• ShawnaLee KwashnakCommunity Contributor

  • Woodbury-Middlebury, CT
  • Website

With the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, a soothing 14' tiered waterfall babbles in the background as ShawnaLee paints & draws cats, dogs, horses, and people. Her five kitties are always checking in with her to make sure each work of art comes out the best it can be while the family horse, Sassy, ensures that she takes breaks to walk out to the barn with nibbles & hay several times a day! ShawnaLee strives to capture the kindness and loving soul of each of her subjects.

ShawnaLee started creating portraits in hopes of capturing the special expressive moments that often elude photography. "There is something special that only a hand created portrait can behold".

Many of her current works include a blend of Graphite with an occasional hint of colored pencils, are created with Charcoals on toned art paper, or are painted in rich layers of Oil Paint. ShawnaLee also renders home portraits in Pen&Ink with delicate Watercolor Washes.

ShawnaLee helps support animal shelters and Non profits such as the Danbury Animal Welfare Society, CT Draft Horse Rescue, the Catherine Hubbard Foundation of Newtown, Hidden Acres Therapeutic Riding Center in Naugatuck, and Rose Hope Animal Rescue dba Whiskers etc.. She is a Volunteer Horse Patrol Rider and a Girl Scout Leader for two active Troops.

ShawnaLee works from photographs & life and prefers to use as many photo references as possible in the studio, as each photograph will have information that aids the portrait. Although not always feasible, It is a special delight to be able to meet the subject, and the best portraits combine live sittings with photographic references.

As a young child, ShawnaLee’s art was recognized and published for her portraits of pets and horses. She studied art under the tutelage of Michael Adam Salvo for two years in Advanced Placement Art and went on to graduate Cum Laude with a BA in studio Art focusing on Illustration & Printmaking from Western Connecticut State University.

Memberships include the Richter Association for the arts, Board member for the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, and the Nutmeg Collective, etc.

ShawnaLee teaches art lessons to dedicated young artists. The Fall Session begins September 21st. Winter and Spring sessions are offered.

ShawnaLee is also adept at weaving Native New England Grapevine Baskets & Bowls, and recycles Juice bags into totes with her children.

Publications include Arts & Activities, WCSU Alumni Front Cover, Equine Vision, Horseman's Yankee Pedlar, The Equine Image, and Taproot Journal in addition to local CT news, Wildfowl Carving Magazine, and social media. Awards have been garnered from events such as the Draft Horse Classic Art Show, Richter Association for the Arts, Watertown Art League, and Oxford Commission for the Arts. Her work has been collected throughout the US in addition to murals for the Middlebury Congregational Church & Danbury Animal Welfare Society. ShawnaLee has participated in live sketch demonstrations for Pet Protectors, Inc, Watertown Art League and on News Channel 12’s Pet Talk program (7/7/13).

www.shawnalee.com

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