For Donovan Winterberg, reptiles have never just been a hobby; they’ve been a lifelong obsession, a professional pursuit, and ultimately, a powerful artistic muse. As the founder of Drawn to Scales, Donovan has built a career that blends decades of experience in reptile keeping with the unique ability to capture their beauty through art and design.
A Childhood Rooted in Nature
Donovan’s fascination with reptiles began in the wilds of southern Illinois, near the famed Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest. His teenage years were spent exploring bluffs, creeks, and forests near Kincaid Lake, where he and his best friend spent countless hours discovering native wildlife. That early connection to nature laid the foundation for everything that came after.
On his 16th birthday, Donovan received his first corn snake from a local pet shop. Within weeks, he had two more snakes, and a lifelong passion for colubrids was born.
From Breeder to Brand
After earning a degree in art, Donovan began attending reptile expos in St. Louis. His interest in colubrids soon turned into a full-scale breeding operation under the name Children of the Cornsnake. For over two decades, Donovan was a major force in the corn snake world. He produced more than 1,200 hatchlings a year and developed several original morphs, including:
- Specter
- Heliconia
- Cola
- Carbon
- Almond
- Monarch
These morphs became recognized across the herpetological community, cementing his legacy as both a breeder and innovator.
Reinvention Through Art
Major life changes, such as a divorce and returning to school to study graphic design, prompted Donovan to step away from large-scale breeding. Instead of leaving the reptile world behind, he found a new way to stay connected: art.
Combining his creative background with his lifelong passion for reptiles, Donovan launched what would become Drawn to Scales. His creative studio focused on reptile-inspired logos, illustrations, and fine art, with his designs quickly gaining traction in the community. Today, his portfolio includes:
- Hundreds of logos for breeders and expos
- Commissioned artwork for zoos and conferences
- Collaborations with Animal Planet personalities
- Reptile-inspired paintings, prints, and original works
What started as a side project soon became a full-time career. Donovan even designed our Colubrid fest logos for the past 2 years!
A Lifelong Project in Progress
Although he now takes on fewer commissions, Donovan continues to invest in long-term artistic goals. One of his most ambitious projects is to illustrate every snake subspecies in the United States. This is a multi-year endeavor that blends scientific accuracy with artistic expression.
For Donovan, drawing snakes is more than a creative outlet—it’s his calling. "It remains not only my greatest passion," he says, "but also the work I am best suited for."
More Than Art—A Legacy
Through Drawn to Scales, Donovan White has carved out a truly unique space in the reptile world. Whether through breeding, branding, or brushstrokes, his work continues to inspire and influence the herp community.
From Snake Road to studio walls, his journey is proof that when passion and purpose align, the results can be both beautiful and lasting.
You can find Donovan at the following shows:
