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. 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