In 1971, I received my bachelor's degree in art with an emphasis in painting and graphic design from Murray State University. After working in oils and watercolors for many years, I discovered the versatile world of soft pastels and have concentrated on developing the expressive coloration of the landscape with pastels. I'm most interested in light and shadow as it falls across the land illuminating shapes and atmosphere.
I'm a landscape artist using soft pastels as well as oils. My pastel work is created on sanded pastel paper, and for some work I use an oil wash for the underpainting before applying the pastel. I also work in oils when I wish to create pieces larger than the traditional sanded pastel paper. Switching between the two media is not difficult since, both techniques work first in dark colors to light colors for the final layers.
I create images from actual places preferring to use nature's information and inspiration for my resource. Many of my pieces are created "en plein air." I believe a landscape artist should paint the area the artist knows intimately. The Appalachian landscape is so variable and beautiful that I never tire of depicting scenes from Kentucky and West Virginia.
I paint what I see, but distill the details of nature to focus on the essence of the landscape, adjusting the color to emphasize the light and shadow. I hope the viewer connects to the sense of place that attracted me to the scene.
Marianna McDonald
McDonald Fine Art
Lexington, Ky.
Web: www.mcdonaldfineart.com
Blog: mcdonaldfineartblog.blogspot.com
Email: marianna.mcdonald@insightbb.com