Zella Strickland has spent her life in cowboy country, and her artwork reflects the daily life of working cowhands and western folk. She spent her childhood around the neighbors' livestock, cattle auctions and the ranches in eastern Oregon where her father, an electrician, was converting windmills to power lines. As a working artist for more than 40 years, she has designed everything from tombstones to courtroom sketches to rodeo posters, as well as many humorous greeting cards and gift products.

Zella has had numerous exhibitions in the Northwest and is a frequent exhibitor at the invitational western/wildlife shows. Her art has been on several Idaho state magazine covers, Christmas cards and featured on two issues of Appaloosa News. She is a consistent award winner at the Cowboy Cartoonist's annual shows and was named Cowboy Cartoonist of the Year by the Academy of Western Art in 2001.
 
Her paintings are in many private collections including former Idaho Governors Cecil Andrus and John Evans, the late Dr. Margaret Mead and Morrison Center for Performing Arts permanent collection.