Author: Elizabeth Gleason
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Golden Fields & Crimson Wings
An Autumn Moment by Merrill Coffin Merrill Coffin’s work has always captured the quiet poetry of rural life, and this autumn scene is no exception. In the painting done in 1995, the bold red of a male cardinal perched atop a weathered fence post draws the eye immediately. Just below,…
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Autumn Afternoon, Home
In Autumn Afternoon, Home, Merrill Coffin offers a rare glimpse into rural Americana through one of his few known paintings to feature a car. Known primarily for his vivid landscapes and portraits of small-town life, this work stands apart, both for its compositional choices and the quiet narrative it evokes.…
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Blood Bank
Jamestown Post Journal Cartoon January 22 – 1950s Editorial: “You Can’t Withdraw What is Not There” Life Giving BloodWhat other bank gives as much interest with such a small deposit?
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The Empty Stand
Merrill Coffin’s The Empty Stand captures a moment of stillness in the late autumn woods—a hauntingly beautiful scene that speaks to both the natural rhythms of wildlife and the silent presence of the hunter’s world. At the heart of the composition, a magnificent 12-point buck stands poised beside a graceful…
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A Hummingbird Summer
In Merrill Coffin’s wildlife painting created in 1992, A Hummingbird Summer , three vibrant hummingbirds dance around blooming beebalm, pausing just long enough to sip sweet nectar. Set in front of a simple white fence, the scene is alive with movement, color, and summertime stillness. Beebalm, with its spiky red…
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A Moment in the Meadow
Merrill Coffin’s wildlife painting, A Moment in the Meadow, captures a golden moment at the edge of a late-summer field. In the foreground, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds—one male, one female—rest on an old fence rail beside their weathered birdhouse. The birdhouse itself is fixed to the fence, nestled among…
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Union Soldiers in the Fight
Merrill Coffin’s “Union Soldiers in the Fight“ captures a moment of intensity and determination on the battlefield during the Civil War. The painting brings history to life, showcasing Union soldiers locked in combat, their figures partially obscured by the thick smoke of war. The composition draws the eye to the…
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Pheasants and the Milkcan
Merrill Coffin’s Pheasant and the Milkcan is a stunning composition that captures the quiet beauty of rural life. The painting transports the viewer to a golden autumn field, where time seems to slow, and nature seamlessly blends with remnants of the past. At the heart of the piece, a pheasant…
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Curious Blue Jays
Merrill Coffin’s Curious Blue Jays – A Timeless Study of Nature and Nostalgia Merrill Coffin’s Curious Blue Jays is a captivating autumnal scene that blends nature, nostalgia, and rustic charm into a single, evocative composition. This painting, exhibited at the Octagon Gallery at Patterson Library in Westfield in the 1990s,…
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Lobster Catch
Merrill Coffin’s Lobster Catch captures the quiet industry of coastal life in a beautifully detailed seascape. In this privately held painting, two lobstermen stand on a weathered stone wharf, preparing their traps for the day’s work. Beside them, a red boathouse adorned with colorful lobster markers serves as a striking…