Ogunquit artist, John Neill

One of the most beautiful spots on the Maine coast is Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. Known as an artists haven for well over 100 years, the Cove has always attracted many artists since Charles Woodbury started his school there. During the 1960's and 1970's there was one artist by the name of John Neill, who also painted in the Cove.

I like John Neill's art, because its a  prime example of  Maine naive art. Neill painted what he saw. He used hard strokes and captured the  rugged landscape of Maine, Marginal Way, and the wild north Atlantic waters. John Neill painted tourist art.  He painted en plein aire in Perkins Cove, next to his blue boxy van, that was always parked next to Jackie's Restaurant.

John was a true artist, and came from a celebrated art background. His father Harmon Neill, was a listed artist and his mother, Angela Ward was a ballerina who performed at Carnegie Hall. Neill's Great Grandmother was a Romanov, and  cousin to Czar Nichols. She was also a ballerina in her native Russia.

                                                                                                                (courtesy of John Cavaretta)

Like many artists, there were tough times. In 1985 he painted this interpretation of the Village Food Market in exchange for food. John Neill was injured in hit and run  vehicle accident, and had metal plate in his head and suffered from seizures.

                                                                                                       (collection from Ogunquit Beach Inn)

John Neill had a Van Gogh quality with his art. He used hard strokes and painted nature they way he saw it. He did several paintings of the Marginal Way. One of his favorite subjects was to paint the drawbridge at Perkins Cove which had to be raised to allow sailing vessels underneath.

                                                                 (Courtesy of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum)