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Standing before a blank wall, paintbrush in hand, Duane Hada sees more than just concrete and brick. He sees stories waiting to be told through color and light.
The renowned Ozark artist will soon add two more public works to his impressive portfolio when he unveils new murals in Yellville on April 17.
“Most of these paintings are painted very fast,” Hada once said of his work. “The light is going to change in an hour.”
But these particular murals weren’t rushed. They represent months of careful planning and execution to honor the conservation history of Marion County.
“These murals are really a celebration of our community’s commitment to conservation,” said Annette Pulis from Duane Hada’s Rivertown Gallery. “Duane has poured his heart into capturing the significance of the Wild Turkey Restoration and our local natural heritage.”
The city of Yellville and Marion County commissioned Hada to paint four murals on the 60-foot wall at the Marion County Courthouse Annex. The artwork commemorates the Wild Turkey Restoration and pays tribute to individuals who contributed to conservation efforts and hunting heritage in the region.
Baxter Health also commissioned Hada to create a mural for their Ambulance Building in Yellville, located next to Carolyn’s Razorback Ribs.
“We’re inviting everyone to come celebrate with us,” Pulis explained. “This is more than just an art unveiling—it’s a chance to honor those who have worked to preserve our natural resources for future generations.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new murals will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on April 17 at the Marion County Courthouse Annex, 105 South Berry Street in Yellville. Blacksheep BBQ will be on site selling food during the event.
Plaques listing the names of families and businesses that funded the murals will be installed before the celebration.
“The community support has been incredible,” Pulis added. “So many local families and businesses stepped up to make these murals possible. The plaques are our way of recognizing their contributions.”
This isn’t Hada’s first brush with success. Over his 30-plus year career, he has become one of Arkansas’s most recognized artists, with work featured on state license plates, postal stamps and in numerous galleries.
Born in Boone County, Hada grew up in rural Arkansas, developing a deep connection to nature. At 13, his family moved to Hasty, a small community near Jasper, where his love for the outdoors continued to grow alongside his artistic talent.
Though his teachers noticed his raw talent early on, Hada didn’t take his first formal art class until college at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. That class “put the fire to the gas,” as he describes it, prompting him to transfer to the University of Central Arkansas to pursue an education degree focused on art.
After teaching high school art in Mena for five years, Hada decided to pursue art full-time.
“I would come home, and the last thing I’d want to do is pick up my own art,” Hada said about his decision to leave teaching.
To support himself as a full-time artist, Hada became a certified fly fishing instructor and guide, combining his two passions. His distinctive style often features trout and landscapes of the Ozarks, particularly through plein air painting — the practice of painting outdoors to capture natural light and conditions.
In a demonstration in Colorado, Hada’s skill impressed a journalist who remarked, “Watching you paint is like watching a concert pianist play.”
His reputation continued to grow. In 2022, Hada was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame, with Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner Rob Finley calling him “such a tremendous, gifted person and outdoor artist.”
Today, Hada operates Rivertown Gallery in Mountain Home, where he displays and sells his work, teaches students of all ages, and continues to accept commissions for everything from fish replicas to large-scale murals.
When not painting, Hada leads young men on outdoor adventures through Cross Trail Outfitters, a faith-based organization he started after noticing many young people spending more time with video games than in nature.
“It’s just a huge need nowadays with boys that do not have a man in their life to show them the outdoors and anything masculine,” Hada explained.
The upcoming mural unveiling in Yellville offers the community a chance to celebrate both natural conservation and artistic preservation — two causes that have defined Hada’s life and career.
For more information about the event, contact Annette Pulis at Duane Hada’s Rivertown Gallery at 870-425-3898.
