Luis McDonald is a painter, fashion designer and a photographer. He won his first drawing competition at the tender age of seven and began his studies in art at fifteen at Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (National School of Fine Arts) in Santo Domingo. After finishing his military duties in the Navy he soon moved into fashion after obtaining a scholarship from winning a drawing competition on national television.

 

McDonald has received several prizes including scholarship to study at Miami International University of Art & Design (former International Fine Arts College) where he received two Honour Mention awards from "Air France" and "Art-Deco Period" drawing contests. He also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Centre de formation Professionelle des Arts de La Mode, FORMAMOD in Paris and Instituto Tecnologico Mercy Jacquez in Dominican Republic.

 

The metaphor that his artworks divulge has been recognized by the main stream-media all over the world and his creations are highly valued by private collectors spread across the glove including in United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.   

 

By 1990 when Luis McDonald moved to the United States he left a thriving business creating window displays, costumes and set designs. Miami became his new home for a short period of time before moving to New York.

 

After a successful stint as jewellery designer for Vee & Gee Manufacturing Corporation while studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1991 and completing his studies, Luis McDonald moved back to Miami where he was then appointed as a designer for Basic Sewing Contractor Inc., McDonald designed a range of business attire for women. In 1996 Luis McDonald presented his first Haute Couture collection for which he received a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Metropolitan Dade County Florida in recognition of his valuable contribution to the community.

 

During 1997 Luis McDonald combining both of his skills in painting and fashion collaborated with several institutions in Miami organizing and designing stage and wardrobe  for various awards ceremonies earning him recognition in the Miami media, the Nuevo Herald called him "An Example of Gratitude".

 

Coming to Europe to study in 1998 and soon after finishing his studies in Paris, McDonald moved to London where he had the chance to meet with some of the elite designers and artist in the British scene including the design team for Belville Sassoon one of Princess Diana favorite couture houses, London based Italian menswear designer Avi Rossini and Welsh painter Andrew Vicari (His fortune was valued at £92 million in 2006 by the Sunday Times Rich List making him Britain's richest living painter).

 

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol, Romero Britto, Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci, Henri Matisse, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Frida Kahlo, Diego Velazquez, Raphael and Michelangelo are among Luis McDonald favorite masters of painting.

 

Luis McDonald is fluent in several languages including English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

 

McDonald has accumulated a great level of experience working in fashion while still finding time to develop what he calls his first love: painting. Both in Europe and United States he has worked for several individuals and companies including Neil Cunningham, Canali, Hugo Boss, Damiani and Saks fifth Avenue.

 

Luis McDonald is a member of the Oil Painters of America. 

    

       

        

     © Luis McDonald 2012.                                  www.luismcdonald.com