HINTERLAND: The Sketch, The Study, The Painting | New Paintings from Philip Craig

Loch Gallery is delighted to present HINTERLAND, a new collection of paintings by Philip Craig. In this exhibition, Philip looks at the often-overlooked places beyond the edges of the everyday. These are in-between spaces—where roads fade out, nature takes over, and where we find room to pause and reflect.

Here, Philip turns his focus to the wilderness in and around Algonquin Park, and for the first time he invites us to witness the evolution of a painting. HINTERLAND brings together the entirety of Philip’s artistic process—from his initial field sketches to small exploratory oil studies, and finally to his large-scale paintings. Through each of these steps, Philip reflects on a deep engagement with the land:

I have always been inspired by the beauty and strength of the Canadian landscape. This exhibition showcases work begun in the areas where I camp and hike—here I witness the changing seasons, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Canadian Shield, where towering pines have their roots firmly planted.

When I round a bend in the trail and see a magnificent rock face reflected in a cool lake, I will do a quick sketch in acrylic on paper to capture the impression immediately. Without dwelling on the scene, I add it to a collection of sketches to sort through later. The sketches that stand out then inspire a small study in oil, and though loose, these studies contain enough detail to potentially unfold onto a much larger canvas.

Each of these compositions begins to inform the others, and eventually a cohesive body of work emerges; it describes my experiences in the forest, feeling the air and smelling the fragrance of pine needles warming in the sun.

HINTERLANDS is about more than just a place—it’s about slowing down, paying attention, and finding meaning in the spaces that often go unnoticed amongst the beauty of the Canadian landscape.