered...

Every bride and groom wants their pictures to capture their wedding day. The perfect image to remember your perfect day. You deserve it! But, sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate. (Sorry bridezillas, you can't force the sun out of those clouds.) And, as great as Photoshop is, sometimes you just can't get the lighting, contrast, colors, composition the way you want them. Here's where I come in. A painting is a great way to create the day as you remember it, in all its glory or maybe the way you always pictured it.

I was commissioned to paint this portrait as a wedding gift, a "fun picture" they thought would translate well into a portrait. The photograph was fun, a couple on the beach with the groom in a bright orange swim suit. The only problem was that the photograph was very dark, I could barley see their faces. There just wasn't enough sun to bring out the turquoise water, blue sky or his orange trunks to do it justice.

Here's the reference photo I was given for the portrait:

See what I mean?


Well, with some other photos and some magic I created a painting worthy of their big day (I think):


Congratulations to the couple, it looks like their wedding was a blast!

Update on the Pathways Mural

"The Road Not Taken"/Pathways Center
6' x 11' Panel Mural

Here's an update for the Pathways Center mural in progress at the Keith Center. It's slowly coming along, we're starting to add texture, highlights and shadows.

The mural will have two cut out life size figures in front of the mural, deciding which path to take. It will be installed at the end of a long hallway, where you can go left or right. People from all over the city come for meetings, workshops, and programs in the Pathways Center.

Make a Wish!

Birthday Bash
Illustration for 5"x7" printed card
Gouache and Acrylic
© Laura DeDonato

Here it is...fun and colorful, pretty much a birthday explosion. How could you not smile if you got this card in the mail on your birthday? Especially from an unexpected source, your local transportation company.

As I mentioned in my original posting about my sketches for SCM Transportation's birthday card illustration, I love cake! But, this was my first time painting cake as the focal point in a piece. Staring at it every day calmed quite a few cravings, though not all of them.

Surprisingly, it was the frosting that presented the largest challenge in this piece. The intricate lines and ripples of the frosting were interesting, but they were drawing too much attention. I had to simplify them. Once this happened, the candles got the attention they needed and a new star emerged, the oreos!

I can't wait to see it in print!!!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...

Hand painted gold and green sign now hanging in Tuxedos by Merian in Brockton. I custom matched the fonts and colors to match existing signs within the store.

6' x 1' plywood
Acrylic

The Story Continues...More from Sir Lancelot & Merlin's Code

Here is the second installment of illustrations I colored from Sir Lancelot's, Knight of Gallantry, session on www.MerlinsCode.com. Enjoy!

All images are digital and copyright of MerlinsCode.com.

Merlin's Code

I am finally able to unveil my work on Merlin's Code!

Throughout 2010 I was part of a team of artists around the world working on artwork for www.MerlinsCode.com. The site offers learning modules to discover the timeless legend of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round and the Code of Chivalry.

I joined the team as a production artist, specializing as a colorist. Using the established look and branding of Merlin's Code I was asked to take a line drawing and digitally color it in Photoshop. Using various brushes and techniques I was able to create a watercolor look. Once I established the look of a knight and the setting, they needed to be consistent throughout each setting and module.

Over the next couple weeks I will be sharing some of the work that I contributed. I hope you enjoy it and check out www.MerlinsCode.com to see some of the artwork on the site.


These images are part of the sessions for Sir Lancelot - Knight of Gallantry:

The best part of this series of illustrations is that they are at night. I had a lot of fun using the light sources of the moon and the different fire sources. (Lancelot is on the right)

This is one of my favorites. Sir Lancelot is walking in the shadows. I love the textures of the river and the tree stump in the foreground, and the limited palette.

For the Win!

It was Senior Night for the Oliver Ames boys basketball team and cheerleaders. Each of the 9 seniors had a poster hanging on the entrance end line with words and quotes that were provided by their parents. Fittingly, the boys beat Foxboro and took a share of the Davenport Division Crown. Congratulations and good luck in the state tournament!

The 18" x 24" laminated posters were commissioned by the Oliver Ames Basketball Boosters and the input of the parents. I hand drew the bodies in ink and finished them in Photoshop.


Basketball Senior Boys:

Senior Cheerleaders:

Score!

Senior night for the Oliver Ames girls' Basketball team was last night. It is tradition that gifts and acknowledgment be given to the seniors on their last regular season home game. I was commissioned to do a new spin on a caricature like poster for the two girls. They were printed on 18" x 24" photo paper and laminated so that they could be hung in the gym. Congratulations on your win and good luck in the play offs! GO OA!

Images:
18" x 24"
Ink and Digital
© Laura DeDonato

Round two: Grass

Here's the second round of options for the logo I've been working on. I was asked to draw some grass and I immediately pulled out my ink and nibs. I love working with ink, but I haven't been able to pull out my dipping ink and assortment of nibs in a while. All of the line art for the precise map work I do, www.johnromanillustration.com, is done with very fine, technical drawing pens (ex: .005). I love the freedom and serendipitous strokes that happen with this medium. It also got me thinking about the last couple weeks and how fortunate I've been to be able to pull out so many different mediums that I enjoy, but don't always get to use: Acrylic paint, latex paint, gouache, pastels, charcoal, graphite, colored pencils, ink, and my digital pen.

Some of the submitted logos for the "Grass Round":

SHINY and NEW(ly Wed)

Mr. & Mrs. Minks
11" x 14" Acrylic
© Laura DeDonato


I am so excited to finally post my latest portrait commission! I just received confirmation that the newlyweds received their portrait this afternoon.

A portrait this size usually takes me a couple months, which involves a lot of staring at photograph references and bringing out the features that capture their essence. (It's rare that I get a sitting with the subjects I'm painting.) Everyone knows the saying that the "eyes are the windows to the soul," and I believe it. After staring at people's eyes for months, they tell me a lot. Mercedes and Jeremy both have these amazing, sparkling blue eyes that were a lot of fun to paint. More importantly, their eyes are always beaming with love whenever they're together. It was crucial that I captured this. I also have to point out that I had a a great time with the textures of Mercedes velvet jacket and stunning hair.

Congratulations and wishing you the best for a beautiful lifetime together!

A wedding in Mexico

Every painting has to start somewhere. This is a "color blocked" sketch for a commissioned wedding portrait. I start of with a sketch and then block in the shapes with a solid color. Sometimes the sketch shows through and adds some texture and value. It's nice to be working on a painting of somewhere warm and sunny. It helps me forget about all the snow outside, with more on the way.

Confession: I have a weakness for frosting!

I just got the go ahead for my SCM Transportation birthday card illustration! I am very excited about painting cake, or at least a van that looks like cake. I might just have to bake some reference and late night inspiration :-)

This is the concept thumbnail they chose:

Here are some of the other submitted thumbnails:



P.S. I am anxiously waiting to post my most recent portrait piece, but I have to wait until the newlywed couple receives it! I can't wait!!

Round one...

Here is the first round of logos for AMCOM. Pretty straight forward with basic requested fonts and text. The client also wanted to do some funny versions just for the office, in the right column.