Susans’ sculpting career has been focused on the art of the portrait and figure. Her works are inspired by the emotions of the human na-ture of people in everyday life. The individual expressions and realistic depictions of her portraits hold a timeless quality which she hopes will survive decades of observation. “I strive to capture a personal and sensitive narrative unique to each sculpted portrait, yet universal in its emotive quality. Portrait sculp-ture has the ability to tell the human story in delightful and profound ways. One senses immortality in the sculpted portrait. I try to capture the fragility and strength of humanity that can live beyond our lifetimes.” Susan has received the highest National and International awards, honors, and recognitions by the industry’s most prestigious art organizations. She has been accepted into The National Sculpture Society’s Annual Exhibitions, Art Renewal Center Salon Shows, Por-trait Society of America’s Annual Conferences, Salmagundi, Allied Artist, Academic Artist and more. Susan recently has been honored with Portrait Society of Americas’ most prestigious award of Signature Status and has been accepted into the Brookgreen Gardens Mas-ter’s Teaching Program at Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC, home of the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the country. Her travels have taken her to Italy, China, Spain, and Grenada to study and perfect her artistry. These experiences have been a rich part of her transition from the commercial field of design to the fine art world, allowing her to embrace the history and works of the great masters. Susan’s career beginnings started with founding The Littlest Ballet Company LLC and The Susan Wakeen Doll Company Inc. in 1982 and 1985 respectively. She debuted her sculptures and dolls in New York City at the International Toy Fair where she was in-stantly recognized for her outstanding work and awarded "Doll of The Year" for her sculpture of Jeanne. She went on to become Senior Designer at Hasbro Toys in Paw-tucket Rhode Island and contributed greatly to the growth of the doll design department. Susan’s lifelong passion for art compelled her back to sculpture. After graduating form Central Connecticut University with a major in math and psychology, she furthered her studies with private instructors, Joshua Grahm, and Dorothy Lepler. Susan gained an elevated level of observation, discipline, design, and control as she continued her train-ing at The Scottsdale Artist School where Rosalind Cook and Betty-Pat Gatliff, the coun-try’s leading forensic facial reconstruction artist had an indelible effect on Susan’s con-centration of the study of the portrait. Additionally she attended The Art Students League in NY to study with renowned portrait artist Max Ginsburg. Residing in Litchfield, CT. with her husband and son, Susan continues to practice, teach, and promote, the art of sculpting in her studio and around the country.