© 2007 Ryan McDonnell, Two Buildings, acrylic on canvas (48â€� x 24â€�)
Ryan McDonnell has recently begun to focus his efforts on painting, reveling in the layering of the medium and the interaction between his body and the artistic product. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and manic depression, McDonnell sees art as a healer and as a way of being in touch with himself: “My life and inner mind are always relative to the outer life and art or medium in which I am interacting constantly.” He uses art to explore, explain, and educate himself and others. McDonnell has taken several art classes at Marlborough High School in Massachusetts and credits his teachers with allowing him to discover himself, using many materials and mediums: “Art is always exploring and learning about nature and oneself. The way one learns is an art form in itself—the use and application of knowledge.”
