John McDonald works in a range of two-dimensional media-oil on canvas, intaglio, mezzotint, aquatint-and has integrated steel, resin, bronze, and other materials in his sculptures. His art often treats social or political issues, particularly war, aggression and fear, and self-identity. He is fully and creatively engaged in explorations of both medium and message. Born in 1982 in the Goulds, just outside St. John's, McDonald earned a B.F.A. in the Visual Arts Program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in 2005. His work has appeared in exhibitions in Newfoundland, Quebec, and Ontario, as well as England and France. His awards include prizes in the provincial Arts and Letters Competition; his work is in the collections of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, among others. John McDonald currently lives and works in St. John's.

Artist Statement
The content for most of the figurative paintings I create is pulled from my personal stockpile of familiar people and locations. This pairing is usually derived from my perception that the person and the surroundings in which they have been placed share something in common with one another. The exciting part of the process is then deciding what implied motions, dress and props may help to support my original thoughts. I feel that a narrative is often assumed when the actions or contemplative state of the figure is frozen in the static image of a painting. With this current body of work I am occasionally experimenting with these narratives by combining the aforementioned elements in an uncommon manner or referencing art historical compositions. I feel this facilitates the expression of the thoughts and feelings I have connected to the person and their chosen setting.