David Beal Exhibit
Faces of the Outer Banks
In September our Vault Gallery will feature original oil portrait studies by artist David Beal.
This exhibit highlights faces of people that live and work on the Outer Banks. Through his oil portraits, David focuses on capturing the meaningful moments in time of people doing every day life. These little paintings are David's attempt to a share some simple glances and extraordinary faces with others.
David painted each portrait in 3-4 days using iPhone "snapshots" as his reference.
"I found it interesting that every time I approached someone about being part of the project, they would "pose" for a photo with a big smile. I would sometimes ask them not to smile, but that never worked...by the third or fourth photo they'd be smiling again. I've discovered that Outer Banks folks love to smile." - David Beal
Exhibition Dates + Artist Statement
Faces of the Outer Banks will be on display in the Vault Gallery September 5-27, 2025.
There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 5 from 6pm to 8pm, where visitors can meet David and view his work.
The opening reception is during downtown Manteo's First Friday festivities and is free and open to the public.
David Beal, American Realist, works largely by commission creating private, corporate and academic portraits, figurative oil paintings, landscapes, still lifes and murals. David started his career early…he was recognized at the age of sixteen by President Gerald Ford for large historical mural installations he created for libraries and public buildings in the upper Midwest/U.S. At age 18, he moved from Ohio to New York, where he studied drawing and painting at the Art Students League under Robert Beverly Hale, curator of American paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, illustrator Robert Emil Schulz and pastel master Daniel Greene. David also studied at the Salmagundi Club and the National Arts Gallery in New York. He received his commercial art training at The Columbus College of Art and Design, in Columbus, Ohio. As a commercial artist, he’s created hundreds of greeting cards, calendars, posters and other products for Hallmark Cards. He’s illustrated books and magazines for Billy Graham, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Morningstar Cards and Standard Publishing.