Nick C. Stamas
Biography
Nick C. Stamas is a contemporary impressionistic artist who lives and works in Dayton, Ohio. His figures are integrated into dynamic street scenes and landscapes, inviting the viewer for a personal view of the artist’s composition and thought. His distinctive style expresses the vibrant movement and spirit of the human figure. Picturesque cafés, dance practices, musicians and street scenes come alive with color, mood and movement, with carefully planned, yet seemingly spontaneous compositions. Figures of varied ethnicity, age, and gender, are all prominent in Stamas paintings. The energy and passion in each painting is indicative of the conviction and commitment to his craft.
Winning a scholastic grade school contest to design and create a safety patrol poster was a turning point, and added to an unwavering love to draw. Stamas had the good fortune of Willis Bing Davis as his mentor in high school. They would meet at lunch and find places to sketch on and around the school grounds. Upon graduation, Stamas attended the School of the Dayton Art Institute, with a four-year scholarship and graduated with honors. He started as an illustrator at Wanamaker Advertising Arts, Inc., one of the most prominent art studios in the Midwest. Stamas was with Wanamaker for 22 years.
Leaving Wanamaker’s after 22 years, Stamas was one of three founders of Graphica, a Fortune 500 corporate communications firm. He assisted in the firm’s business development, branding, client account services, design, illustration and art direction. Stamas was account supervisor and creative director for Fortune 500 Companies, nationally and internationally. The extensive client list included: Abbott Laboratories, AT&T, Crown Equipment Corp., Crown Gablestapler/Munich, General Electric Delphi Automotive, Xerox, Honeywell, Mead Corporation, Hexion, Holloway, IBM, Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, and NCR Corp. He won multiple awards for design, illustration and ad campaigns, including the New York Society of Illustrators competition twice, an international venue featuring entrants worldwide. Graphica became an established name for advertising and graphic design nationally. Stamas left the firm in 2008.
Stamas’ community involvement includes service as a Marine reservist for six years. He is a life-long member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, formally a council member, and assists with fundraising and graphic design work. He also volunteers for a homeless advocacy group, Homefull. Stamas recently juried the University of Dayton Horvath Student Exhibition, awarding students in painting, sculpture, design and printmaking.
Stamas’ paintings have exhibited in numerous venues, including multiple times in the prestigious Art Comes Alive (ACA) juried art competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. Among other awards, he is most proud of being named ACA Figurative Artist of the Year in 2012. Additionally, he has completed commissioned art for numerous families and corporations.