Questions & Artists: Lynn Dunbar

“Right Turn” by Lynn Dunbar.

I found Lynn Dunbar while looking at the work of some of the invited artists in last year’s Door County Plein Air Festival. I was drawn to her work because of it being, as she says, “a bit off-kilter.” As she described it: she, in her own way, captures the subject with a looseness that many painters never achieve.

Her awards are too numerous to mention. This gifted painter has work that is a fusion of a great understanding of color and light combined with a love of the subject – a great combination. Her work can be viewed at Dunbar-Art.com.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): Lynn, your paintings are distinctive in several ways. How would you describe your work?

Lynn Dunbar (LD): I have two series of work: plein air, where I use color and composition to capture the sunlight and a feeling of the sense of time of day. I am often drawn to subjects that give me the sense of home. I grew up in Northern Indiana near Lake Michigan and Deep River, and living in Louisville now, I am attracted to the Ohio River. I also like painting old sheds behind people’s homes, alleys and front door entryways. Lately I’ve been going out on the street near my home and painting Frankfort Avenue. I love the feeling of familiarity. My other series of studio work includes aerials taken from photography that I have taken. I charter a plane and pilot, and go out at different times of the day and different seasons looking for abstract shapes in the landscape. I love the twisty-turny Ohio River. I love the pattern of farms on the land.

RR: Which do you enjoy most?

LD: Golly, I enjoy both. Plein air feeds the studio work. If I didn’t study how light transforms objects in plein air, I wouldn’t be able to transfer this to my studio work.

RR: Growing up, when did you know you were going to be an artist?

LD: Well, I was an artist at an early age. In fifth grade I drew caricatures of kids and teachers. My friends enjoyed these. My parents wanted me to do something to support myself, so I went into graphic art/visual design at Purdue University. I used to watch Bewitched and wanted a job like Darrin Stevens. I wanted to walk down the streets in Chicago with my briefcase in hand, designing literature and advertisements. I can say, “Been there, done that.” Next I thought I’d try a master’s in art therapy and enrolled in a prerequisite painting class at University of Louisville. I got lost in painting, and here I am!

RR: Was oil always your medium?

LD: I started painting in oil and never left it, although I envy pastel artists with their wide array of colors. One of the things I enjoy most about oil is its smearability, the fun of mixing colors, and being able to apply thick paint.

RR: I was fascinated to see you took workshops with the great Wolf Kahn. Is there something specific you remember about his teaching?

“Old Shed, Crabbs Lane” by Lynn Dunbar.

LD: Wolf Kahn was a real character and I think everyone knows that. One of the best things he told me was to paint the same thing over and over, and to try to think of new ways to paint it. He is unafraid of color and I admire that. A barn is not brown or grey; in his eyes it can be purple or green. I remember that best, and drinking Long Trail beer.

RR: How did you start doing aerial paintings?

LD: I was chosen to work on the first Painting Indiana book published by Indiana University Press. We were painting subjects to do with all aspects of agriculture. Someone mentioned an aerial view and I took off on that idea, gathering photographic information on the flooding of fertile land near the river and the transportation of grain in barges.

RR: When I looked at some of the aerial paintings, I realized I was looking at beautiful abstract work. The closer I came to the computer screen the more reality appeared. Very interesting.

LD: The first thing I am draw to in a painting of any size is the abstract shape. My paintings usually look good at a distance, and the closer you get, you can see they are pieces of paint.

RR: What colors are currently on your palette?

LD: I just tried Gamblin Brown Pink. I sometimes experiment with color and this is my latest. My palette includes Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Naphthol Red, Light Red, Alizaron, Hazy Blue, Black, Red, Naples Yellow and Titanium White.

RR: You were an invited artist to the Peninsula Art School Plein Air Festival last year. Did you enjoy your time in Door County?

LD: Loved it! The people are so friendly, the artists are a hoot, the landscape is beautiful, and the sales are good!

RR: Living and painting in Door County, I know there is a plethora of wonderful places to paint. Did you find one site that was especially memorable?

“Winter’s Light” by Lynn Dunbar.

LD: Peninsula State Park. Great scenic views of coastal towns in the morning and great sunsets over Lake Michigan. Plus I got to hike a bunch! Next time I return to the paint-out, I’ve found some killer cottages to paint.

RR: What can a student expect attending a Lynn Dunbar workshop?

LD: I take a lot of information, digest it, put it into charts and easy-to-understand teaching aids. I have my students do an exercise, watch a slideshow, and then we go out and plein air paint. My workshops specialize in one aspect of painting. I do not try to cover everything in a workshop. My students have some experience painting, as I try to really further their knowledge. One workshop may be on aerial perspective, and another on painting water.