Porter McDonald captures January’s route

Each month of Remix, Cyclovia collaborates with a local artist to create a collectible sticker representing the focus route. For January, designers were challenged to create something that showcases the sights, sounds and vibes of a jam-packed route through the heart of central Tucson—Green at the Core.

Cada mes de Remix, Cyclovia colabora con un artista local para crear una calcomanía coleccionable que representa el camino del enfoque. Para enero, los diseñadores tuvieron el desafío de crear algo que muestre las vistas, los sonidos y las vibras de una ruta por el centro de Tucson—su Corazón Verde.

Learn more about this month’s sticker designer, local muralist and artist Porter McDonald, in his own words.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started doing local murals.

I began my artistic career in photography, videography and editing. It was fun, but I eventually burned out staring at a computer monitor for hours on end. I wanted to work with a more tangible medium, so I started painting. And my paintings grew larger and larger. There is something so wonderful about painting BIG! It’s very physical. It involves your whole body which is very satisfying to me. In addition, painting murals gets me out of the studio, away from the computer, and into the fresh air. 

What are your favorite things about being an artist in Tucson?

Tucson has such a rich history and vibrant personality. There’s no city like it! Tucson celebrates its diversity and unique character. I’m proud to call Tucson home and honored that I can add my images to its story.

What was your inspiration for this sticker?

For the past several years, getting outside and into the mountains or the desert has been instrumental to my mental health. The reflective silence, the endless vistas have a way of recalibrating my soul. When I create a piece of art, I want my viewers to experience the same feeling of peace, of awe that I get when I’m out in the wilderness.

I really was excited by the theme of this Cyclovia route, “Green to the Core.” While I’ve been making a lot of art about the natural spaces outside Tucson, I was reminded of those places within our city that can create the same feelings of beauty and quietude, and they’re just a bike ride away!

What are some of your favorite spots in the central Tucson/route area?

This is a great route! You have the Botanical Gardens, the Zen Garden, Watershed Management and The Loft. So much to see and do. I think all of these places are perfect for not only quiet contemplation, but also connecting with other voices and learning to see the world from a new perspective.

Can you describe your graphic design process, in general?

Most of my work is done while doing something else…washing dishes, brushing my teeth, walking the dog! Those automatic, repetitive, and routine actions allow my mind to work through creative puzzles. Once I start sketching, whether on paper or digitally, I usually have a pretty good idea of what I’m going to make. For this sticker, I really wanted to give a little shout out to the work of the 19th century Japanese printmaker, Hokusai. The butterflies are directly from one of his prints!

What exciting projects do you have in the works?

In February, I will be painting a new mural at Broadway and Tucson. I’m really excited about this one, as it playfully looks at all the change happening in the city. And I get to paint javelinas! I’m also, as always, hard at work on a new batch of prints. The next one will be of Picacho Peak!

*You can be a part of McDonald’s next mural at the Cyclovia Remix Group Bike Ride and Sunshine Mile Painting Party on February 19th!

Porter rides a skateboard down a dirt road, pulled along by his running white dog.

Porter completed an undergraduate degree in Studio Art in 1997 at the University of Arizona, and upon graduating, moved to New York City to work in film and television. But, alas, the desert lured him back, and since settling here again in 2005 he has worked as an artist and educator ever since. Over the last decade, he has created a myriad of murals both in Tucson and in Ajo. He is especially proud of the one in the neighborhood of Pueblo Gardens for which he was awarded the Mayor’s Community Service Award. More recently, Porter has been creating block prints inspired by the many camping and hiking trips out into the Sonoran Desert with his family, his dog, and his skateboard.