Reflecting his fascination with the human condition, MacDonald has often turned to the subject of the human form as an expression of the physical and spiritual nature of existence. Athletes, in particular, have provided the focus for MacDonald’s art, as the mental discipline and physical endurance necessary to attaining athletic excellence together exemplify the most ideal aspects of human endeavor. Latim embodies the taut, perfectly defined musculature of the nude model and reveals a degree of strength and coordination that can only be achieved through perseverance and sense of purpose. Such discipline represents, for MacDonald, the excellence of the human spirit.
In the early 1990's, Richard MacDonald created a series of works based on an African American model named Latim. Visceral in nature, the Latim reveals the personality of the subject and communicates subtle emotional cues adding greater dimension to the work.