Stan Strickland has received both national and regional awards
and his paintings are found worldwide in corporate and private
collections. He has the distinction of Georgia’s Artist of Excellence
bestowed by Governor Joe Frank Harris. Georgia College and State
University has conferred an honorary professorship. Among many
other accolades, his paintings were chosen to dress the Captains
Quarters of the USS Carl Vinson Nimitz class supercarrier representing
the art of Georgia. In his career of forty-plus years, recognition of his
painting expertise has greatly influenced his popularity.
Born in Georgia in 1938, and caught up in a leisurely changing South,
Stan chose to capture the portraits of the southern lifestyle from within his vivid memories of its’ people, it’s rich and diverse culture, its’ history and its’ charm. Many of his paintings focus on famous landmarks and events from our nation's past and present. In the painting series, “Speaking Highly of the South,” his portrayal of life during the old South era of plantations, farms, social gatherings and everyday life have graced the walls of appreciative collectors. Even the titles of his paintings warm the heart: "Saving Grace," "Sacred Vows," Hospitality," "Heart of Dixie," "High Cotton," Revelation," and "Ties That Bind."
Stan uses multiple painting techniques and is fluent in acrylics, oils, pencil and watercolor mediums. He has used acrylics with watercolor technique and dry brush, old masters' oil painting expertise, and other surprising mixtures and other modes of genius. His intense painting style is full of light and life capturing the essence of the moment. His imagination is as vivid as his talent is endless. As an example, while teaching students to draw from their creativity, their first assignment was to draw a fire breathing dragon. After much frustration, the class asked for a demonstration. Without hesitation, he free-handed a fearsome dragon on the classroom chalk board greatly exciting his students. It was the first dragon he had ever attempted, and awesome enough to inspire and motivate the class.
