Anna F Macdonald

Anna F Macdonald is a minimalist abstract artist, currently living in London, dividing her time between painting, teaching, and coaching other artists. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Art History, Anglia Ruskin university, Cambridge, UK, 1998 and a PGCE in Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK, 2004. Her work delves into the importance of negative space and the Zen philosophy "Ma" - the spatial relationship between structural elements. Her paintings and drawings incorporate Shibumi principles; a complex process not evident in the outcome, creating works of unobtrusive beauty. Beginning by referencing tangible elements from nature, after careful observation Anna strips away all but the non-essential, working with gestural marks and elemental colour to capture the essence of the subject. This redaction of the superfluous encourages the observer to slow down and appreciate the tranquillity of the work.

Anna’s interpretation of Minimalism incorporates influences from Abstract Expressionism and mid-century Abstraction. Mid-century Abstraction foregrounds a wide-ranging group of artists who freely moved between styles or blended their abstract approaches with traditional genres meant to represent the observable world, such as landscape painting, portraits and still life. This can be seen in much of Anna’s work, particularly in her latest series depicting sunsets.  Abstract Expressionism grew from Surrealism, however it was never a coherent movement, and it had no program, which made styles wholly personal. Anna F Macdonald is also drawn to Japanese calligraphy with an inclination towards Constructivism. Much of Anna’s inspiration comes from the artwork of St Ives Artists Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth and their use of geometric and organic shapes and their neutral colour palettes that respond to the natural world.

“Each collection of work that I make begins with observational drawings working directly from the source or from photos. I’m interested in observing the colour, shape and texture of the subject matter. I spend months looking at photos of a landscape or plants for examples, until the subject matter becomes very familiar.” – Anna F Macdonald.