Artist. Illustrator. Educator. Storyteller.
Biography
Giovanna Dasso is a fine artist, illustrator, and creative educator whose work blends classical artistic foundations with imaginative storytelling and faith-centered expression.
A graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, Giovanna has built a career spanning fine art, children's publishing, gallery work, art education, community outreach, and faith-based creative ministry. She began working professionally at 17 and has 18 years of combined experience.
Her studio practice — Milk & Honey Studios — is the home base for everything she makes: original paintings, illustrated books, custom commissions, brand identities, and the studio classes that have raised a generation of young artists in the greater Orlando area.
She works in oil, gouache, acrylic, watercolor, and ink — and digitally in Procreate and Photoshop. She paints faces, animals, sacred imagery, and the small wonders of the everyday. And she teaches the way she was taught — slowly, classically, and with patience for the long arc of a creative life.
The Path
Classical training in drawing, painting, and illustration. The years that built the eye and the discipline.
Associate’s in Fine Arts & Graphic Media (University of Central Florida), a Certificate in Volunteer Management (Rollins College), and the Creative Products Certification Program (National Art Materials Trade Association).
Fearless selected for the 2020 Student Scholarship Competition.
Illustrator on Alice McGraw Likes to Draw, The Search for Great Great Grampa's Tail, and The Improbable Story of Christopher Columbus.
Workshops with Orlando Museum of Art, Praise & Paint events at churches and homeschool co-ops, private mentorship for young artists.
Lead artist on the “Urban Jungle” exhibit and the “BEYOU” line display.
Icons painted in acrylic gouache with genuine gold leaf on wood panels, now taken on commission.
The studio brand under which all current work lives — fine art, illustration, education, and faith-inspired creative direction.
The Receipts
Honors-program graduate of one of the country's most respected illustration programs.
Training beyond the BFA, in graphic media, volunteer leadership, and art materials.
Selected for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Student Exhibition in New York.
Juried into the annual Best of Ringling exhibition — a campus-wide student selection.
A conceptual children's book exploring imagination, wonder, and emotional storytelling.
Independently designed and hand-built the displays shown below for LiveTrends’ award-winning exhibit at the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE).
Led public painting workshops at the Orlando Museum of Art, including a series inspired by Claude Monet.
Completed the AmeriCorps-affiliated Public Allies leadership development program.
Artist Statement
Whether it's a portrait, a picture book page, or a sheep in soft watercolor — I hope every piece invites someone to slow down and remember what they already love.
Commissions, books, classes, brand work — whatever you have in mind.
Start a project
PUBLISHED CONTRIBUTOR · 2020
Giovanna was one of 68 artists who volunteered their artwork for this collaborative charity art book, created in response to the Australian bushfires and supporting WIRES Wildlife Rescue.
The editors report that the campaign exceeded every stretch goal, bringing the illustrated book into print.
Giovanna’s contribution is part of that collective achievement. Her name and artwork appear in the book’s printed contributor credits.
Original campaign record ↗
The organizers featured Giovanna as a contributing artist on January 29, 2020.
The organizers reported $13,729 raised on Indiegogo and a final $1,155 donation to WIRES after production, shipping, fees and expenses. These are the whole project’s results.
2020 STUDENT COMPETITION SELECTION
Selected for the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition.
Gouache, acrylic, digital, and colored pencil. Ringling College names Giovanna Dasso and Fearless in its 2020 announcement.
Read Ringling’s announcement ↗