Pemaquid artist Julie Babb will showcase her paintings in an exhibit, “The Birds of Maine,” at the Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA) office gallery in downtown Damariscotta, March 2 to April 10.

The public is invited to the reception for Babb from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6.

Babb is best known for her award-winning paintings and drawings of birds. Babb painted her first bird just over 20 years ago when a friend commissioned her to paint a red-tailed hawk. It was while she was working on the friend's second commission painting goldfinches that Babb discovered gouach.

“My ultimate purpose is to portray nature's exquisite beauty as God's creation, one that continuously opens my eyes and my soul. I am in awe of it all and hope to convey that sense of wonder to viewers of my work,” Babb said.

Drawing and painting were always present in Babb's Mexico City, Mexico, childhood home — her parents and sister were artists.

Babb moved to Maine in 1962, met and married her husband Bruce that same year, and they then moved to Rochester, New York, where they lived for 30 years. While in Rochester, she took various courses focusing on classical drawing, color theory and portraiture.

When the couple moved back to Maine in 1992, Babb decided to make art a full-time career.

The artist will donate 35 percent of sales to support the PWA mission of conserving the natural resources of the Pemaquid Peninsula.

The PWA office is located at 15 Courtyard Street, above Salt Bay Café. Gallery hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 207-563-2196 or visit www.pemaquidwatershed.org.