The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery will feature paintings by Julia Nichols and Annette Lavallee through the month of November. The gallery is located at 60 High Street in Lewiston, the main entrance to Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC).
Nichols (pictured) draws her inspiration from the beauty of quiet places, especially in the woods and marshes of Yarmouth, Freeport, and Acadia National Park, where paints on location. Her passion for painting led her to leave the paper industry after 24 years to paint full-time. Nichols is a member of the Sebascodegan Artists Gallery in Harpswell.
“I choose to work in oils because the feel of the paint is a big part of the whole experience. It’s a process involving all the senses and I like to compare it to playing with your food. I hope that all the things I feel, smell, and hear while outside painting are available to anyone who looks at my work,” said Nichols of her art.
Lavallee, a long-time Auburn resident, chose to venture back to the “art world” upon her retirement. She enjoys exploring and using much of today’s new technology. The recipient of three “Best in Show” awards for her work and multiple other accolades, Lavallee is also proud of her commercial work. Her current paintings feature watercolors and acrylic on canvas.
“I want to dedicate this show to all of my family who supported and believed in me. The future will be filled with my art and my family. I am a very blessed woman,” said Lavallee.
The artists’ work may be purchased through the WHA Gift Shop, located adjacent to the main lobby at Central Maine Medical Center. A percentage of sale proceeds benefits CMMC.
