OGUNQUIT — Local artists flocked to Marginal Way on Saturday morning, setting their easels up outdoors along the picturesque trail to capture the oceanfront landscape in paint. 

They were all part of the 4th annual Perkins Cove Plein Air painting event celebrating the 100th anniversary of Marginal Way, a beautiful 1.5 mile cliff walk that hugs the Atlantic Ocean. 

Of the 100 artists who painted at the event, many were returning, others would call themselves “amateurs,” having only been painting for a few years.

Linda Sullivan, a former art director, first started to explore painting in 2019. She received ribbons as an amateur painter at the last two Plein Air events, and came into this year’s in the professional category for the first time. 

“Every year it’s been great,” Sullivan said. “The landscape is so undisturbed. It’s a natural environment, and the sound of the ocean is relaxing. It’s just really inspiring.” 

As Sullivan added strokes of color to her canvas, Scarborough resident Lynn Martin and her husband, Bill, looked on. Watching artists paint the waves was an “unexpected bonus” to the couple’s day trip.

“The paintings are all so beautiful,” Martin said. “This spot, with her painting, it’s perfect. We had to stop and take it in.”

Nearby, retired school teacher Kathy Manley of Hampton, New Hampshire, focused on adding the right colors to her painting. An amateur artist, Manley has only been painting for two years, but this year was already her second time participating in the Plein Air event.

“You can’t beat the views,” Manley said. “It’s like a movie set.” 

In her two years of artistry, Manley said, she has learned “so much” about light and value, and now sees “the colors of the world through fresh eyes.” 

But capturing a beautiful landscape isn’t the only special part of becoming an artist, Manley said. 

“The painting community is one of the most welcoming communities I’ve ever been a part of,” she said. “They’re nice, kind people. It’s really unbelievable. You don’t find that everywhere.”

Over the years, Ogunquit has come to be known as an artists’ haven, as creative individuals find their way to the tiny town. 

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art showcases art from around the country, while local bars and restaurants like The Front Porch and Jonathan’s host live music almost every night. 

Just down the road, the Ogunquit Playhouse features world-class talent in critically acclaimed plays and musicals. 

Art is engrained in Ogunquit’s culture, drawing artists from all over the world. 

Ayelet Katz, a painter from Israel, traveled to the seaside town just for the Plein Air event this year. 

“I like painting Plein Air within a group,” Katz said. “It’s wonderful scenery, and the weather is just right.” 

The event was inspiring not only for participating artists, but for those strolling down Marginal Way. 

Diane Gore, who owns a home in Perkins Cove, said she has recently been taking painting classes, and wanted to see what other artists were creating along the oceanfront.

“I was interested to see how other people are putting their paintings together,” Gore said. “It’s excellent.”

In the next 10 to 20 years, the Plein Air event could see art from Jillian Moore, a 7-year-old aspiring painter from Wells. 

Jillian was excited to see all the artists, her mother, Brin Moore, said, because she loves to watercolor. 

“We’ve never come out for this,” Brin Moore said. “We had read about the festival, so we were excited to see some paintings. It’s been great, we love it.” 

With beautiful scenery all around, most artists at the event drew inspiration from the ocean waves, sharp cliffside edges, and far-off sailboats, putting paintbrush to paper to create stunning landscape works. 

But two artists took a different approach. 

Windham artist Patrick Corey looked on as model Libby Taylor posed on a cliffside rock for his Plein Air painting. Alongside him was last year’s winner, Old Orchard Beach artist Russel Whitten, painting his own view of Taylor, with the expansive ocean in the background.

“They claim they haven’t had a live model for this event, so we thought ‘let’s do this,’” Whitten said. “It’s a first.” 

After artists wrapped up for the day, the public was invited to a “wet paint” sale of the pieces created, and each artist’s work was judged for prizes.

Though he claimed the first place prize last year, Whitten said that’s not what it’s about for him. 

“I’m just here to paint and chill, that’s first and foremost,” Whitten said. “I just want to embrace the day.”