The Autumn Sentinel

Boomer  - Oil on canvas:  There are dogs who simply share our homes, and then there are dogs who share our lives. Boomer was the latter — a Springer Spaniel with a gaze that could quiet a room and a spirit that moved with equal parts devotion and mischief. In this portrait, his expressive brown eyes become the focal point, drawing the viewer into a moment of connection that feels both intimate and enduring. Painted in 2015, the piece blends realism with a softly impressionistic landscape, allowing Boomer’s presence to rise from a world of color and memory. The textured brushwork in his black‑and‑white coat reflects the tactile truth of a beloved companion, while the rolling hills and luminous sky behind him echo the joy and freedom he carried wherever he went. It is 18 x 24, 1  depth, framed in a matching floating frame. Signed Canvas or Paper Prints Available, Contact Artist for more information. mary@maryspaintings.com

Where Hope is Buried - A mother sea turtle returns to the water in the fading gold of day, her silhouette softened by the last warmth of the sun. Behind her, beneath the sand she has shaped with ancient care, rests a hidden cradle of tomorrow. She leaves no marker, no sign—only trust in the rhythm that has guided her kind for millions of years. In her slow retreat, there is both exhaustion and triumph. Every step toward the waves is a testament to endurance, to instinct older than memory, to a lineage fighting to survive in a world that grows harsher each season. All sea turtles are endangered, yet she moves with the quiet certainty of one who still believes in the possibility of return—of hatchlings rising from the sand, of small lives finding the ocean’s embrace. Specs: 24" by 18", 1.5" deep, gallery wrap style, painted sides. Signed Canvas or Paper Prints Available, Contact Artist for more information. mary@maryspaintings.com

There is a peacefulness woven through the scene, a sense that the forest itself has paused to listen. The birds’ soft colors rise against the snowy branches like small lanterns of life, each one adding its own note to the quiet harmony of winter. The holly’s red berries echo the warmth of Holiday traditions, while the muted sky carries the promise of a night filled with calm and comfort. In this painting, the season is not loud or grand — it is intimate, heartfelt, and carried gently on the wings of three tiny voices. This is 14" by 11".  Original will come in a floating frame. Signed Canvas or Paper Prints Available, Contact Artist for more information. mary@maryspaintings.com

The first whooping crane hatchling born in Louisiana since 1938 is more than a milestone; it is a breath restored to a story that nearly ended. In this triptych, the cranes move through light and marshland like living prayers, each panel holding a chapter of a species’ long journey back from silence. The tiny hatchling—once front‑page news, once unthinkable—becomes the heart of the piece, a symbol of resilience so delicate it feels almost holy. This painting doesn’t just honor the moment; it preserves the hope that rose from the marsh after eighty‑three years, reminding us that even the rarest lives can return when land, patience, and love make room for them. Celebrating the first successful hatchling of a Whooping Crane since 1938) Signed Canvas or Paper Prints Available, Contact Artist for more information. mary@maryspaintings.com