09/07/2026
Art I ❤️: Mary Jean Ruhnke
“Leafy Lullaby: Sleeping in Nature’s Embrace” was created during a season of motherhood that felt especially heavy for me.
At the time, my son was in pre-k4 and undergoing testing for behavioral concerns. I carried so many questions, worries, and emotions quietly, and often felt very alone with them.
Painting these peaceful, sleeping animals became a way for me to soften my own anxiety while continuing to pour love into him. I began hiding his little toys throughout the scenery. They are tiny pieces of his then world tucked among the leaves, creatures, and foliage.
There was something comforting about preserving that moment in his childhood inside a painting. Almost as if I could hold that season gently, instead of only remembering how difficult it felt.
When I look at this work now, I don’t just see sleeping animals. I see my son. I see the little boy he was. And I see a mother trying to create peace around something she couldn’t yet understand.
Limited edition prints are available for this comforting work. 🧡 (link below)
https://maryjeanruhnke.com/products/leafy-lullaby-sleeping-in-natures-embrace-limited-edition-fine-art-print?_pos=1&_sid=6eddfe82b&_ss=r