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!

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

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.

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"

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!