Laurence Donovan, Mod Surrealist 1970's Drawing Watercolor Painting Jungle Fantasy, Unicorn, Lion, 1974

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Jungle fantasy Scene, Ink, Colored ink and color watercolor surreal fantasy scene, birds, giraffes, alligators, snakes, turtles, storks, unicorn and … Read more Jungle fantasy Scene, Ink, Colored ink and color watercolor surreal fantasy scene, birds, giraffes, alligators, snakes, turtles, storks, unicorn and maiden in a tepee, lions and elephants.

Laurence L. Donovan Jr. (1927-2001) was a poet, artist, and English professor at the University of Miami, best known for his poetry, much of which was inspired by Florida’s natural beauty.


Donovan grew up in southern Florida. His parents were Ruth and Laurence Donovan, and he had one brother, Patrick. His father was best known for publishing Doc Savage novels under the alias Norman Danberg. Donovan served as a private in the Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines from 1945-1946. Following his military service, he graduated with an A.B. from the University of Miami in 1951, and an M.A. in 1954. He also completed one year of Ph.D. coursework at the University of Iowa in 1957. Donovan taught English at the University of Miami from the 1950s through the 1980s, first as an instructor, and then as a professor.
Laurence Donovan taught courses in literature and creative writing during his thirty-five-year tenure at the University of Miami becoming one of Florida's foremost poets. He also edited and illustrated The Carrell, a literary magazine, and regularly wrote book reviews for The Miami Herald. He illustrated numerous books, and his art has been exhibited widely throughout the country. His poems were published in literary journals across the nation. An renowned and avid graphic artist, Donovan was prominent in the Coconut Grove art scene in the 1960s. His artwork was featured in numerous exhibitions and it was frequently published, sometimes accompanying his literary work. Donovan also wrote book reviews for the Miami Herald for many years. Mod design bears similarities to the drawing work of Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg, (Maik) Henri Hecht and French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. His Dog Island and Other Florida Poems was published posthumously in 2003. See less