MIKE McDONALD is an American abstract artist and graphic artist who lives and works in New Jersey. A graduate of The College of New Jersey’s BFA program (2002), he has been working professionally as a graphic artist for 18 years and during that time pursued various artistic endeavors in the fine arts.

His artistic philosophy is one of constant experimentation and personal exploration, seeking discomfort in his methods to find new techniques that bring unique elements to each painting. Mike documents his exploratory process on his YouTube channel.

Mike McDonald finds inspiration for his work in modern graphic design, street art and graffiti, and contemporary graphic arts culture. He uses an ever-changing combination of bold brush strokes, stencil patterns, palette knife forms, spray paint, and splatter techniques in his work.

My work is based on layers of color and texture. Within those layers, shapes and forms emerge and the composition starts to define itself. Most of my paintings are spontaneous, with little planning beyond initial color choices and tools. I let the painting evolve and take shape as the layers build up, selecting colors that feel right from one layer to the next, changing brushes or tools to vary texture and coverage, and letting the painting itself define the next steps.