The Knife's Edge

Actor, artist and adrenaline junkie Michael McGrady finds balance in the drama of paint.

- GINA TEICHERT

Michael McGrady is known for playing intense roles-sometimes on both sides of the law-in series like Ray Donovan and Southland. Perhaps you wouldn't imagine a tough TV cop painting landscapes on his day off, but the multitalented artist isn't easily pinned down.

"I'm a hang glider pilot. I love to ride my Harley. As an actor, you're called up and when they say action, you've gotta bring it. There's no safety net," says McGrady, drawing an analogy between the directness of his paintings and his other adrenaline sports. When you're sharing a scene with a major star, they're "bringing their A game" and you better too, he says. "There are hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake every minute on set. And I love living on that edge. That's me. That is what I'm all about," McGrady adds.

While he has explored many art forms over the years, McGrady's mature paintings are as much about immediacy and action as they are about the image itself. "I try to do one swipe and if it serves the purpose, I move on. I don't noodle. You can't noodle with a knife," he says.

The approach suits him. "Any time I've tried to use my intellect to paint, I find myself getting caught up in details and then I get frustrated," McGrady continues, noting his appreciation for the deftly rendered work of artists Jeremy Lipking and Mark Maggiori. "I just finally realized, you know, just go with who you are. You're not a guy who's going to get all detailed. You don't do jigsaw puzzles," he laughs.