"Endless Love"

Valentine's Day Card Illustration, 2014

SCM Transportation, Somerville, MA

Mixed Media

© Laura DeDonato

 

Endless love... and the SCM Transportation vans driving over the hills and far away, spreading love. Happy to be able to do this year's 2014 Valentine's Day card for SCM Trasportation! Too bad this year's theme didn't require me to buy extra chocolate for reference!

Commissioned Map, 2013

Mixed Media, Digital, 36" x 24"

© Laura DeDonato

Maps take many forms, and have different purposes. Some show you how to get some where and others show the journey. This "map" poster, printed 24" x 36", was commissioned as a gift that combined personal lyrics and places the recipient has traveled. Starting with their hometown of York, Maine, it spirals in towards their current home. It is a reminder that home is where the heart is.

Dream Street

238 Marlborough Street

Commissioned Acrylic Painting
11" x 14"
© Laura DeDonato

I'm very excited to finally share this painting that I completed this summer.  This is the second home that I have painted on the beautiful Marlborough Street in Back Bay, Boston, MA.  (The Barnes Mansion is on the corner of Marlborough St and Charlesgate.)  Marlborough Street is parallel to Newbury St, Commonwealth Ave, Beacon St and is lined with gorgeous architecture and beautiful gardens.  I love walking through this neighborhood, because it's so inspiring with all of the colors and details.  

My commissioners were going through big changes (congratulations!) and needed more space, so it was time to move out of their Marlborough Street home.  They enjoyed their time so much here that they asked me to paint the front of their building to hang in their new home.  This is somewhere I would love to live, pretty much a dream neighborhood!  Enjoy!

A Commission Come True!

Purple Begonia
Commissioned wrap around Acrylic Painting
3' x 4' x 1.5"
© Laura DeDonato


Most of my work is commissioned, but when I get the rare chance to do a painting for myself I almost always choose between a flower and a portrait. So, when I was commissioned to paint a flower, it was a dream come true.

I worked with the clients to pick the perfect flower and palette for their bedroom. We agreed on a purple flower with lots of petals. Everywhere I went, I was constantly searching for the perfect, inspiring flower. And, one day there it was, a white tuberous begonia. I took a photograph and digitally altered it to make it purple. Once approved, I started painting and 3 months later, the painting was delivered.

I miss seeing it every day in my studio, but I know it will bring happiness to its new owners!



Note: More pictures to come. Due to the paintings large size, it has been difficult to capture its true colors. The reproduction file is currently being retouched to capture the original painting's color.

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!

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

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!

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!

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.

Happy Holidays!!

Winter Wonderland
5"x7" Folded Holiday Card

© Laura DeDonato

(Version with a wreath on the barn)

There's nothing like a winter wonderland painting to get me in the holiday spirit! This is the second year that I have done SCM Transportation's Holiday Card (last year was a Santa, you can find it in the archived posts), and I had a great time. The client, based in Somerville, wanted their logo on a snowflake so I came up with a few sketches and we decided on this concept. It just so happened to be the first one that popped into my head.

Here's the sketch/thumbnail:

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

I love weddings!!!

A Four Seasons Wedding
24" x 36" Acrylic
© Laura DeDonato

I love Boston buildings and I love weddings, so this painting was a dream job. The client wanted a custom gift for their soon to be married sister. It just so happened that the lucky couple got engaged in the Boston Public Gardens and were to be married at the Four Seasons Hotel across the street.

The composition allows for the viewer to enter the painting through the garden walkway, pass through the beautiful iron gates and jump across the street to the iconic hotel. Of course some artistic license had to be taken in order to make this possible! The wedding was held on the second floor of the hotel overlooking the gardens. You can see the wedding cake in the second window from the right.

Best wishes to the newlyweds!!!

The Barnes Mansion

Here are some photographs of the final Barnes Mansion painting! Some how these pictures don't capture the size of the canvas, 3ft x 4ft x 1.5in. This massive building has amazing detail in its moldings, steel door, and limestone. It's located at 10 Charlesgate East at Marlborough Street in Back Bay. The cars in the painting all belong to the client and were added as a special touch including their personalized license plate.

One of my favorite parts of the building, and the clients' chosen focal point, was the main entrance and its massive steel door. It is very intricate and is framed by columns.

The painting continues around the edges of the canvas, so no frame is needed. This works great for the large space it's in. As you approach the painting you can see it's left side and it creates a nice effect drawing you in to the painting. Hopefully I can post a picture of this soon.

A view of the painting hanging in its new home :-)

"Special Time with Dad"

Portrait
Acrylic & Mixed Media
9" x 12"

Christmas is Coming!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa illustration for Holiday Card

Inside text and layout


Commissioned image, 9" x 12" original, 5" x 7" print size
Mixed Media

Barnes Mansion

I've been working on a 3ft x 4ft building commission of the Barnes Mansion, behind the Charlesgate Hotel, on Marlboro Street. I'm in the process of painting it now and will have updates soon, but here is the color comp and sketch on the canvas:

Color comp is a pastel and photo hybrid. The cars on the street are three of the clients cars including a Saab Sonnet with their last name on the license plate.

Pencil sketch on canvas before painting.

El Presidente

Military Murph
Mixed Media, 18" x 12"

Here is my latest commissioned portrait that was inspired by a Goya painting of the Duchess of Alba, where she is pointing down at Goya's name in the dirt. The client wanted a military dictator with an "El Presidente" banner at the bottom.

Frosty
Acrylic on Board
8" x 10"

Rebel
8" x 10"
Mixed Media

Is it morning, already?

Randal the Roman Emperor

Mixed Media on board, 18" x 24"


Here's the next commissioned birthday portrait installment, Happy Birthday Randal! You can witness the unveiling, CLICK HERE!