Gary Akers will present his annual exhibition featuring a collection of breathtaking new paintings in watercolor and egg tempera at the Green Schoolhouse Gallery, a restored one-room Finnish school located two miles down the St. George Peninsula on Route 131 South (414 St. George Road).

One of America 's foremost contemporary realist, Akers is recognized for his expertise in watercolor, drybrush, and egg tempera. The Kentucky-born artist's subjects include the rural and coastal landscape, as well as still life's. Akers is particularly known for his highly-worked egg temperas.

Akers has been awarded numerous awards, including the American Watercolor Society, the oldest (founded in 1866) and most prestigious in America, of which he is a signature member. Akers' watercolor "Days Gone By " has been accepted for the 150th annual International Exhibition of he American Watercolor Society. The artist has been painting in Maine every summer since he received an international grant in 1976 (only four awarded worldwide) from the Greenshields Foundation of Montreal to further his egg tempera work.

Gary Akers' work has been included in the collection of the White House, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ogunquit Art Museum, the Owensboro Museum of Art, the Ross Collection New York City,  Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, United States Embassy Bamako, Jamie Wyeth, and Christina Baker Cline. Akers has exhibited at many museums including the National Academy of Design, the Frye Museum of Art, the Asheville Art Museum, the Speed Museum, Canton Art Institute, Yeiser Art Center, the Artist of America Exhibition and the Great American Artist Exhibition.

Two major books of Akers' art have been published, each with images of over 100 of his paintings: "Kentucky: Land of Beauty " and "Memories of Maine".  Over the past two decades, Akers has been featured in many books and periodicals including The Art of Watercolour an international publication from Paris, France, Fine Art Connoisseur,  American Artist, American Art Collector and Maine Home + Design.

Akers alternates his residence and studio between bluegrass Kentucky and a private Island in Maine.  For more information or for appointments to visit the Green Schoolhouse Gallery call (859) 250-0278.