Born in 1967 and raised in Colchester, Vermont, Donato moved to New York City to immerse himself in the inspired and varied art scene immediately after graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Painting from Syracuse University. Formative years in the early nineties were spent as the studio assistant to the preeminent figure painter Vincent Desiderio, and long days of study in the museums of New York.
Since beginning his professional career in 1993, Donato's list of clients has grown to include major book publishers in New York to collectors on the West Coast: notables include The United Nations, LucasArts, National Geographic, CNN, Microsoft, Simon&Schuster, Random House, Milton-Bradley, and Hasbro. Merits range from the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators in 2008 to notable awards from the Art Renewal Center's International Salons; eighteen Chesley Awards from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists; three Artist Hugo Awards for outstanding professional work from the World Science Fiction Society; and multiple silver and gold medals from the juried annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art.
His studio is in Brooklyn, New York, where he resides with his wife and two daughters.
www.donatoart.com