The event was held concurrent with the Alliance’s annual expo at the Civic Center in Augusta.

The art exhibit is open to photography, sculpture and paintings; entries are judged in three categories: novice, intermediate or professional, and include oils, acrylics, mixed media, pastel, drawings and watercolor.

Babb, who competed in the professional watercolor division, was also awarded a second place rosette for her depiction of a black-throated green warbler, and a third place rosette for her painting of mallards, entitled “Not Today, Dear ... I Have a Headache.”

Babb is well-known locally for her bird and nature paintings and has won many awards for her work. Her medium is gouache, an opaque form of watercolor which lends itself well to fine detail; her paintings are extremely realistic and precise.

Babb’s art is exhibited, during the summer months, at the Pemaquid Art Gallery, Lighthouse Park; Ducktrap Bay Trading Company in Camden, and on her website www.covehousestudios.com. She is currently teaching an adult education course on gouache painting, which has been ongoing for several years.

Babb also does calligraphy and animal portraits and welcomes commissions and inquiries.