Biography
I am not depicting truth in my paintings, nor am I simply inventing. Instead, I explore an interweaving of reality and fiction similar to what is constructed during the recollection of dreams and distant memories. I paint simultaneously from two angles; the concrete and the intuitive. My paintings have an anecdotal quality but not a singular narrative. They are often based in reality but become skewed towards the uncanny through the use of color, composition, and invented detail. There is a balance between dissonance and beauty; one is left with only precarious assumptions of subject yet one is not driven away by the uneasiness within the painting. Instead of presenting a complete and coherent story I simply attempt to reconcile the viewer to the painting's inexplicability.
Elizabeth McDonald was born in Plano, Texas in 1985. She studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas 2003-05 and The University of North Texas 2005-08. She is currently on the MFA course at the Glasgow School of Art 2009-2011. Her work was exhibited at the 500x Gallery Dallas Texas 2010, and the Chalet Invitational Glasgow 2010. She was shortlisted for the London International Creative Competition 2009 and a finalist for The Hunting Art Prize Houston Texas 2010. Her work was also chosen for the BP Portrait Award 2010 Exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery in London and she received its Young Artist Award. In addition, she was most recently shortlisted for the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize 2010 and her work will be shown at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.
