By Chelsea Reed
There’s something special about finding memorabilia with the same theme as your favorite place. This is especially true when you find artwork that features our little ribbon of sand called the Outer Banks. Naturally, there are lots of Outer Banks themed pieces at Seaside Art Gallery. No, we’re not talking about the fictitious Netflix show in case you’re confused. The real Outer Banks is not just a beach. It’s our way of life. These paintings below are a few of many favorites at the Gallery.
Paintings made by this renowned bronze sculptor are rare, and so are the historic beach Banker Ponies. As a result, the three-dimensional perspective of this horse is exquisite as it enjoys a moment of coastal respite. Did you know the Colonial Spanish Mustang is the official North Carolina state horse? That’s who they are descended from. We love our local Banker ponies!
Have you heard about the lost Outer Banks village called Seagull? It was one of several villages that thrived in the 19th and early 20th centuries north of Corolla. Eventually, they were all covered up with sand from a giant southward dune called Penny’s Hill and became ghost towns. This painting is inspired by what’s left of the Penny’s Hill Hunt Club building.
Many places try to copy a depiction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, but there’s only one Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and there’s only one painting in the world with a view that looks just like this! We love how it stands tall and proud with its tuxedo spiral in the background looking over the pristine marsh Hatteras Island ecosystem. The painting accurately depicts the clear pond waters reflecting the bright blue sky.
Thanks to the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current colliding into each other off its coastline, the Outer Banks is a unique area that hosts some of the most dramatic maritime weather - and the best fishing - in the world. This eye-catching impressionistic painting pays proper homage to the organized chaos that local fishermen thrived in for centuries. The painted gold border is a fitting nod to their importance in the local economy and to what’s served on your plate at local restaurants.
Outer Banks sunsets are amazing in the summer, but did you know they take on a whole different character during the winter? The low proximity of the sun to the horizon creates dreamy pastel hued skies on clear days. Winter sunsets often light up the beach dunes at the other side with a gorgeous soft rosy fire, just like in this painting. It’s worth bundling up for the cold to see the phenomenon at least once!
Last but not least, this painting captures an important Outer Banks era of the old Jeannette’s Pier before Hurricane Isabel took it down in 2003. Acrylic paint dries quickly, but the memory it depicts is eternal. Fortunately, Jeannette’s Pier was rebuilt and the new pier opened in 2011. It’s now under the care of NC Aquarium and is enjoyed by families every year.
Whether you’re a longtime local or visitor fan, Seaside Art Gallery has plenty of original Outer Banks art to help scratch the Tarheel itch. They are proud to showcase artists from all over the world including local Outer Banks artists. See the Gallery’s Spectacular Seascapes collection here.
Chelsea Reed is a copywriter who writes winning content, articles, blogs, and websites from her base in North Carolina. She might not be building sandcastles or swashbuckling with pirates these days, but the Outer Banks beaches continue to keep her young at heart.
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