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The Duck Gallery hosted its first artist exhibition on October 19, featuring the work of mixed media artist Todd Hale.

The gallery, which opened in July at Scarborough Lane Shoppes, features local artists from the Outer Banks and throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

Owner Liz McBain looks for pieces inspired by the area that will appeal to homeowners or vacationers who are “looking to take a part of their vacation home with them.”

The Duck Gallery displays carefully curated work from about a dozen artists, from paintings to pottery to jewelry.

Todd Hale’s pieces were prominently displayed in the center of the room on a demo island built by the owner and her father.

“There’s Always Tomorrow” is a visually fascinating collage made with computer-enhanced images from the original Alice in Wonderland animated movie, cut into pieces and arranged on a canvas. “I love the colors from all those old cartoons,” said the Richmond-based artist, who divides his time between Virginia and South Nags Head.

The piece is fresh and curious, with a hint of nostalgia that makes you want to keep looking. “My job is to push it just out of reach,” the artist said.

Some of his collages are made with content he’s painted himself. “I get into this computer world and then I want to make marks with a brush. I’m always riding between those two worlds,” he explained.

He likes the term mixed media because it gives him freedom as an artist to create without boundaries. One piece, entitled “Some Gulls,” (a play on The Rolling Stones’ “Some Girls”) features hand-drawn charcoal birds, cut and pasted onto a large painted canvas and covered with acrylic. Birds are magic; they go between worlds, Hale said.

The birds are seagulls, loosely. “I look at references and then close the book and turn off the iPad and work from that, knowing that they’re going to be a little weird, which I like,” Hale said.

He has another version where the birds are all chasing Cheetos. “I think it’s hilarious. It’s a beach icon,” he explained.

The birds are imperfect, and that’s part of their appeal.

Hale points to one of the birds, a slightly misshapen creature at the bottom right of the canvas. “I like this weird little guy, just because – back to the wrongness of it. It shouldn’t exist.  He’s a little questionable. Is he a duck? Is he a seagull? His wings are bad, so maybe I relate to him.”

He has a series of round paintings that look as if they’re cut from tree trunks. Royal blue “rings” create a stunning visual effect. Some are two to four inches, while others span eight feet. They are versatile and can be uniquely arranged for distinct effects.

Hale appreciates the variety that mixed media affords him as an artist. “I think about art a lot in reference to music and musicians. If you’re in a band that always does one kind of music, how do you do that if you don’t feel like it?” Hale asked.  “So I’ve made my repertoire a lot of different things; sometimes I feel really quiet watercolors and sometimes busy. I think it also helps me to feel not too precious about it.”

The Duck Gallery has artwork that appeals to a variety of styles. Some pieces, like Hale’s, lean more toward abstract, while others highlight realistic nature scenes.

The owners are thrilled to bring local artwork together in one space.

McBain, who also co-owns Tar Heel Trading Company at Scarborough Lane Shoppes with her husband, Jamie McBain, said that she feels like The Duck Gallery is the creative spinoff of their other business, which is an American handcraft gallery. “We were trying to display paintings and different types of artwork and we ran out of room,” Liz explained. “When this space came available [in the same plaza] I just knew that I had to jump on it.”

Selecting the artwork was a collaborative process. Some artists reached out to her and others she sought out. She said she took inspiration from Dare Arts in Manteo, as one of few galleries on the Outer Banks that showcases multiple local artists.

Her current lineup includes pieces from Renee Crawford, Annie Kinney, Jackie Tury, Reddawn, Noah Snyder, Willow Rea, Taylor Williams, Jill Block, Amy Snowden, Sarah Davenport, Sarah Rozell, and Kathryn Smith.

“I saw a need for it,” she said simply. “There’s so much talent in this area – it’s so inspiring.”

Liz herself is an artist. She studied at Savannah College of Art & Design and says that art has always been a part of her life. She draws and paints with acrylic, and has several pieces available for sale at the gallery.

“It’s always been a straight up passion of mine,” Liz said.

The Duck Gallery will be open limited hours and by appointment during the winter season. For more information, visit theduckgallery.com.

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