Sandra Wakeen Bio

Sandra is an Honors graduate from Paier College of Art and recipient of the prestigious Ken Davies award. Her professional career began as a children’s book illustrator, the breadth of her work soon evolved to painting large scale figurative pieces influenced by the Art Nouveau era. She created a series of decorative porcelain plates depicting “The Love Story of Siam” for the Bradford Exchange, posters in both the United States and Europe, chocolate boxes in France, puzzles in Spain, and large murals for area restaurants and schools. During this time Sandra began her portrait career, and soon grew to become an accomplished portrait artist of both children and notable figures, with commissions across the United States and in Japan. Sandra now continues her portrait career while expanding her horizons to painting still life’s and traveling abroad to capture imagery from classical cultures.

The experience of her recent travels and study with Tony Ryder at Studio Escalier in Argenton, France has brought a fresh new perspective and meaning to her work. Sandra continues to paint still lifes, gardens and picturesque landscapes of Italy. Her last seven week trip to Europe has inspired a new series of paintings of the Italian countryside. The location was so inspiring that she returned in the spring to capture the wonder of Italian gardens. As she turns color studies into paintings, she is becoming very excited about a forthcoming show. .

Sandra’s work is in the permanent collection of the Florence Griswold Museum and New Britain Museum of American Art.  She is the President of The Wethersfield Academy for the Arts. She has served on the Board of Directors for The Lyme Art Association and The Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists. Sandra is a charter member of The Connecticut River Valley Artists. She has recently been accepted into Oil Painters of America’s National Competition and Exhibition, The Art of New England National Show, Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts National Exhibition, Hudson Valley Art Association, Allied Artists of America National Show and The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club 112th Annual Exhibition in NYC.