Doug Strickland
Artist's Statement/Biography:
I was born in
North Carolina, and have lived here all my life. I graduated from the University
of North Carolina with a degree in Industrial Relations and worked for many
years as a clinical social worker in a mental health facility while pursuing
involvement in painting and drawing as a hobby and avocation. Since retiring in
2003, I have devoted more time to my artwork and have met with increasing
success in exhibiting and sales.
Since
childhood, I have been inspired and motivated by visual art, photography, and
the natural beauty of people, places, and scenes around me. I started very early
to try to capture on paper in pencil and other media, the things that attracted
me visually. Although I have taken art courses, including some in college, I am
primarily self-taught in the techniques that interest me and in which I work
best.
I draw and
paint in a realistic representational style, but do not try for a
photo-realistic effect . I want the viewers to have no doubt they are
looking at artwork which was created by hand. I feel that representational
art stands on its own for evaluation without the need for suspension of critical
analysis by the viewer or external interpretation or validation. I have studied
the works of Van Gogh, Sargent, and others, whose use of color, texture, and
brushwork in their creative processes, have been strong inspirational influences
that I try to emulate. My work is representational in nature, and often has impressionistic qualities.
The style and quality of my artwork have evolved and improved over the
years, owing in part to the workshop tutelage of nationally-renowned artist,
Daniel Greene, and recreational painting courses I have received (and later
taught) through Johnston Community College.
I participated in a portrait academy workshop sponsored by the Portrait
Society of America in November 2006 instructed by Dawn Whitelaw and Edward
Jonas. I produce several portrait
drawings or paintings every year in addition to still lifes, landscapes, florals,
animals, or whatever subject matter attracts my attention.
I maintain a website where I display and sell my artwork and offer
commissioned works.
I have exhibited for several years in local open shows, and have won numerous awards, including "Best Oil Painting" in the 1998 Cary (NC) Fine Arts show and sale. I also won the award for "Best Agricultural Scene" as well as one of two purchase awards at the NC State Fair arts competition in 2000, third place in professional painting in 2003, and an honorable mention in 2004. In 2006, I was honored to receive three awards at the NC State Fair: 1st place in Professional Painting, The Commissioner's Purchase Award, and an Honorable Mention with the two paintings I entered. I received the second prize award for the 23rd Annual Wayne County (North Carolina) National Art Exhibition in 2002 and again in 2004. I also received a second place award for one of my entries in the Clayton (NC) Art Faire in 2002 and a third prize award there in 2003, and again in 2004, 2005, and 2006. I have also recently exhibited my work and have won several awards at the Visual Art Exchange at City Market in Raleigh, NC. I have served in the past as president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of our local artists association, Johnstonian Visual Artists, and helped stage the group's annual show throughout its history until its demise a few years ago. I currently hold memberships in Johnston County Artists Guild (JOCO), The Visual Art Exchange, and a recently-formed informal critique group for local artists at Johnston Community College.