Category: Wildlife
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Loon and The Loonlet
In his later years, Merrill Coffin’s eyesight began to fade, but his passion for painting never dimmed. Loon and Loonlet is a poignant example of this period—less detailed than his earlier wildlife portraits, yet filled with warmth, balance, and emotional depth. The scene is set in a quiet inlet surrounded by towering…
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Portrait of the Quail
Among the many wildlife portraits painted by Merrill Coffin, one stands out for its quiet grace—a quail perched confidently on a weathered log. Behind the bird, soft hills dissolve into a light grey horizon, offering a muted backdrop that places full attention on the subject. The quail’s plumage, rendered in…
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Autumn Sentinel
In this portrait, Merrill Coffin captures the quiet dignity of a quail poised atop a fallen tree. Against a backdrop of golden fields and distant trees fading into a pale white sky, the bird embodies both resilience and stillness. The earthy tones of its plumage blend seamlessly with the autumnal…
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Loons on Lady Evelyn
Among Merrill Coffin’s many artistic works, his wildlife paintings hold a special place for their ability to capture both the essence of nature and the memories tied to beloved places. Loons on Lady Evelyn is one such piece—a tranquil yet vibrant scene inspired by his annual fishing trips to Lady…
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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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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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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,…