Thomas J. Strickland

Thomas J. Strickland (December 27, 1932 – August 4, 1999), known as Thomas Strickland, was an American Impressionist painter.

Born in Keyport, New Jersey, Strickland studied at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, the American Art School, and the National Academy of Fine Arts in New York City. A resident of Miami, Florida, he was a member of the Miami Palette Club and the Pastel Society of America. He won the summer, 1998 Atlantic Papers award for his pastel self-portrait.

Strickland was a man with a vision which he never lost. Even as a young man he knew he wanted to be an artist. While serving the Army overseas, he was able to visit the great museum in Paris, including the Louvre and Jeu de Paume where he was inspired by the great Impressionist painters Degas, Renoir, Monet, Manet and Mary Cassatt. From then on he knew he wanted to paint in that style. The GI Bill gave him the opportunity to study at the Art Students League and the National Academy of Fine Arts in New York City where he became a very popular artist in the Greenwich Village Outdoor Show.

Following a 6-month sojourn in Nice, France, in 1971 Strickland moved to Miami, Florida where for the rest of his life he continued to paint and teach. He exhibited in several places including the Elliot Museum in Stuart, Florida and appeared on numerous TV shows. In 1976, "The 2,073 Self Portraits of Tom Strickland" appeared in Tropic Magazine.He also wrote articles for several magazines including Palate Talk and Today's art, describing his techniques for painting both ballet dancers and self-portraits.

Strickland shared his knowledge and skills with many devoted students, giving both private lessons and teaching at Coral Gables High School Adult Education for 20 years.

Strickland was known for the vibrancy and freshness of his brushstrokes and the strength of his paintings. A dynamic painter, Strickland was accomplished in both oil and pastel and painted numerous still live and figure images. Like Renoir and Degas he loved to paint using live models and was highly skilled in painting both men and women.

In "Who's Who in America" Strickland stated that his aim in life had "been to find, capture and communicate the beauty I see in the world to others by means of painting in my Impressionist style"

The Magazine American Artist, August 1998, wrote an article on Strickland because he had won the "Hahnemuhle Pastel Self Portrait Contest" in 1997. His Pastels are featured in such books as "Best of Pastels" and "Portrait Inspirations".

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