This man is a con-artist! Do not pay him cash! He goes to show, claims he will send artwork, you never hear from him and he DOESN'T SEND THE ART YOU PAY FOR...He is banned from certain venues because he cheats customers. POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE! HE WILL SCAM YOU OUT OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!!!
I met Mr. Donovan McLean, Friday, September 3, 2010 at the African Festival in Chicago. I purchased a piece from him that he personalized specifically for me. It's perfect! I love it! I gave him a deposit and he followed up that evening to verify the order and the time I would pick up the finished product. The next day it was ready and wrapped as promised. I look forward to purchasing additional pieces from Mr. McLean very soon.
Do u have contact info on him? One of my pieces broke and I want to replace it. I was waiting for him to come to Chicago, and was there at that time, but I missed him.
I have know Don for over twenty years, he is a great artist and a great friend. I have purchased artwork from him for as long as I can remember. He would never do anything to tarnish his rep. I lost contact with him about a year ago when I moved out of state. If you have contact with him tell him to contact Dave in NYC and I promise you I will clear any misunderstanding you may have had. PROMISE!
I have about 6 of his art pieces & I am still in love with them. I bought his piece called "so into you" in NY, he sketched a picture of me on the back. Two years later I broke the frame and took it to be fixed. The place I went for it to be fixed, lost my personal portrait on the back board. I was so upset. They called him on the phone and he came to the store and sketched me another one. He is an amazing artist & a good person.
I met Donaovan Mclean at the Afram Festival in Norfolk VA, and purchased three pieces from him which are beautiful. The "Last Supper" which is was what he was working on when I saw him, so I had to pick it up later. When I went back it was completed and framed. The other two are "Soul Mates" and "One Love". A few years ago looking for some of his work to purchase I bought "So Into You" online. His potrayal of "The Last Supper" is so unique. Sad to hear someone say something bad about him, but there is always someone that is not going to like you, no matter who you are.
In 2001, I was looking for apts all day (I'm a Chicago transplant & was stressed out). At the corner of 7th crossing 125th St., I decide to light a cigarette then proceed. As I get to the other side I hear yelling (which is not uncommon on a Harlem Summer day) and I walk on. Yelling continues but now it's getting closer, "queen-queen!" I'm pulled out of my head to pay attention to my environment just in time to realize the "yelling-man" is yelling at, me. Perfect ending to a sweltering, awful day when a corner-kook singles ME out, just peachy. He stops me in my tracks & calmly says, "queen, you're too beautiful to be doing this to yourself." He gingerly takes my hand, removes the cigarette & throws it to the gutter. He asks if I act or model (ok, he's one of those guys, I thought). "Nope," I say . Well, by your posture & stride, you must be a dancer? "Wrong again & more importantly, I don't need an agent, thanks." I begin to make steps, away. "Ok queen, may I ask for one minute to show you something?" (ohhh, he's one of THOSE guys/I'm clutching my figurative pearls, now). "Yeah, no. I gotta go." "Look'ere we're in the open & I would never hurt you queen,... 30seconds." "Fine." We walk back to his street-setup (that I hadn't even noticed when I was on the other-side, before). He hands me a bottle of ice-cold water from a little cooler. *(Ahhh I really needed that/ beginning to focus)* As he thumbs through his sketchbook, I'm noticing all the gorgeous artwork around him, for sale. Is this your work? "Told you it wouldn't hurt," he smiled. I relaxed & smiled as he showed a partial sketch of ME, walking, as if, on stage doing a ballet position. I apologized profusely & he listened to my wreck of a day. I helped him sell some pieces. Later, he asked me to his studio a couple blocks away, where he cooked a delicious meal while we listened to some bebop & talked. When he was ready to do my piece he asked me to explain my hopes in one word. "I just want to be content" I said. As I left the studio with my portrait titled, "CONTENTMENT," it dawned on me that I hadn't had a cigarette in about six hours & he didn't hit-on, rape or murder me. He actually turned that awful day into my absolute favorite Harlem experience (&I'm a Native New Yorker, now). Listen, please. Don tours the country & does a lot of shows in Chicago. When I'm home visiting we run into one another. Sometimes I'll buy a couple of pieces then he gifts me with one OR gives my friends/fam some special treatment. So, I cannot fathom WHAT exactly happened with your purchase BUT the person you've described IS NOT my friend, my Brother, the talented & very cherished Mr.DONOVAN McLEAN.
My name is Donna Martinez. I am a Native New Yorker. My Mom and I were shopping on 125 Street in 1997, when we came across this Outstanding artist by the name of Mr. Donovan Mclean. I was 24yrs old at the time. All I know is, his worked stopped me dead in my tracks. I bought a two part piece from him called "Look to Me". To this day it adorns my living room and is one of the best pieces I have ever invested in. That was my last $100.00 dollars and my first real piece of art work. I am so happy I spent my last. I have not had the pleasure to see him again but when I do, I look forward to speading more. I wish Mr. Mclean nothing but the best!
After following him for ages I finally I purchased a piece from him in a suburb of Chicago in 2015! He was reasonable & accomodating. I used the number below to contact him in 2015 I hope it helps!! He a gifted artist; he is approachable & engaging please reconsider & contact him! I am sure you will be treated with respect & absolutely love his gifted gentle soul!
I must say, Don approached my mother the same way, she spoke canidly about me as she stated that he and I must meet. when we met, he was extremely polite, he offered to cook for me and we listed to hip hop at his studio apartment in Harlem. By the end of the evening he gave me a few free paintings and we spoke of doing an art show.. I assisted and several of my friends purchased his work. Donovan then asked if I could help him sell some paintings art a art show in Chicago, he said he needed money to hold the hotel room-well I charged the room for him and several months went by, he changed his cell phone#. I ran into to Donovan at the Circle of Sisters event in NYC-I went bananas and threaten to tear up his whole vending area until he paid me back with interest. Well he paid up and it was sad because I thought he was a friend. He totally blue a good friend in me. Not only was I proud to befriend a struggling artist, but I have friends who supported his works. He appears to be the sweetest, but he def. has some shit with himself. If you can buy upfront great-but I wouldn't do any mailing/lending any cash business with him.
Wow, I decided to relocate a beautiful piece of work by Mr McLean that my husband and I purchased in Detroit 07/27/98 called The Kick. Thought I'd Google him to see what's up and was appalled by the first comment degrading his reputation. How could this wonderful artist, who took my $20.00 deposithe, held my piece and then accepted a check from someone they didn't know at an outside Art festival have changed so drastically? Thank God! He has not. Please let me know if there is a Web site or listing where I may purchase another piece. The money my husband and I spent that day 18 years ago was our last and so will worth it! May God continue to bless his hands, his gifts and his life.
Well my husband must have purchased a piece of artwork from Donovan or someone gifted it. I hate to get rid of it he actually told me not to get rid of it ever. It’s called tribal intensity it’s cool and all but doesn’t go with anything. Husband passed away two years ago. I still have it husband loved it I’ll keep it I guess. I now look up the guys name and see lots of negative stuff ugh sorry to Thise who were taken advantage of!
I purchased "The Kick" from him. It was a gift for a boyfriend. I loved it so much that IN 2001 I asked him to duplicate it but twice as big. I have never paid $600 for art. I did and don't regret it. The piece is now in The Dominican Republic at my parents' home. I want 5o bring it back to NY and will eventually. LOVE THAT PIECE!
19 comments:
This man is a con-artist! Do not pay him cash! He goes to show, claims he will send artwork, you never hear from him and he DOESN'T SEND THE ART YOU PAY FOR...He is banned from certain venues because he cheats customers. POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE! HE WILL SCAM YOU OUT OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!!!
I met Mr. Donovan McLean, Friday, September 3, 2010 at the African Festival in Chicago. I purchased a piece from him that he personalized specifically for me. It's perfect! I love it! I gave him a deposit and he followed up that evening to verify the order and the time I would pick up the finished product. The next day it was ready and wrapped as promised. I look forward to purchasing additional pieces from Mr. McLean very soon.
Db Harris,
Do u have contact info on him? One of my pieces broke and I want to replace it. I was waiting for him to come to Chicago, and was there at that time, but I missed him.
I have know Don for over twenty years, he is a great artist and a great friend. I have purchased artwork from him for as long as I can remember. He would never do anything to tarnish his rep. I lost contact with him about a year ago when I moved out of state. If you have contact with him tell him to contact Dave in NYC and I promise you I will clear any misunderstanding you may have had.
PROMISE!
I purchased 4 pieces from Donovan in Harlem, 125th about 8 years ago. Great pieces, great artist!!
I Know Mr. McLean "oh so well". Great artist in more ways than one.
i just met him at a Kwanzaa fest in Chicago. His number is 646-621-1367
Donovan is a highly respectable, kind & responsible artist he would never take your money and not deliver!
I have about 6 of his art pieces & I am still in love with them. I bought his piece called "so into you" in NY, he sketched a picture of me on the back. Two years later I broke the frame and took it to be fixed. The place I went for it to be fixed, lost my personal portrait on the back board. I was so upset. They called him on the phone and he came to the store and sketched me another one. He is an amazing artist & a good person.
I met Donaovan Mclean at the Afram Festival in Norfolk VA, and purchased three pieces from him which are beautiful. The "Last Supper" which is was what he was working on when I saw him, so I had to pick it up later. When I went back it was completed and framed. The other two are "Soul Mates" and "One Love". A few years ago looking for some of his work to purchase I bought "So Into You" online. His potrayal of "The Last Supper" is so unique. Sad to hear someone say something bad about him, but there is always someone that is not going to like you, no matter who you are.
In 2001, I was looking for apts all day (I'm a Chicago transplant & was stressed out). At the corner of 7th crossing 125th St., I decide to light a cigarette then proceed. As I get to the other side I hear yelling (which is not uncommon on a Harlem Summer day) and I walk on. Yelling continues but now it's getting closer, "queen-queen!" I'm pulled out of my head to pay attention to my environment just in time to realize the "yelling-man" is yelling at, me. Perfect ending to a sweltering, awful day when a corner-kook singles ME out, just peachy. He stops me in my tracks & calmly says, "queen, you're too beautiful to be doing this to yourself." He gingerly takes my hand, removes the cigarette & throws it to the gutter. He asks if I act or model (ok, he's one of those guys, I thought). "Nope," I say . Well, by your posture & stride, you must be a dancer? "Wrong again & more importantly, I don't need an agent, thanks." I begin to make steps, away. "Ok queen, may I ask for one minute to show you something?" (ohhh, he's one of THOSE guys/I'm clutching my figurative pearls, now). "Yeah, no. I gotta go." "Look'ere we're in the open & I would never hurt you queen,... 30seconds." "Fine." We walk back to his street-setup (that I hadn't even noticed when I was on the other-side, before). He hands me a bottle of ice-cold water from a little cooler. *(Ahhh I really needed that/ beginning to focus)* As he thumbs through his sketchbook, I'm noticing all the gorgeous artwork around him, for sale. Is this your work? "Told you it wouldn't hurt," he smiled. I relaxed & smiled as he showed a partial sketch of ME, walking, as if, on stage doing a ballet position. I apologized profusely & he listened to my wreck of a day. I helped him sell some pieces. Later, he asked me to his studio a couple blocks away, where he cooked a delicious meal while we listened to some bebop & talked. When he was ready to do my piece he asked me to explain my hopes in one word. "I just want to be content" I said. As I left the studio with my portrait titled, "CONTENTMENT," it dawned on me that I hadn't had a cigarette in about six hours & he didn't hit-on, rape or murder me. He actually turned that awful day into my absolute favorite Harlem experience (&I'm a Native New Yorker, now).
Listen, please.
Don tours the country & does a lot of shows in Chicago. When I'm home visiting we run into one another. Sometimes I'll buy a couple of pieces then he gifts me with one OR gives my friends/fam some special treatment. So, I cannot fathom WHAT exactly happened with your purchase BUT the person you've described IS NOT my friend, my Brother, the talented & very cherished Mr.DONOVAN McLEAN.
My name is Donna Martinez. I am a Native New Yorker. My Mom and I were shopping on 125 Street in 1997, when we came across this Outstanding artist by the name of Mr. Donovan Mclean. I was 24yrs old at the time. All I know is, his worked stopped me dead in my tracks. I bought a two part piece from him called "Look to Me". To this day it adorns my living room and is one of the best pieces I have ever invested in. That was my last $100.00 dollars and my first real piece of art work. I am so happy I spent my last. I have not had the pleasure to see him again but when I do, I look forward to speading more. I wish Mr. Mclean nothing but the best!
After following him for ages I finally I purchased a piece from him in a suburb of Chicago in 2015! He was reasonable & accomodating. I used the number below to contact him in 2015 I hope it helps!! He a gifted artist; he is approachable & engaging please reconsider & contact him! I am sure you will be treated with respect & absolutely love his gifted gentle soul!
(646) 621-1367
I must say, Don approached my mother the same way, she spoke canidly about me as she stated that he and I must meet. when we met, he was extremely polite, he offered to cook for me and we listed to hip hop at his studio apartment in Harlem. By the end of the evening he gave me a few free paintings and we spoke of doing an art show.. I assisted and several of my friends purchased his work. Donovan then asked if I could help him sell some paintings art a art show in Chicago, he said he needed money to hold the hotel room-well I charged the room for him and several months went by, he changed his cell phone#. I ran into to Donovan at the Circle of Sisters event in NYC-I went bananas and threaten to tear up his whole vending area until he paid me back with interest. Well he paid up and it was sad because I thought he was a friend. He totally blue a good friend in me. Not only was I proud to befriend a struggling artist, but I have friends who supported his works. He appears to be the sweetest, but he def. has some shit with himself. If you can buy upfront great-but I wouldn't do any mailing/lending any cash business with him.
Wow, I decided to relocate a beautiful piece of work by Mr McLean that my husband and I purchased in Detroit 07/27/98 called The Kick. Thought I'd Google him to see what's up and was appalled by the first comment degrading his reputation. How could this wonderful artist, who took my $20.00 deposithe, held my piece and then accepted a check from someone they didn't know at an outside Art festival have changed so drastically? Thank God! He has not. Please let me know if there is a Web site or listing where I may purchase another piece. The money my husband and I spent that day 18 years ago was our last and so will worth it! May God continue to bless his hands, his gifts and his life.
I'm out of NY and have worked close to him, You're lucky, He's a crook
Well my husband must have purchased a piece of artwork from Donovan or someone gifted it. I hate to get rid of it he actually told me not to get rid of it ever. It’s called tribal intensity it’s cool and all but doesn’t go with anything. Husband passed away two years ago. I still have it husband loved it I’ll keep it I guess. I now look up the guys name and see lots of negative stuff ugh sorry to Thise who were taken advantage of!
I purchased "The Kick" from him. It was a gift for a boyfriend. I loved it so much that IN 2001 I asked him to duplicate it but twice as big. I have never paid $600 for art. I did and don't regret it. The piece is now in The Dominican Republic at my parents' home. I want 5o bring it back to NY and will eventually. LOVE THAT PIECE!
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