During the 90th season of the Pemaquid Art Gallery, visitors will be pleased to see the return of two accomplished area painters, Liliana Thelander of Bristol and Julie Babb of Damariscotta. Both are interested in closely observed subjects interpreted with precision. While Babb records birds in their environments and botanical studies, Thelander enjoys painting birds and various animals among other subjects.
Liliana Thelander, who describes herself as a contemporary realist painter, has been inspired in part by Maine realist artist John Whalley, and by Australian painter Colley Whisson. Their influence is seen in her skilled paintings of seascapes, boats, birds and pet portraits.
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Thelander first worked in stained glass, but soon discovered her ability to draw, which led to classes in painting and now a successful career in painting with oils and occasionally acrylics. Although she has been primarily a studio painter, she has begun painting more on location and finds it compelling.
She is represented by Mast Cove Galleries, Kennebunkport, Lincolnville Fine Art and the Landing Gallery, Rockland. Her work also may be seen at Gifts at 136, Damariscotta, and on her website, www.lilianathelander.com.
Julie Babb has studied ornithology as well as photographing birds to insure that her bird portraits are accurate as well as beautiful. Like Thelander, her native talent in drawing enables her to finely render the birds as well as the botanical studies that form their natural environment.
Babb utilizes the tools familiar to such famous naturalist artists as Robert Bateman and Raymond Harris Ching to achieve her stunning effects. Opaque watercolor, or gouache, is her primary medium, but she also works with pen and ink, pencil/graphite, and on scratchboard. She is working on a new portrait of a young song sparrow framed by golden ash leaves in winter.
She has been an art instructor, author and illustrator, and has received many awards for her bird portraits and botanical studies. Babb is also a skilled calligrapher. Her work also may be seen at Ducktrap Bay Trading Company in Camden, Bayview Gallery, Brunswick, the River Gallery, Damariscotta, and online at www.covehousestudios.com.
Visit the Pemaquid Gallery of Art this season to see the work of the following member artists: Barbara Applegate, Debra Arter, Bruce Babb, Julie Babb, Stephen Busch, Midge Coleman, Trudi Curtis, William Curtis, Dianne Dolan, Peggy Farrell, Sarah Fisher, Bill Hallett, Claire Hancock, Kay Sawyer Hannah, Kathleen Horst, Hannah Ineson, Will Kefauver, Jan Kilburn, Barbara Klein, Patti Leavitt, Sally Loughridge, Marlene Loznicka, Nancy MacKinnon, Judy Nixon, Paul Sherman, Cindy Spencer, Liliana Thelander, Ernest Thompson, Bob Vaughan, Steve Viega, Bev Walker, and guest artist Jane Bowman.
Artists all reside within the Lincoln County area. The Gallery is situated within Lighthouse Park at Pemaquid Point, Bristol and online at www.pemaquidartgallery.com. The gallery is open daily through Columbus Day, from 10 AM until 5 PM.
Dominique Ostuni’s solo exhibition, “Would an Angel Apologize for Spilling Champagne,” is on view through Oct. 3 at Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland. A centerpiece of the exhibition is “Excess Comes Naturally,” an elaborate mirror standing more than 8 feet tall. The work begins with an ordinary functional object, then overwhelms that function with porcelain, […]
Waterfall Arts will invite the public inside more than 40 artist studios during the Lincoln Street Center Fall Open Studios from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at 24 Lincoln St. in Rockland. During the free event, artists will open their studios and welcome visitors into their creative spaces. Guests can explore Rockland’s historic former […]
“Made in Maine,” the Maine Art Gallery’s annual member show, features more than 100 works of art across two floors of the historic Old Academy building in Wiscasset. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 18. Sara Stites of Thomaston, a new member, is showing at the gallery for the first time. Her oil painting […]
High Peaks Artisan Guild in Kingfield features Western Maine watercolor artist Karen Jordan Paul throughout September. Paul draws inspiration from wildlife found throughout Maine, particularly wild birds and fish. The guild celebrated Paul as its featured artist of the month during the Sept. 4 Kingfield Art Walk. High Peaks Artisan Guild is at 245 Main […]
Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle presents “Material Storytelling,” a three-artist exhibition featuring new work by Sheep Jones, Michele Ratté Delphin and Barbara Sullivan, through Oct. 11. The three artists use distinct materials and techniques to explore narrative, light and the quiet poetry of everyday objects. Jones brings her signature combination of oil and cold wax […]
Photographer Melonie Bennett will discuss her exhibition and debut monograph, “Holy Cow!,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland. The event will include an interview, reading and book signing. Photographer and writer Robert Diamante, a friend and fellow photographer, will interview Bennett. “Holy Cow!” presents an […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in downtown Bath will open its fall show during the Bath Art Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18. The gallery represents 20 local artists and will feature new work in its fall exhibition. Visitors can meet the artists, explore the show and enjoy refreshments during the reception. Centre Street […]
Maine artist Daryne Rockett will present “Restoring Liberty,” an exhibition of monotypes and mixed-media work, from Oct. 2 to Nov. 24 at the McDade Gallery at Bangor Public Library. The exhibition brings together two interconnected bodies of work examining freedom, democracy, justice and hope. In a series of layered monotypes, the Statue of Liberty appears […]
Maine Craft Weekend, an annual statewide celebration of craft, community and creativity, will return Oct. 3 and 4. The free, self-guided tour invites visitors to discover the people, places and stories behind Maine’s craft communities. Hundreds of participating artists and locations will host open studios, workshops, pop-up markets, exhibitions, fairs, artist talks, special events and […]