Sandra Wakeen, a nationally and internationally renowned painter and teacher, has pursued a life-long devotion to her art. She began her formal studies at Paier College of Art where she studied with Ken Davies and was awarded the prestigious Ken Davies Award. She later studied at Studio Escalier in Argenton, France, and Forensic Reconstruction with Betty Pat Gatliff in Scottsdale, Arizona, and in Italy. However, it was artists David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw who brought her a whole new way of “seeing” and understanding how closely art and life are entwined. Sandra has been honored with numerous awards and honors and her paintings can be found in private collections and museums and galleries world-wide. Sandra was instrumental in creating an artists cultural exchange in Florence, Italy, for American and Italian artists to study, paint and learn from each other. She was awarded a three month residency to study and develop her art further in Florence. The culmination of these efforts resulted in shows in Italy and the United States with inclusion in the "Art of Giovanna Garzoni". The Garzoni Challenge was held in Florence's Pitti Palace with the collaboration of the Uffizi Galleries and the Medici Archive Project.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIekcsVkTc Permanent Collection:The New Britain Museum of American ArtFlorence Griswold MuseumFFAST Museum in Fiesole, ItalyAssociazione Culturale Il Palmerino IT.Private collections in USA and abroad.Affiliations:Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists - Regional RepresentativePortrait Society of America - Member Show and 6x9 panel artistsWethersfield Academy for the Arts - Founding member, Atelier DirectorLyme Art Association - Board of Directors - Elected ArtistConnecticut Academy of Fine ArtsConnecticut River Valley ArtistsAcademic Artist AssociationNew Britain Museum of American Art - Permanent CollectionFlorence Griswold Museum - Permanent CollectionAWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS2020Northeast Fine Arts Exhibition - Best in Show - Out of the DeepNortheast Fine Arts Exhibition - First Place Graphic - Care of the SoulArt of Giovanna Garzoni - Participation in The Garzoni Challenge - Pitti Palace, Uffizi Galleries and Medici Archive ProjectSusan Powell Fine Art - Still life invitationalAcademic Artists 70th National Exhibition2019Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition - Marquis,"See Me"Northeast Fine Arts Exhibition, First Place Drawing Award - "We Will Remember"The Great Marblehead Paint-OutSusan Powell Fine Art Still Life InvitationalAcademic Artists National 69th Exhibition 2018Academic Artists Association 68th National ShowThe Great Marblehead Paint-OutGroup Led Painting Trip to Florence, ItalyExhibition in Florence, Italy Susan Powell Fine Art Still Life InvitationalArt Renewal Center International Salon Competition - Finalist Painting2017Salmagundi Club National Competition for Non- Member- Certificate of MeritAcademic Artists Association - Excellence Award - 67th Annual National ExhibitionThree Month Residency - Florence, ItalyJuly - Willamette Valley Lavender Paint-Out, Portland OregonMay - The Great Marblehead Paint-OutSusan Powell Fine Art Still Life Invitational