Ralph J. McDonald

Is one of our country’s most highly respected wildlife artists. For more than twenty-five years, knowledgeable art collectors have enthusiastically collected his paintings and prints. After graduating from the Harris School of Art, McDonald worked for several years as a successful illustrator and freelance commercial artist.

Later, he decided to leave the security of commercial art and become a full time painter of wildlife and outdoor subjects. His timing was excellent as the limited edition collector market was expanding rapidly. Ralph’s wildlife art career also received a substantial boost when the Governor of Tennessee commissioned him to paint the official portrait of the state’s bird, the Mockingbird.

Over the years, Ralph, as his friends call him, has contributed to numerous conservation groups, including:

 
In 1981, Ducks Unlimited named Ralph as their National Artist of the Year, and sales for his prints at Ducks Unlimited auctions have raised millions of dollars for their organization. In 2013, Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation each selected a McDonald painting to publish as a print for their national fundraising projects. 
 

 
McDonald’s work is included in prestigious art collections throughout the US. Among his credits and accolades are:
 

 
Through the years, Ralph has created the designs for duck stamps from several states. In 1994, he was commissioned to design the Kentucky and Tennessee duck stamps.