Christopher Gurshin, an exceptionally talented self-taught artist, was raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a town rich in tradition, history, and classic architecture that greatly influenced him to capture a unique "old" New England style of primitive painting. In 1966 he moved to nearby Essex, another old town famous for its shipbuilding heritage, and established "The Yankee House," a business specializing in old tavern signs, paintings on wood depicting country and coastal scenes, decorated old furniture, and mural paintings. After a short time, the name was changed to "Christopher Gurshin," but the shop still had the feel of an old country store, complete with penny candy.

Since 1972, he has resided in Newburyport, a town also bountiful with historical landmarks, beauty, and history. Throughout this time, he has created many paintings on canvas, watercolors, reverse paintings on glass, old tins, furniture and wood pieces of his own design, pen and ink drawings, and many pencil drawings of the area that have been produced into note cards, prints, calendars, and books.

In 1975, he was asked by the United States Information Agency to create a collection of tavern signs representative of our country's heritage. These were part of a display in different embassies around the world for the Bicentennial in 1976. In 1986, he had the honor of being commissioned to paint two Easter eggs for the White House, which are now in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Christopher Gurshin has also done several full color prints and posters, including "Boston Here and There", "The House of Seven Gables", "Shelburne Museum", "Old Sturbridge Village", "Longfellow's Wayside Inn", "Newburyport Today", and numerous other posters, cards, and prints. Today he is best known for his distinctive style of primitive painting, inspired from his interest in Rufus Porter. Quoted from Mimi Handler, editor of Early American Homes, as having an "inimitable" style, a recent painting "September Bees and Frolics" was commissioned for the October 1998 issue.

The art studio & gallery of Christopher Gurshin, built by Country Carpenters, Hebron, Connecticut.

1313 Main Street
"Near the Old Cider Mill"
Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033

Murals, art services and accent pieces that bring warmth to your country home since 1966.
For an appointment, please call
(860) 633-7707

Christopher can also be reached by email at chris@christophergurshin.com.