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.