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​About the Artist

Rachel Magdalen Drennen  is a portrait painter and draftsman living and working between Florence, Italy and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After attending the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a full tuition scholarship, she moved to Italy to continue her studies at the Charles H. Cecils Studios, where she is currently a third year student and studio assistant. 

Working in the sight size tradition, she paints directly from life. Capturing the spontaneity and solemness of the figure, the momentary yet monumental beauty of portraiture, is her aim; Velazquez, Titian, and Gainsborough are her guides. 
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For more information on portrait commissions and/or other available work, please contact rachelmagdalenart@gmail.com.


Curriculum Vitae 

Education
2021-Present  Charles H. Cecil Studios
2016-2020  Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2018 Portrait Sketch Workshop with Colleen Barry, Grand Central Atelier
2017 Portrait Workshop with Kerry Dunn, Studio Incamminati

Teaching Experience
2023 Drawing Instructor, July Summer Workshop, Charles H. Cecil Studios
2022-present   Assistant Figure Drawing Instructor, Charles H. Cecil Studios

Scholarships and Awards

2023 Future Generation Competition, Honorable Mention, Portrait Society of America
​2021 Scholarship Artist, Salmagundi Club

From the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts:
2020 The Irma Cook Prize for Excellence in Drawing, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2020 Don Sabbath Award
​2020 The Charles Toppan Prize
2019 The Women's Board Travel Scholarship (three month travel to Europe)
2019 The Don Sabath Award
2019 The Catherine Grant Memorial Prize for Still Life
2019 The Benjamin West Prize 
2018 The Louis B Sloan Landscape or Still Life Prize
2018 The Thouron Prize, Student Vote
2018 The James P Bonelli Jr Memorial Prize
2018 The Plastic Club Award
2018 The Mindel Caplan Kleinbard Award
2017 The Ramborger Prize
2016 James J. And Frances M. Maguire Artistic Excellence Scholarship (full, four year academic scholarship)

Exhibitions
2023 SCNY New York Figurative Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
2022 Drawing From Life, Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
2021 Allegory Today, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2020 Women and Nature, DBS Gallery, Philadelphia, PA                                                      
2020 119th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019 A Good Habit Formed, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA         
2019 Considering the Nude, DBS Gallery, Philadelphia, PA                                                   
2019 118th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA      
2019 New Members Show, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA                                                  
2018 The Oxford Art Alliance Annual Juried Show, Oxford, PA                                                
2018 Small Oils Show, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA                                               
2018 117th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA      
2017 The Art of Agriculture, FMC Tower, Philadelphia, PA                                                       
2017  116th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA       
2016  War and Rumors of War, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia PA


Collections
Private Collection of James J. and Frances M. Maguire




 



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