Just another day in Ogunquit.
The headline: A large percentage of New England’s most talented plein air painters (along with an equally large group of passionate amateurs) descend on one of the most picturesque towns in America and proceed to paint almost every inch of the breathtaking scenery – all on the same day!
Perkins Cove. It was here, more than a century ago, when an endless array of artists from far and wide first began to set up their easels, perpetuating a tradition that has left an indelible mark on the town’s artistic legacy. It’s a place where the tidal seethe, the effervescence of waves, the creak of boats, the craggy shoreline, and the weather-tinged luminosity have long danced in harmony with the artist’s brush.
RELATED: We have an image gallery with TONS of photos of the 3rd Annual Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event lower down on this page. These photos were all taken by Ashlee Medina of Rising Tide Photography. Be sure to click through and follow the Rising Tide Photography page on Facebook – and reach out to Ashlee for any of your photo-shoot needs!
In a colorful spectacle that highlighted the artistic spirit of Ogunquit, the 3rd Annual Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event took place on September 9, drawing over 118 talented painters from across the East Coast. The picturesque town of Ogunquit once again played host to an array of artists who captured its timeless beauty on canvas.
The day began at 9 a.m., with artists scattered throughout Perkins Cove, Marginal Way, and and even to Footbridge Beach, working diligently to capture the essence of the coastline. Painters had until 2:30 p.m. to complete their masterpieces. A kaleidoscope of styles and interpretations emerged, each canvas telling a unique story of Ogunquit’s coastal allure.
The event featured live jazz music in Perkins Cove, adding to the vibrant atmosphere as spectators watched artists at work. Visitors were encouraged to witness the creative process and explore the myriad unique interpretations of Ogunquit’s New England seaside charm.
After the painting session, the day culminated in an awards ceremony, a display of the finished artworks, and a wet paint sale (special because the artists are able to retain the entire proceeds from their sales).
The winners of the 2023 Perkins Cove Plein Air Event were announced:
Professional Category:
- 1st Place: Thomas Bucci
- 2nd Place: Jonathan McPhillips
- 3rd Place: Ken Dewaard
- Honorable Mentions: Dennis Doyle, Christie Hegarty, Russel Whitten, Dylan McKnight, Susan Lynn
Amateur Category:
- 1st Place: Kathy Wagner
- 2nd Place: Vanessa Michalak
- 3rd Place: Linda Sullivan
- Honorable Mentions: Jules Duffy, Cynthia Asherman, Helene Mazur, Lisa Lane, Thomas Carleton
Helene Mazur was awarded the prestigious David Lussier Amateur Award of Excellence.
As the day came to a close, participants and spectators alike expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for the event. Artists shared heartfelt testimonials, underscoring the sense of community and creative vitality that pervaded the day.
“I am so grateful and happy that my painting ‘Blue Rhythms’ received 2nd Place at the annual Perkins Cove Plein Air event in Ogunquit, Maine,” stated artist Jonathan McPhillips. “So many great painters from across New England now put this event on their calendar, and to be included and be recognized is truly an honor.”
“I had a great time painting with folks at the Perkins Cove Plein Air event yesterday and was recognized with an Honorable Mention,” stated artist Dylan McKnight. “Thank you to all the folks at Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event for putting on such a well-organized event, to the judge Eric Jacobsen, and to all the other artists who participated and made this so much fun. I look forward to returning next year!”
“A third year at Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event in the books,” stated artist Lucinda Hamilton, “And it was a hot one today, but at least the rain stayed away. I will never get tired of painting this wonderful place, and painting on the same day with friends and 100 other artists made it so much more special. Thank you to the volunteers for all of their efforts in making the day a success! I’m happy to say that both of the paintings I painted today went home with new collectors, so thankful and grateful.”
“Bravo, Ogunquit Plein Air! What a wonderful time,” stated artist Debbie Mueller, “Well organized, with surprisingly great weather. Over 100 plein air artists descended upon Perkins Cove and created some wonderful work. It was great to see painting friends from near and far. Congratulations to the award winners. I sold my oyster painting ‘Half Dozen’ too!”
“Awesome event!!! Well run and terrific work,” stated artist Todd Bonita. “Good to see old friends and new ones!!! I got tons of visitors this morning while painting in Perkins Cove. Chris Woodbury, grandson of Charles Woodbury, stopped by with a picture of Charles critiquing a student in a family photo from 1894!! C’mon! So cool.”
The 3rd Annual Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event proved that the artistic spirit of Ogunquit remains as vibrant and enduring as ever. The town’s unique charm, captured in various forms of art, continues to inspire and draw artists from far and wide, ensuring that this tradition lives on for generations to come.
The success of the event was made possible through the dedication of countless artists, volunteers, and the unwavering support of the Town of Ogunquit and the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. A special thanks goes out to Jennifer Lewer, Amy Forbes, and Pamela + David Lussier.
Scroll down to continue reading and see the HUGE photo gallery (all photos courtesy of Rising Tide Photography)…
A FEW ADDITIONAL WORDS:
The Ogunquit Art Colony. It, truly, takes a village.
When I first launched the Ogunquit Barometer back in 2013, one of my primary goals was to shine a steady light on the vibrant history and enduring legacy of the Ogunquit Art Colony, a historically significant artist community located in Ogunquit, Maine that was established by American artists, most notably Charles H. Woodbury, during the late 19th century.
The Ogunquit Art Colony played a crucial and well-documented role in the development of American art. Artists at the colony often painted en plein air, capturing the natural beauty of the coastal landscape.
Admittedly, there was something of a lull in the Ogunquit arts activity during the early-to-mid 2010s. Still, compared to other historically significant art colony communities, Ogunquit continued to have a solid contingent of artists and institutions actively holding the torch for the Ogunquit Art Colony. Creating new work. Operating galleries. Building community. Celebrating the rich legacy. Looking towards the future.
I’m talking about artists including Don Gorvett, Todd Bonita, Fran Scully, Michael Palmer, Norman West, and many others. Additionally, there were galleries like Chris Caraviello’s Van Ward Gallery, the Beth Ellis Cove Gallery, the Shore Road Gallery, the Gallery at Perkins Cove, and Black Bear Fine Arts.
I’m also talking about about cultural organizations like the stalwart (and always excellent) Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit Performing Arts, Ogunquit Heritage Museum, and the Ogunquit Playhouse; PLUS the Ogunquit Arts Collaborative / Barn Gallery / Ogunquit Art Association – Maine’s Original Artist Group, established in 1928, born directly from the Ogunquit Art Colony, founded by Charles H. Woodbury, and continually active with a full and accomplished slate of juried artists serving up colorful and well-attended exhibitions, gallery talks, demos, workshops, and their famous annual Art Auction.
But even in the early-to-mid 2010s, most of the words spoken (or printed) about the Ogunquit Art Colony were uttered in the past tense. History. A fleeting phenomenon.
Then something started happening. We began, more often, seeing regulars showing up to paint along the Marginal Way and Perkins Cove. Madeleine Hopkins. Mary Byrom. Bruce McMillan. Gayle Fitzpatrick. John David O’Shaughnessy. Others. Many, many others.
There was always a buzz outside of Todd Bonita’s Cove Gallery, painters at easels including Dennis Poirier, Chris Volpe, Daniel Corey, Lennie Mullaney, Maria Nemchuk, Laura Cassinari King, Pamela and David Lussier, and so, so many more. Ogunquit Museum of American Art continued hosting conversation-worthy programming and their (always-sold-out) Art by the Sea Galas.
Just a stone’s throw from Perkins Cove at Hartwell House Inn, where my wife, artist Charlene M. Taubert, and I were innkeepers, we opened a small gallery and started scheduling artists-in-residence, musicians, and authors.
After I was juried into the Ogunquit Art Association in 2017, I started regularly showing Taubert Gallery fine art photography with a sharp focus on Ogunquit work at Barn Gallery.
Laura Jaquays was everywhere, spreading the word about creative wellness through Art Hope. Amy Kelly captured the imaginations of thousands of Ogunquit visitors with her photographic art of lobster tails awash in color at TaleSpinStudio.
Ray Casbourn was doing his Ogunquit photo walks – and sharing tons of photography online. Ric Della Bernarda and Claire Bigbee were creating Ogunquit-themed work. David Sullivan and Rick Barber were out daily, cameras in hand, producing terrific photos.
The Ogunquit Art Association / Barn Gallery increased its digital footprint and started attracting new and larger crowds to their already popular events.
Marcia Beal Brazer generously opened up the Charles H. Woodbury Studio for the Inaugural Charles H. Woodbury Studio Party + Fundraiser Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Ogunquit Art Association.
Artscope Magazine was running frequent (and well-received features) on Ogunquit-area artists and art events: Cornered: Michael Mansfield; A Rugged, Resplendent Seacoast; It Must Be Maine, Gorvett and West in Ogunquit; Return to Vacationland, Coastal Maine Artists Hope for a Banner Summer; Visually Arresting, Profoundly Contemplative; MORE.
Then, quite-without-warning, in early 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic occurred and almost all of the fresh and energetic momentum we were seeing in the Ogunquit Art Colony completely stopped.
In Ogunquit, hotel rooms were empty. Restaurants were quiet. Galleries were closed. Travel restrictions to Maine were imposed. RELATED: “The Cure For Everything Is Salt Water” | Eric J. Taubert.
As the pandemic fog started to lift, that was when a VERY small group of local residents and shopkeepers — spearheaded by Amy Forbes and Jennifer Lewer, with Jason Corbin, Ric Della Bernarda, Todd Bonita, David + Pam Lussier, myself (Eric J. Taubert) and others — all started discussing ways to honor the artistic legacy of Ogunquit with a painting event in Perkins Cove.
The Inaugural Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event, was planned and executed exceedingly quickly (in just over 7 weeks) by this small and scrappy group of doers – and it proved to be an instant success. A perfect fit. Something the town of Ogunquit wanted. Something Ogunquit needed.
Once the big day arrived, with well over 60 artists registered and painting on almost every corner of the shoreline between Perkins Cove and down the Marginal Way cliff-walk towards Ogunquit’s Main Beach, the atmosphere looked gloriously reminiscent of the vintage photographs we’ve all seen of Charles H. Woodbury surrounded by his friend and student painters back in the early 1900s. Easels and palettes everywhere covered with rainbow gobs of paint!
And the event grew in September of 2022. And it grew again in September of 2023.
Moving forward, Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event in Ogunquit, Maine has been firmly established as one of Maine’s premier artist festivals – and one of the largest and most exuberant outdoor painting events in all of New England.
LOOKING AHEAD: All of the Ogunquit arts entities have finally put the pandemic in the rear-view – and the momentum we were diligently building pre-COVID has vigorously returned.
Now that we’re heading into 2024, it pleases me to pronounce: There is no longer any further need to speak of the Ogunquit Art Colony in the past tense. It was never past tense. It was never over. It never went anywhere.
The Ogunquit Art Colony is something that, just like everything else, has faced a series of peaks and valleys over the decades. But now — thanks to all of the energy around the arts in Ogunquit; thanks to legions of artists, art organizations, gallery owners, local business owners, volunteers, organizers, enthusiasts, collectors, and the Town of Ogunquit (and thanks, in part, to the Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event) — I think it’s safe to say, we’re in the early innings of heading towards a new peak for the Ogunquit Art Colony.
BE A PART OF THE OGUNQUIT ART COLONY: Visit Ogunquit. Make it a creative retreat. Bring your art supplies. Bring your camera. Bring your pen and notebook. Get inspired. Paint. Photograph. Write. Draw. Sculpt. Dream. Imagine. Become a part of the vibrant tapestry of the Ogunquit Art Colony. All you have to do is show up.
We’re waiting.
BY THE WAY: Who’s going to be in charge of reviving the Annual Artist’s Costume Ball Tradition in Perkins Cove?
Scroll down to continue reading and see the HUGE photo gallery (all photos courtesy of Rising Tide Photography)…
RELATED: Have you seen some of the AMAZING work and Ogunquit Art Colony history being shared at our Ogunquit Art Colony Facebook Group?
If you’re not following Ogunquit Barometer (@ogunquitnews) on Instagram, then you’re missing out on half the fun!
Photos from the 3rd Annual Perkins Cove Plein Air Painting Event in Ogunquit, Maine. All photos courtesy of Rising Tide Photography.
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