I’m Michael McDonnell, a figurative artist from Northern California.   My work is grounded in the fundamentals of realism but executed using abstract design, vibrant color, and thick impasto paint application.  The subjects I paint project a sense of calm, vulnerability, and strength.  I am always in search of a specific feeling and will work until that’s achieved. 

I also draw inspiration from modern and contemporary abstract art.  I continuously look for ways to incorporate those concepts into my work in a way that reinforces the mood I am trying to convey.