"Exploring the Human Condition"

That's the title of the article in the "artist to watch" column by Bonnie Ganglehoff, in April 2011's Southwest Art.

Bonnie wrote a beautiful article touching on my inspirations and journey to full time painter. Thank you Bonnie! There is also an ad for Peterson-Cody, the gallery in Santa Fe, NM, that is representing my work in the Southwest.

That's "The Ascent" and "Fast Lane" both available now at Peterson-Cody gallery.

The All Artist Spring Show will feature new works by Stephen Day, Michael Downs, Gordon Inyard, Jane Jones, Josh Moulton, Scott Paulk, Terry Strickland
April 1- 30, 2011, Opening reception April 1st, 2011

What the Heck am I Trying to Say?

I recently re-worked my artist statement, a challenge for all visual artists, but an important process as well. If we, as artists don't know what we're talking about who does?

I thought it would be an interesting exercise to relate specific pieces to different parts of my artist statement to see where I'm exploring what topic. I've done it here with work specifically that will be in the Figurative Group Show at Peterson-Cody Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, February 2011.

Using the human figure and still life objects I consider intangibles, challenging myself to capture small nuance in relationships, life, death,  and love. Much of my work is about transitions, whether it is a midlife juncture or coming of age as a universal truth. These paintings are decisions reflected and possibilities contemplated. 

(As in "Near at Hand", I'm dealing with symbolic walls that can appear in relationships or in "On With the Show" I was thinking about the continuum of time, the birds are flying into and out of the painting suggesting that the show must go on, WE must press on, as surely as time passes this too shall pass.)  

 I’m intrigued by the idea of a work of art looking like an old master’s painting but with a contemporary edge, as an artist I want to be a filter for the time I live in. 

(In "The Ascent", the figures are very classically rendered however the ladder is a modern aluminum one, or "Call of Duty", which has the feel of a Renaissance portrait but the imagery from Superman comics, my red haired model in "Dreams of Flying" brings to mind a Botticelli Venus but with the addition of the airplane there is no mistaking her for one) 

I’m frequently inspired by fairy tales, superheroes, or works of literature, and reexamine them in a contemporary way. Mythical characters may become a device to explore our responses to modern day situations, for example Superman becomes a symbol for the mighty dreams each of us hold close to our chests. 

(As in "The Call of Duty" and "If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On" which has it's title from the first line of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night play)

Recurring themes, of flying and birds, have been turning up in my work, kind of a surprise personal imagery and that I was not conscious of adding. My paintings are so long in the works that I'm delighted when I discover a surprise such as this.

American Art Collector Magazine previews the February Peterson-Cody Gallery Group Figurative Show

I'm delighted to be showing in Santa Fe! 

Be on the look out for American Art Collector February 2011 issue! They should be in bookstores near the end of January.  I'll post works by the other artists to be included as soon as I know what's up. My other paintings to be included in the show, besides the paintings listed in the article, are "Near at Hand" 47x32 and "On with the Show" 30x22. 

Principle Gallery at Boston International Art Fair, November 2010

Those signature pumpkin colored walls looked great! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall to hear the comments about my male nude in this more traditional show. ("The Ascent" far right)

Wish I was in Boston with my paintings!

This weekend you can see my work in Boston at the Boston International Fine Art Show. It will be exhibited at the Principle Gallery's booth.

The Ascent, 55x32, oil on canvas over panel

 November 18-21, 2010

The Cyclorama

At The Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, in the South End

New England's Premier Show and Sale
of Contemporary and Traditional Fine Art

40 Outstanding Galleries
from the  United States and Europe

Paintings • Works on Paper • Sculpture • Photography • Fine Prints • Mixed Media

  To see more details and my previous posts about The Ascent click here.

 Flight Plan, 23x32, oil on canvas over panel

 Gaea, (Earth), 16x16, oil on canvas over panel

 Hestia, (Fire), 16x16, oil on canvas over panel

 Cardea, (Air), 16x16, oil on canvas over panel

 

Tethys, (Water), 16x16, oil on canvas over panel 

See my previous post about this Elements Series

The Artist's Magazine, 26th Annual Competition

"The Ascent" has won Honorable Mention in The Artist's Magazine's 26th Annual competition in the Portrait/Figure category putting it in the top six of the competition! This is the cover and it's in bookstores now.

The painting and excerpts from an interview are on page 56 of the Dec 09 issue. I'm honored the piece was chosen by Nelson Shanks, the juror for this category. He is esteemed portrait artist to Princess Diana, Bill Clinton, The Pope, Pavarotti and founder of Studio Incamminati a school for studies in realist art.

"The Ascent" is part of my Building a Life Series and is 55x32. The painting is on display at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA.

 Also finalists in this year's competition were my paintings "Carpe Diem" 48x36

 and "Angle of Repose" 36x27, also part of the Building a Life Series.

More work from this series and others can be seen on the website www.terrystricklandart.com. Here are a few details of "The Ascent".

Artist's Choice Group Show, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA

I have four paintings going to Principle Gallery. The work will be part of the Artist's Choice Group Exhibition which opens Friday, Oct 23, 2009. 

Principle is located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, minutes from Washington, DC. Principle Gallery has a wonderful reputation as exhibiting the best of American and European Contemporary Realism, focusing both on emerging and established artists, and I'm thrilled to be showing there! 

The Gallery is in Gilpin House, a 200 year old National Historic Landmark at 208 King Street.

They have chosen "The Ascent", 55x32, from my Building a Life Series. This painting was featured in International Artist Magazine, Aug/Sept Issue.

 

And "If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On", 32x39, oil on canvas over panel,

 

And "Like Breath on Glass", 16x20, oil on panel,

And "Midsummer Dream", 15x15, Seasons of the Bard Series, oil on canvas over panel

Principle represents about 40 acclaimed artists such as Dana Levin, Steve Huston, Thomas Beuchner, Ray Donley, Geoffrey Johnson, Jorge Alberto, Anthony Velasquez, and Leah Waichulis.

More about the gallery can be found at their website, www.principlegallery.com

"The Ascent" is a Finalist in the International Artist Magazine Competition

My painting "The Ascent" is a Finalist in the Favorite Subjects Competition 2009. It's in Issue # 68, August-September 2009 and in bookstores now.


The painting is printed full page along with an interview featuring paragraphs on: My Inspiration, My Design Strategy, and My Working Process. This painting is 55x32 and is oil on canvas over panel. Here are a few details from the painting.





This piece is part of my Building a Life Series, and may also be viewed on the
Available Works Page of my website.