artist
Mary McDonnell’s abstract paintings are expressive visualizations of her sensory experiences of the natural world executed with meticulous and painstakingly layered washes of ink, paint, and turpentine. Utilizing such unconventional tools as bamboo, sticks, and rubber to make vigorous marks, she conveys her responses to the earth and its physicality intimately and deeply personally.
Description
When looking at McDonnell’s Untitled ink on paper from 2009, it is essential to consider how her artwork reflects the influence of landscape while diverging from literal representation. There is a sensation of wandering through a forest or coming upon the edge of a wooded field. The broad stokes alongside thin marks create movement while suggesting both a landscape quality as well as the feeling of Japanese calligraphy. This technique aligns with a tradition of abstract expressionism where the artist's emotional and intellectual engagement with the work becomes paramount.
