By Emily Scott
Business Editor

Abstract art is an art form that does not attempt to represent external, recognizable reality but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors and textures. It takes years to perfect this art form. Junior Molly McDonald brings this to life in her artwork.

For many people, drawing or painting is a natural talent acquired at a young age. Painting in an elementary school art class or just doodling on the paper can develop into mature pieces of artwork. McDonald has been involved in art since elementary school. Coming from a family of artists, it came naturally to her.

“My Aunt was an art major and her father-in-law was a painter. I picked up drawing at a young age,” McDonald said. Having been drawing since elementary school, her natural-born talent has excelled throughout her years in school.

McDonald currently takes Advanced Art 2 at the high school, but she also was enrolled in courses at Temple University’s Tyler School of the Arts where she was taught ways to mature her artistic style.
“The classes at Temple for painting taught me a lot about composition and to visualize things in an abstract way,” McDonald said. Abstract art is up to any interpretation, which McDonald enjoys the most.

Art is a way for McDonald to express herself and to bring her thoughts into a visual piece. “I did a painting for when everyone wore pink for Chris (Mongillo). I enjoyed how it came out because it was almost a sea of pink and it showed how close the school is,” McDonald said. Even during this hard time in Neshaminy’s history, McDonald was able to capture the close-knit relationship and strong hearts of the students.

Artists have unique styles that are different for each person. For McDonald, she takes a different approach to a beginning sketch. “It’s interesting because she goes right into shading instead of drawing lines first,” junior Liam Schroeder, McDonald’s classmate said.

McDonald plans on going to art school after high school. She plans on taking Graphic Design her senior year to expand her artistic ability. “Molly is a very talented and has an energetic drawing style,” Terry O’Neill, McDonald’s art teacher said.

Art allows for a different way of seeing things, and is also about showing how the artist views certain ideas or aspects of life. Whether these ideas are represented on paper, in a sculpture, or on an easel, art offers a unique way of communicating for McDonald.