If you’ve ever been to Dewey Beach, you’ve probably walked by local artist John Donato’s mural while checking the wall calendar at Bottle & Cork.
“We’ve been doing the mural calendar since 2012,” Donato said. “We started outside and then moved into the building, doing band portraits on the walls too.”
When asked if it breaks his heart a little to know the outdoor mural will be painted over at the end of each season to make way for the next year’s design, Donato doesn’t hesitate.
“No!” he said. “It’s exciting to paint over it and know I get to do something new.”
Donato made the jump from corporate America in 2007 after working in marketing and advertising in Washington, D.C.
“I moved to the beach full-time after the real estate bubble burst and I was laid off from my job,” he said. “I started doodling in the early 2000s, and then in 2008 I picked up a paintbrush and started painting.”
He completed his first mural in 2008 and quickly began filling his schedule with creative projects throughout the community.
Just shy of two decades later, Donato’s work can be found in nearly every school in Sussex County, as well as public spaces such as Millville Town Hall, the Center for the Inland Bays and Family Court locations in all three Delaware counties. His murals also appear in popular local businesses including Bethany Boathouse and Bottle & Cork.
“I like to design for impact,” he said.
Most recently, Donato completed a mural in Georgetown across from the Sussex County Courthouse.
“Art is my passion, and if you think it can’t be done, well, I’ll show you that it can,” he said.
He has an incredible knack for turning almost any open space into an artist’s canvas, and he works closely with communities to make them part of the creative process.
“Creativity is about possibility, not perfection, and the art comes second,” Donato said. “My passion is getting the community involved in their own art.”
Many of his commissioned murals begin with brainstorming sessions involving clients, students, teachers, parents, custodians and other community members.
“I love interesting surprises, and it’s 100% inclusive because then they help paint too!” he said.
Through his website, Donato offers self-guided creative experiences, Doodley Brain workshops for students and teachers, and a variety of programs for schools, businesses and community organizations.
“I want to help people see what excites them about art,” he said. “My best advice is to stay true, work hard and create the best work you’ve ever done. Don’t limit yourself.”
Learn more: johndonatoart.com.
