Awards

Awards, Exhibitions & Publications

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2023

Demonstration of Fine Art Drawing Skills at Brookfield Craft Center Open House Oct 14th 12-5pm

2023 WCSU Art Alumni Exhibition October

  • First place award for “Takoda looking right”. Bethlehem Fair
  • June: Howard Whittemore Public Library Naugatuck CT   Portraits of pets and people.
  • Recipient of the AAW’s Gala Artist’s Incentive Award Grant 2023

Prospect Public Library – October one person art show, demonstration & book signing “Pandemic Portraiture: Reflections of Healing”. Opening reception 10/21/23 11-1pm

  • MCC Players Play “As You Were” Poster illustration, designed place mat, three set portrait oil paintings and two acrylic set paintings for the “Heritage Arms Hotel” scene.  Mother’s Day weekend epic play performances. Part of the artist’s pandemic series. Awarded Certificate for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts.
  • Oxford Cultural Commission’s Art Show “Favorite Things” May 2023
  • Published in NVCC Fresh Ink 2023. Won 2023 Luke S. Newton Memorial Award through Fresh Ink at NVCC for The Pen & Ink Illustration “Love in the Piazza”.
  • Prospect Public library Pet Portraits, book signing and Pet portrait demonstration. April 2023.
  • Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monday, March 13th 5-6pm  Virtual talk.
  • Terryville Public Library, Saturday April 29th 1-3pm.
  • Designed & Illustrated Brass City Ballet’s “Love in the Piazza/ Sestina” ballet poster. Event on March 30th 2023. BCB Events page.
  • Oxford Cultural Commission’s: Winter Tidings.  January through March 25th 2023.
  • Monastery Gallery of Art:  “Kamelmacher family”. January through April 10th.

2022

  • Demonstrating Portraiture December 10th 12-4pm Stamford Art Association in collaboration with the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists. Jeanine C. Jackson’s video of part of the demonstration.
  • Published book: “Pandemic Portraiture: Reflections of Healing” 11/30/22; Get your copy here!   Read Howard Fielding’s Review from Week in Review: Week 48.
  • Participating artist in Artists Sunday.
  • Kellogg Environmental Center Art Show Nov. 15th through Dec. 30th.
  • Terryville Public Library Showing of Grapevine baskets Dec. 2022
  • Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists Faces and Figures Juried portraiture show
  • Richter Association for the Arts Juried Show 2022 (Sumi at 5:25;Anna age two 5:36)
  • A Tradition of Excellence Art Show at Brookfield Craft Center.
  • 2nd place Award in Graphics for Pat from Monro, charcoals. Bethlehem Fair
  • 3rd place in Oils for my Charcoal portrait of “Sumi”, a black cat. Bethlehem Fair.
  • Frogwatch USA newsletter   Peabody-Beardsley-Maritime Chapter April 2022 Newsletter.  Art work published.
  • Artist’s residency ~ Silver Lake ~ Summer 2022 (canceled due to covid)
  • Award of Excellence from the Richter Association Member’s Show May 2022 for “Thomas, aged two” Charcoal.
  • Judge for the 2022 Congressional Art Competition
  • SCAN Spring Juried Show @ Art & Frame of Newtown. Watch for press release in the Newtown Bee on 3/31st! April 1-May 26th Reception 4/2 6-8pm
  • Oxford public Library: “The Next Generation” On display March 19, 2002 thru May 28, 2002 Artist Reception April 23 from 12 to 2 pm
  • Recipient of a Connecticut Office of the Arts FY22 Artists Respond program round two grant for “Pandemic Portraiture ~ Reflections of Healing” Art Lesson Program. March 2022. Book published November 30th 2022! Book review: Week in Review: Week 48 with Howard Fielding.
  • For the Love of Cats: Whiskers Pet Rescue; two month Show, Demo, Reception & contest. May 2022.
  • Terryville Public Library: “Moments Unlost” Solo Art Show; February 2022
  • Oxford Public Library: Winter Traditions. Shows through March 2022.
  • Brookfield Public Library: “The Portrait Challenge” March – April 2022
  • Brookfield Craft Center: Selected works remain in the gallery.

2021

2020

2019

  • September/October Ad in Connecticut Dog
  • Radio Interview 9/21/19 @ 1:20pm WATR http://www.watr.com/
  • Bethlehem Fair.  First Place Realism Art Award for “Lost too soon, Eric Sebastian Marsden” in Charcoal.  2nd place for “Charcoal Coffee”
  • Bridgewater fair art show.
  • June: Studied Master Portraiture with Grace Mehan DeVito through CSOPA.
  • Downtown Stamford ArtWalk with CSOPA
  • July Family Feature in Middlebury Neighbors Magazine
  • May/June~ Connecticut Dog Magazine Ad
  • Summer ~Featured Artist in Northeast Equestrian Life Magazine; 
  • May ~ Richter Association for the Arts Award of Excellence for “In loving memory of “Evan Davidson” Charcoal.   Danbury CT.
  • May ~ Newtown Savings Bank Award for “Is this Sarah James Eddy?” SCAN’s 49th Juried Art Show & Sale Newtown CT
  • April ~ “Sharing the Gift”, “Charcoals and Hot Coffee” and “Dog Looking Over the Water” have been accepted for publication in the 2019 anniversary edition of Naugatuck Valley Community College’s literary journal, Fresh Ink. 
  • March/April ~ Quarter page ad in Connecticut Dog’s Spring Issue.
  • March ~ Art Lessons & events listed for Spring in Arts and Culture Collaborative Waterbury Region
  • January ~ Washington Artist’s Association Members Show “In loving memory of Eric Sebastian Marsden”
  • January ~  One person show: Pet Portraits and Horses at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
  • January ~ Susan Wakeen Fine Art Award from the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists for “Is this Sarah James Eddy?” & “Hope’s Vision – Evan Elliot” Classic Portraiture in a Digital Age at the Greenwich Arts Council. Published in a limited edition art show book.

2018

  • October – Honorable Mention for “Sophie – Dreaming of Home” Richter Association for the Arts Juried Members Show & Sale
  • September~Bethlehem Fair: Second Place Award for “Sophie finding home” Oil; Third Place Award for “Miss Ginger” in Graphite; Honorable Mention for “Baby Callen” in Charcoal.
  • May~Funky Stuff the Collective Group Art Show & sale.  “Roxie, Aggie, Jessie, BonnieLass, & Pug”
  • May ~ Watertown Art League Juried Art Show: “Sophie” & “Reaching for Carrots”
  • May  ~ Richter Association for the Arts Members Show WON award of Excellence for “Vaughan” in Charcoal
  • April ~ Funky Stuff the Collective LLC, art show and sale.
  • April ~ SCAN’s member’s show and spring sale
  • February-March “Color in Winter” art show & sale.  The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown CT

2017

  • November~Instructor’s show at Arts Escape in Southbury
  • Connecticut Magazine’s  Gift Guide ~ December 2017 ~ “Aggie” small Oil Painting ~
  • October ~ Portrait Show at Terryville Public Library
  • October ~ Richter Association for the Arts
  • October Honorable Mention ~ Southbury Portrait Festival 2017 ~ Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists ~ “Gabriella” Charcoal on cream
  •  September First Place ~ Bethlehem Fair ~ “MRA afternoon with Striped clouds” ~ Vintage Soft Pastels
  • August ~ Bridgewater Fair Art Show
  • August~ en plein air demonstration at Pine Meadows benefit for Arts Escape
  • June ~ Portraits on view at Roxbury Congregational church’s Art at the Meeting House
  • June ~ Portraits on view @ SCAN’s art show
  • May ~ Demonstration of an Acrylic painting OCAC
  • Winner’s circle ~ Oxford Town Hall’s meeting room
  • First Place Award ~ Miss Ginger in Graphite ~ OCAC FACE ~ Oxford CT
  • May ~ Oxford Cultural Arts Commission Juried Art Show: FACE: Festival of Arts, Culture and Entertainment to be held at the Oxford Town Hall Meeting room.
  • May ~ Watertown Art League Juried Art Show
  • May ~ Richter Association for the Arts Members Show
  • May/June ~Front Cover Illustration for Connecticut Horse Magazine
  • May ~ Brookfield Town Hall~ Capturing moments ~ a collection of portraits of adults and children.
  • April 27 ~ Promotional Invitational Event at JCREW and CREWCUTS of New Canaan CT.
  • April ~ Brookfield Town Hall ~ Capturing moments ~ a collection of portraits of adults and children.
  • April ~ Plainville Public Library ~ a different collection of Pet Portraits than the show held in February.
  • April/May ~ illustrations in Massachusetts Horse Magazine pages 7,8,9,10 and my ad on page 55.
  • March/April ~ illustration in Connecticut Horse Magazine  page 24
  • February ~ Plainville Public Library ~ A collection of Pet Portraits
  • February ~ Terryville Public Library ~ Tender Moments, a collection of cats, dogs and horses; Grapevine Baskets are in the display case.
  • January ~ Cheshire Public Library ~ Pet Portraits on view.  Demonstration during reception.
  • January Issue Connecticut Horse Magazine ~ page 32 & 45;  feature of Charcoal drawing of Esther Woll Fiddes Morgan gelding, Pokey Connecticut Horse Magazine

2016

  • December ~ Howard Whittemore Memorial Library ~ Naugatuck CT ~  Family Treasures Portraiture
  • Connecticut Magazine’s Gift Guide ~ December 2016 ~ Furry Friends: Charcoal Pet Portraits
  • Honorable Mention ~ Richter Association for the Arts ~ Charcoal “Nancy’s Mom with Baby Jonathan”
  • Professional Division BEST of SHOW realism art ~ Bethlehem Fair ~  Oil painting: “Heading Out” (Nancy’s Mom, Amelia Koziol – married name Amelia Dzija)
  • First Place ~ Bethlehem Fair ~ Vintage Soft Pastel: “The Flag at the Middlebury Recreation Area”
  • Second Place ~ Bethlehem Fair ~ Charcoal: “Gunther Family Treasures”
  •  Winner’s circle ~ Oxford Town Hall’s meeting room
  • Kitty Princess Tortellini Memorial Award ~Oxford Cultural Arts Commission Oxford CT ~ Oil: “Aggie”
  • People’s Choice Award ~Funky Stuff the Collective~ Oakville CT~ Oil: “Concho”
  • April 6, 2016 Portrait Winner Voices The Gallery pg 67
  • February 23, 2016    The Nutmeg Collective Shop Spotlight on Portraits by ShawnaLee
  • February 6, 2016   Guest on Pound Posse Presents CT TV Comcast channel 13; Frontier channel 99.   Pound Posse Presents Portraits by ShawnaLee

2015

  • Second place ~ Richter Association of the Arts~ Charcoal “Gabriella”
  • Blessing at St Georges Episcopal Church~ Middlebury CT
  • One Person Show ~ Oxford Town Hall ~ Oxford CT
  • Hidden Acres Night of Caring Demonstrator~ Mattatuck Museum ~ Waterbury CT
  • One Person Show ~ Beacon Falls Public Library ~ Beacon Falls CT
  • The Artists Path Gallery~ Litchfield CT
  • Childhood Portraits Our Children Our Future~ CSOPA ~ Lockwood Mathew Mansion Museum ~ Norwalk CT
  • Watertown Art League Juried art show ~  Middlebury Public Library~ Middlebury CT
  • Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue Juried Art Show ~ Deep River CT
  • Art at the meeting house ~ Roxbury Congregational Church~ Roxbury CT

2014

  • Kitty Princess Tortellini Memorial Award~  Oxford Cultural Arts Commission~ Pen & Ink  “Bootsie washing Frost”
  •  Second Place ~ Bethlehem Fair ~ Bethlehem CT ~  Charcoal    “Anna age 9”
  • First Place ~  Bethlehem fair ~ Bethlehem CT~ Oil painting   “Luna – Irish jack russell”
  • One Person show ~  Howard Whitemore Library ~ Naugatuck CT
  • CSOPA Faces of Winter ~ Stamford UConn Center ~ Stamford CT
  • One Person Show  ~Middlebury Public Library ~ Middlebury CT
  • One Person Show ~ Watermark at East Hill ~ Southbury CT
  • CSOPA Match & Greet ~  Stepping Stones Museum ~ Norwalk Ct
  • Richter Association Juried Art Show~ Danbury CT
  • CSOPA Showcase ~ Nathaniel Witherell~ Greenwich CT
  • One Person Show ~Bethel Public Library

2013

  • Merit Award~ Richter Association for the arts ~ Danbury CT ~ Pencils   “Richter Stone Corner”
  • OCAC Kitty Princess Tortellini Memorial Award ~ Oxford CT ~ Charcoal   “Happy & Jumper peering out of a window”
  • First Place ~ Watertown Art League ~ Watertown CT ~ Charcoal  “Happy & Jumper peering out of a window”
  • One person show ~ Oxford Commission for the Arts ~  Oxford CT
  • Demonstration at Watertown Art League~ Watertown CT
  • CSOPA members Showcase ~  Oxford commission for the arts ~ Oxford CT
  • News Channel 12 Pet Talk with Lauren Collier on 7/5/2013 at 16:15 – just after Animal Embassy on her fourth of July week’s segment.  Did Demo drawing on set.

2012

  • 3rd place ~Bethlehem Fair ~ Bethlehem CT~  Oil Painting  “Babu”
  •  Honorable mention ~ Bethlehem fair~ Bethlehem CT~  pencil  “Chloe”
  • Richter Association for the Arts members show~ Danbury CT
  • Naugatuck Historical Society 4th annual celebration of the arts~ Naugatuck CT

2011

  • Honorable mention ~ Richter Association of the Arts~ Charcoal   “Happy & Jumper peering out of a window”
  • DAWS Greeting Room Mural boasting 21-22 pets.

2004

  •  3rd place Bethlehem Fair    Charcoal    “Sarah”

2003

  •  Honorable mention ~Richter Association of the Arts~ Danbury CT~  Pen & Ink “Gunner looking right”
  •  3rd place ~ Bethlehem Fair ~ Bethlehem CT ~ colored pencil “Head and Heart”
  •  1st place    ~Bethlehem Fair~ Bethlehem CT~ Pen& Ink “Gunner looking at you”
  • Two person show with Nancy Cassidy  ~ Middlebury Public Library~ Middlebury CT

2002

  • Honorable mention ~ Richter Association for the Arts ~ Danbury CT~ Oil of “Meistro”
  • “Ridgefield, Now we’re Talking” TV interview

2001

  • 3rd place ~Nevada County Fair Draft Horse Classic Art at the Classic ~ California ~ colored pencil “Head and Heart”

1998

  • 3rd place ~The Draft Horse Classic Art at the Classic ~ California~ Oil painting of “Champ”

Prior to 1998 and other art shows include:

Boehringer Ingleheim~ Danbury CT

Danbury Public  Library – group show~ Danbury CT

Rotary club ~  Southbury Public Library~ Southbury CT

One Person show at Watermark at East hill ~ Southbury CT

Ridgefield Guild of Artists ~ Ridgefield CT

Western Connecticut State University

Sidewalk Sales in Ridgefield – published by Fran in the Acorn Press

Published in Acorn Press for illustrations

1982 Bulletin board solo art show at BES; art room hallway tile.

Fran’s corner ~ Hersam Acorn Press ~ Ridgefield CT. article on art.

Publications:

Arts & Activities, Taproot Journal, WCSU Alumni Booklet, Equine Vision, Horseman’s Yankee Pedlar, The Equine Image, Massachusetts Horse and Connecticut Horse Magazines, Northeast Equestrian Life Magazine, Connecticut Dog magazine, FreshInk of Naugatuck Valley Community College, in addition to local Ct news & social media sites.

ShawnaLee has participated in live sketch demonstrations for Whiskers Pet Rescue, Pet Protectors, Inc, Watertown Art League and on News Channel 12’s Pet Talk program (7/7/13) & Pound Posse Presents.