Small Works

It is that time of year again where 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". 

Big Things Are Happening

 

Pink Granite Coast, 2025 Oil on Canvas, 30"x40"

For the past 3 months I've been working larger than I usually do. In my early days, I always painted large. Once, in my little attic studio, I created one so large I couldn't get it out the door.  I had to take the canvas off the stretcher.  The other difference is due to the size, I'm painting on canvas.  It's a very different feel with the brush and application results.   The above painting came from a photo source by Copper Giloth.  She was on the Cote de Granite Rose in Northern Brittany.  I was intrigued by the geometric forms, the deep distance and the color.  

Cranberry Harvest #9, 2025, Oil on Canvas 30"x40"

Cranberry Harvest #9 remains unfinished.  I'm not satisfied with the texture or size of the large red swath.  I may pull some more water across it.  Maybe take one of the two blue shapes in the upper left and run in diagonally across.  Stay tuned.

Cranberry Harvest #10, Oil on Canvas , 20"x60"

This is a bog in Duxbury, MA that Wayne photographed years ago.  I'm going to see if I can locate it.  This is session #9 so about20 hours.  I'm working from the far ground to the near ground.  

A Year of Loss, Addition, and Change

Wayne LaGue, husband extraordinaire

I've been in a state of flux since April 2024. It was my house critic's 78th birthday 3 days ago on March 17. Only he wasn't here to celebrate. You see, a glioblastoma took him suddenly and with little warning November 1, 2024. It's a horrible way to die for anyone. But, particularly horrifying for Wayne (yes, that's him) who had the brain of a genius and the heart of a virtuous person. I miss his insightful observations of my painting, also his laughter, endless smiling, unwavering love, generosity. If you are so inclined, you may read more about him.

Augustus Buckminster & Lion DeLovely LaGue

Gus & Leo never got to meet Wayne.  They have not and never will supplant his place in my life. However, they do make me smile again. They arrived in my home December 2024 as 4 month old brothers.  Shy at first they now follow me around demanding a lot of hugs and staring at me like I'm their goddess. Leo particularly enjoys the studio while I paint. Perhaps he will become a house critic someday.

While I wasn't in the studio for 8 months, I did return after Christmas for a couple of hours a day. I completed this one from a photograph by my dear friend and collector Brian. 

Winter Harbor #1, 2025 Oil on panel 12" x 12"

Currently I'm working on this very large (for me) piece of the Pink Granite Coast in Brittany. My friend Copper lives in France part time and generously shared a photo I'm working from. This is from working session #30. 

Pink Granit Coast, oil on canvas, 30" x 40"

Large is currently good for me now because.......bad news I fell on black ice and broke my shoulder February 13.  Good news?, it is my left shoulder and no surgery required, just physical therapy. I can paint!  I am in a sling until possibly May 8. More good news!  I have been invited to and included in a newly formed collective of artists.  Our home is located in the new Kettle Black Gallery, New Bedford, MA.  

L-R Robin Nunes, Butch McCarthy, Christy Gunnels, 
Joan DeCollibus, Kim Barry, David Walega

I invite you to share along on Instagram
KBG