Paintings of Figures

The human figure is an extremely important source of inspiration for artist Shane McDonald. Opportunities to capture unique forms are endless, and the challenge compose dynamic yet compelling figurative paintings is Shane's favorite creative practice. Through use of human form, Shane offers insight into his thoughts and experiences of contemporary life as well as his ideals of timeless beauty and nature. His figurative paintings manifest as studies on paper, studies on canvas, and series paintings which are of an allegorical nature. Shane has painted the figure on a regular basis since his career began in the early 1990s, and he has hosted weekly open figure life drawing/painting sessions ever since he opened his studio.

Unless otherwise indicated, originals of these works are either sold or on exhibition. However, limited edition giclée prints of most of these works are available upon request. Contact Shane McDonald: (770) 218-0676 or E-mail: shane@shanemcdonaldstudios.com

painting of a costumed female wearing a head-dress
Gypsy Trance

36 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2023

painting of a nude male in a steam room
The Steam Room

16-1/2 in. H x 13 in. W oil on paper mounted to board, 2023

painting of a nude female preparing for a bath
Preparing the Bath

36 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2022

disrupted painting of a female dancing with a silver scarf
Gypsy Disrupted 1 

20 x 20 in. oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 2022

disrupted upper-body painting of female dancing with a silver scarf
Gypsy Disrupted 2 

20 x 20 in. oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 2022

painting of reclining female nude on deep red fabric
Jude Reclines on Deep Red

12 x 16 oil on oil paper mounted to plywood board, 2019

painting of a woman with piercing blue eyes sitting on a chair before Victorian wallpaper
The Gaze

24 x 18 in. oil on canvas, 2019

painting of a woman reclining in a white satin on a black striped love seat
Repose in White Satin

18 x 24 in. oil on paper mounted to plywood, 2019

painting of a nude male figure kneeling while holding a giant globe
Atlas

48 x 48 in. oil on canvas, 2019

painting of a black female wearing bathing suit with colorful mosaic background
Raven in Bathing Suit Before Abstract Background

14 x 11 oil on canvas, 2019

painting of a nude male figure wearing a laurel crown and holding a crook
Male Nude with Laurel Crown and Crook

16 x 12 in. oil on paper, 2019

portrait painting of the profile of a bald bearded black man
Scott in Profile

16 x 12 in. oil on canvas mounted to panel, 2018

painting of nude male figure wearing laurel crown and playing a flute
Pan Plays for Woodland Creatures

14 x 11 in. oil on canvas, 2018

female model wears blonde 18th Century Wig with pink roses
Nadine and Marie Antoinette

14 x 11 in. oil on canvas, 2018

painting of a female cowgirl wearing a blue-jean shorts and a lace robe in the evening breeze of a western ranch
Evening Breeze on a Western Ranch

20 x 14 in. oil on canvas mounted to wood panel, 2018

painting of a nude male kneeling with his hands on the floor and head down
Abandon

12 x 12 in. oil on canvas, 2018

painting of a nude male kneeling with his hands on the floor and head down
Despondence

12 x 12 in. oil on canvas, 2018

painting of a nude male figure pouring water from a jug onto a nude woman in a natural setting
Nourishment of Earth

36 x 18 in. oil on canvas, 2017

painting of a two-legged nude mermaid with an oil rig on the sea's horizon
Mermaid

16 x 12 in. oil on canvas, 2016

painting of a Adam and Eve standing apart as they cover their genitals with leaves
Awareness of Adam

48 x 48 in. oil on canvas, 2016

painting of a theatre usher wearing a red coat
Usher in the Strand

16 x 12 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of a ballroom dance couple Waltzing before an audience
Twinkle

16 x 20 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of nude male kneeling to reach a stream of water as he is chained at the ankle
Man/Machine: Narcissus

24 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of semi-nude male wearing tube socks looking as if he is sleeping while guiding a rope through a crank pulley
Man/Machine: Daydreamer

24 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of brunette woman dressed in a white summer dress and lounging on a sofa in a Victorian wallpapered room
Woman Lounging in White Summer Dress

24 x 30 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of a young black woman lounging in a colorful setting
Loreina

12 x 16 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of man wearing steampunk wings and goggles with Chrysler Building behind him
Man/Machine: Kite

18 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of a ballroom dancing couple in the spotlight on the dance floor with a jazz band playing behind them
Come Fly with Me

40 x 30 in. oil on canvas, 2015

painting of black woman posing seated with a brown fur hat on her lap
Sunday's Hat

14 x 11 in. oil on canvas, 2013

painting of a muscular man in an underwater room with a water wheel looking for an escape
Man/Machine: Escape

24 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2012

painting of nude man seated wearing blue hat and rope suspended before him in a green background
Suspense

12 x 12 in. oil on wood panel, 2012

painting of a semi-nude man arching backwards while wearing wearing black leather underwear
Breakthrough

12 x 12 in. oil on wood panel, 2012

painting of a standing semi-nude muscular man obscuring his face as he removes his tank top
Conceal

12 x 12 in. oil on wood panel, 2012

painting of a standing semi-nude muscular man removing his white tank top
Release

12 x 12 in. oil on wood panel, 2012

painting of a muscular nude man seated on a steel girder high inside old ruins of a skyscraper building
Holding

40 x 60 in. oil on canvas, 2012

painting of an upward-reaching female wearing a blue-gray scarf and dress with a blue bottis
Gypsy

30 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2012

painting of a woman wearing a black cocktail dress and a black Fedora hat while holding a microphone
Jazz

30 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2012

painting of a female nude with long brown hair reclining outside
Nymph in the Garden of Earthly Delights

20 x 16 in. oil on canvas, 2011

painting of a nude male seated and interacting with machinery inside a tower
Man/Machine: Throttle

24 x 24 in. oil on canvas, 2011

painting of a native man leaping like a superhero in a western North American landscape while holding the Ouroboros' tail and head
Ouroboros

60 x 48 in. oil on canvas, 2009

painting of a man pressed against a window with a nude sleeping in bed behind him and reflections of Mediterranean architecture in window
Window

60 x 48 in. oil on canvas, 2008

painting of a nude man held back by two other nude men
The Rescue

60 x 48 in. oil on canvas, 2005

appropriated painting of a semi-nude angel with bat wings and wearing black leather carrying a semi-nude blonde man
Gemini

48 x 30 in. oil on canvas, 2005
appropriated after William Bouguereau's Abduction of Psyche