Judy Nixon’s gouache painting “Grace” can be viewed at the Pemaquid Art Gallery.

At the Pemaquid Art Gallery, in New Harbor two artists will be showing their works in watercolor media, in particular, the opaque medium known as gouache. Known for its ability to show fine detail, gouache is frequently employed to depict complex subjects such as birds and other animals. Yet both artists go beyond the descriptive and show their artistic skill in composition and backgrounds.

Judy Nixon, from Bristol, is particularly inspired by the landscapes of her home peninsula and nearby Monhegan Island. She works in transparent watercolor, as well as the opaque gouache and acrylic media. She feels a personal connection to her subjects, which may be “an iconic landmark, or the creatures or flowers in her own yard.” Currently she is working on seascapes, flowers, and “critters.”

Nixon’s light-filled and colorful interpretations are seen on calendars and note cards as well as paintings and prints. After a career as an accountant, her creativity has been able to blossom since moving to Maine almost 20 years ago. Her work is frequently seen in area venues including local banks, libraries and non-profits. This spring she was awarded first place in watercolor at the Topsham Library, and several awards at the Maine Sportsman Art Show in Tenants Harbor. Her work can also be seen at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation gallery in Boothbay Harbor and River Arts, Damariscotta.

“Yellow Shafted Flicker” by Julie Babb is representative of her highly skilled and detailed bird portraits.

Julie Babb is well-known in the area for her highly skilled and detailed bird portraits in gouache, which include the backgrounds where the birds are frequently found. Scratchboard is another technique she frequently employs, which allows for detail in white lines against a black background. After early years living in Mexico, and receiving her first art instruction during college years there, she moved to Maine in 1962 and attended the University of Maine at Orono. She and her husband moved to Rochester, NY where she acquired five years of art education. Returning to Maine in 1992, she continued to study drawing and painting, including home study in ornithology. 

Babb has received numerous awards, particularly from the Maine Sportsman’s Alliance Wildlife Art Shows. Her work is frequently seen at River Arts shows in Damariscotta and the Boothbay Regional Art Foundation gallery, among other places. She is also an art instructor with experience dating from 1995, including continuous Adult Education classes for School Union 74 since 1999. Babb’s designs have been featured in many publications and on note cards. Her work can also be seen at Bayview Gallery, Brunswick and online at www.covehousestudios.com.

The 2019 exhibiting members of the Pemaquid Group of Artists include: 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, Judy Nixon, Belva Ann Prycel, Paul Sherman, Cindy Spencer, Liliana Thelander, Barbara Vanderbilt, Bob Vaughan, Steve Viega and Bev Walker and guest artists, Kimberly Traina and John Butke.

The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Columbus Day. For more information, please call 207-677-2752 or visit www.pemaquidartgallery.com.