Sitting in an art studio alone with a wood panel placed in front of him, Cord McMahon shuffles through the many ideas he has for his upcoming senior art show.

McMahon grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and wasn’t always sure that art was going to be his career.

As a child, McMahon said he enjoyed art because it made everything fun for him. As he progressed into elementary school, art started becoming less and less important to him as his interest in other subjects grew.

McMahon’s artwork on display. Photo by: Katie Anderson

Once he got to middle school, his art teacher, Mrs. Zosulis, brought back his passion for art. She helped him realize it was an escape from other things going on in the world.

McMahon started his college journey at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. After graduating from ICCC, he and his girlfriend moved to Des Moines, where McMahon is continuing his education at Grand View.

After a semester at Grand View as an art education major, McMahon realized working with children wasn’t going to be his forever job.

He then switched his major to studio arts. Where he is aware that finding a job might be difficult, but he is ready to climb the ladder.

All senior art major students are assigned to create a final show of their artwork. The only requirement they have is to have an all-around theme. McMahon works at a local veterinary clinic, so he has grown to love dogs, and chose them as his theme for his art show. His black and white screen prints are dogs that he sees every day at the clinic.

The rest of his pieces are wooden panels with pictures of dogs on them from various resources. McMahon has taken paper from magazines, books and scrapbooks and incorporated them into his pieces.

One of his favorites is a piece that describes him and his girlfriend in their new home. He took a photo of a couple from an old book and a photo of a Great Dane, representing a dog that they rescued.

McMahon’s show will be December 2 at 4 p.m. in Rasmussen; his collection will be displayed on the first-floor art gallery on the diagonal wall.

A few of McMahon’s art pieces. Photo by: Katie Anderson

The black and white screen printings will be the main focus of his show because he has such a strong connection with them.

After graduation in the fall, McMahon plans on working in the Des Moines Art Festival as an upcoming artist. While doing these shows, he will use the money to produce more work so he can do more shows.