Commissions Completed

Commissions are often fulfilling when the recipient is surprised and delighted.  Two of these works were commissioned as gifts and surprises.  One was a self-commission for a wedding gift.  

Matthew and Norberto, June 2025, oil on panel, 12" x 12"

My friend Matthew and his fiancé, Norberto, married this summer in a beautiful outdoor setting.  Matthew is a landscaper with an art degree that definitely shows in his gardens.  When I offered to create a painting as a wedding gift, he was delighted and helped with the subject.  He wanted a honey bee and a snake set among greenery.  The bee is Matthew and represents his work with plants.  The snake represents Nor (I have no idea why and will not ask).  

Winnie Kate, 2025, Oil on Panel, 14" x 11"

My brother, John Ed, is close and dear friend's with his Pastor and family.  They tragically lost their daughter, Winnie Kate, when she was 6 to an unexpected asthma attack.  Because he loves that family so, he asked if I would paint a portrait of Winnie for them as a surprise..  I was happy to.  But, warned him that working from a photograph of someone I never knew creates problems with the likeness.  I looked at several on line.  Of course, each one was just a bit different in the eyes, in the smile.  I ask JE to please let them know this was meant to be an impression of Winnie's spirit.  When JE and Cindy (JE's wife) gifted the painting is was received with surprise and delight.  A few weeks later, Winnie's mom called to thank me and express her great gratitude.  That call was all I needed.  

Karen and Mark, 2025, oil on panel, 16" x 20"

My cousin, Karen Friedlander, a jeweler, asked me to paint two crows that would represent her and her husband, Mark.  Mark loves crows, admires my paintings of crows and once remarked to Karen, "crows mate for life."  From that she embraced the idea that the crows would symbolize their life of dedicated and committed love.  It was fun working with Karen as she chose the crows and their pectoral relationship. This was a surprise Christmas gift for Mark.  If you look closed below the crow's beak on the left, you will see an indication of a piece of Karen's jewelry.  

Small Works

It is that time of year again when an oil painter must begin Holiday Works in September.  Here are what are ready for the galleries.  Please enjoy and if interested before they hit the galleries find them on my website at christygunnels.com.  

Cranberry Bog Redux

Cranberry Bog #10B

Perhaps you remember this painting from an earlier post. Well this is her little sister. The initial painting, #10, was 20"x60". This baby is 12"x36". I had planned to submit #10 to a juried show at Copley. However, the prospectus asked artists to be considerate of others and not submit something very large. Since it was already a problem getting #10 in my car, I decided to paint this smaller version. As it turned out it was an interesting exercise in duplication.  AND, I plan to use #10 in a summer 2026 invitational show at The Marion Art Center. 

I am also working on 2 commissions which I cannot post because they are gifts.  

 

Mama's Spools

 

Mama's Spools, 2025, Oil on Cradled Panel, 5"x5"

Whenever I finish a piece and photograph it, I see things I would correct.  In this piece the top of the red spool is too big.  And the top of the center yellow spool is lopsided.  So...I will fix that but not post here again.  This subject is among those I mentioned in the last blog as an idea for the Marion Art Center show in May.  I like the idea of vintage objects arousing feelings of nostalgia and memories.  This reminds me of my Mama and how she would sew and mend my clothes.  The are in fact her spools.  

Ibis

 

Ibis, 2025, oil on cradled panel, 20"x30"

This is off to a new home as soon as it drys enough to oil out.  It was a good exercise in working with whites and a somewhat unclear photograph.  The manner in which the photo captured the tail looks odd to me.  But, I don't know the Ibis.  

I've been invited to be a part of a 2 person show at The Marion Art Center around May 2026.  It's undetermined yet the guidelines for the show.  If it is thematic I may either do small works of vintage toys. Or, large pieces of cranberry bogs.  Whatever, I need to get busy.  

Commissions

 I have been approached to complete three commissions. All of them are of birds.  The first is of an Ibis requested from a former client who has a home in Florida.  For some time she has wanted a painting of a Florida bird.  A friend took a photo that she loved and asked if I would paint it.  

Ibis, 16"x20" Oil on Panel

As evident, I changed the background.  I plan to emphasize the clouds more.  My difficulty working with white is its transparency.  It takes may applications to create the bright white.  By then I have built up brush strokes that then interfere with the brightness.  Almost done with this.  Just a bit of refining.  

The other 2 commissions are one of a pair of crows and one of a nuthatch.  Crows are next.

Weeks of Work

 

Cranberry Bog Harvest #10, 2025 Oil on Canvas, 20"x 60"

I completed this about 6 weeks ago.  It entailed great creative energy using my entire arm.  Reds are particularly challenging. One really needs to by the particular chroma.  Mixing only results in pinks, dull oranges or purples.  Of course, I'm only speaking of myself.  I tend to have bright red bogs when in fact they are more cranberry.  😂. As I wrote earlier this bog is in Duxbury, MA.  Fellow Duxbury folk were in the studio and recognized the bog and its location.  

Once finished with the above, I moved immediately back to small works.  I'm preparing for a show at Copley Society, Tandem.   The show is using a new approach to hanging works in which the works will be grouped in hopes that the similar subject matter will create interest.  

The works are 2 inches deep for shelves and 5"x5"

The works below are for the same show and are7/8" deep and also 5"x5".