Donna MacDonald |
I consider myself a story teller, using paint and brushes instead of pencils and paper to capture a moment or express a feeling. I want my paintings to draw the viewer in as a participant with hints of background and unfinished areas. I think this makes for a more interesting painting and has been the basis of my work over the last several years.
I work most often in oil with loose brushstrokes, simplifying and only suggesting details. The majority of the painting is done using a wet into wet (alla prima) technique. Oil paint is perfect for this because it stays wet over several hours and sometimes days and allows for the manipulation of edges. Once the painting is dry I will assess it and make any needed adjustments at that time. Harder edges are placed in various focal areas around the painting which guides the viewer's eyes. I think it is important to be a life long learner so I continue to attend workshops from master artists that I admire so that I can continue to grow as an artist. I also strongly believe in the benefits of working from life so together with fellow artists we hire models once a week. These sessions allow for practicing technique as well as experimentation. My purpose and hope is that my paintings make a connection with people and they see the beauty and wonder in our lives. As a way of "paying it forward" Donna contributes 10% from the sale of her paintings to HOPEthiopia, a Calgary based charity that works tirelessly for the betterment of the Ethiopian people. Their projects include drilling water wells, building schools and providing dental and medical treatments.
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