How many VCU grads can say: "My work is hanging in the Smithsonian"?

Stanley Rayfield can.

His painting, "Dad," has been selected by the National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and will be on view at the gallery from Oct. 23 through Aug. 22, 2010.

A recent grad of VCU's Communication Arts program, the artist says he's intrigued with people and painting them on a large scale. The winning portrait is a painting of 21-year-old artist's father in intimate detail.

"It's a personal piece," Rayfield says. "My dad is a very fragile diabetic. Growing up, he was in and out of the hospital. He couldn't work. But he was still a father figure for me. He was still strong despite his ailments. I painted him as he is: with a scar on his chest from surgery, his oxygen and his cane. But I had him pose in a way to show his strength."

Rayfield grew up in Richmond; he attended Henrico High School and cut his chops drawing caricatures for Kings Dominion in the summers. Now, his goal is to become a fine artist. And he's on his way.

Not only has his painting "Dad" been selected for the National Gallery, but he's also one of seven artists shortlisted for the $25,000 prize and a commission from the museum to create a portrait of a living individual for the museum’s permanent collection. The prizes will be announced Oct. 22.

Take a look at "Dad" and more of Rayfield's work below: