This month’s exhibition by Susan Dunlop at the Art Gallery of Bancroft features familiar scenes from North Hastings and West Renfrew counties.
Dunlop, originally from Scotland, came to Canada 37 years ago and worked as a designer in Toronto, before escaping in 2002 to the scenery of rural Ontario.
Dunlop notes she had troubles finding a consistent genre or subject matter before, but was inspired by the natural beauty of the area after relocating to Boulter.
“When I came up here, the landscape was so fabulous that I could not not paint,” she said.
Dunlop said a lot of her work could serve as a tour of highway 517, which runs from Fosters Lake to Combermere, and is one of her favourite roads in the world to explore and admire the landscape.
Going Round the Bend is Dunlop’s third exhibition with the gallery.
The name comes from both the winding roads of the area, and from the experience of cabin fever during pandemic lockdowns, during which much of the work was created.
Dunlop uses oil paints on black canvas as her medium, and uses a palette knife for application.
“I use the palette knife to apply everything, I don’t use brushes at all. It makes for a very clean application,” she said.
She said she uses a limited palette, but is able to get a broad spectrum of colours out of it.
“It’s mostly the light that inspires me. Each scene can be totally different every single day, and every day of the year. It provides a great opportunity to find continuous inspiration.”
The exhibition runs until June 27.
