Instructors

Sandra Wakeen

As an artist, travel has become a vehicle for my growth and development. The journey from illustration and commercial work into the world of fine art has been both challenging and enlightening. Travel has revealed a curiosity and reexamination of many years of painting and advanced my capability to see with a fresh pair of eyes. Since my daughter spent a year in Rome, I have made six trips to Europe. Two painting trips to the beautiful Tuscan countryside, a month-long residency in France and the rural experience of the small village of Argenton, and most recently two trips back to Fiesole painting and living with an extended family, who is deeply involved in preserving their artistic and cultural heritage. Little did I know how the accumulative nature of these experiences would impact my personal and artistic life. Experiences new to me four years earlier have shown my heart and my mind a vista of new horizons. I am excited to be part of the Wethersfield Academy for the Arts. Teaching at the WAA will allow me to pass on what I've learned to a new generation of creative souls who will take their own artisitc journey many steps further.

Nick Frasco

With a Bachelors Degree from Paier College of Art for Illustration Nick also holds a Diploma degree in Fine Arts. He has also studied  and earned a certificate abroad at the College of Urbino in Italy. Nick enjoys working with children, to guide them at a young age to embrace their artistic abilities.With the right approach, he is able to bring out the untapped talent in young people. Nick feels teaching children is his true calling in life, and he is very committed and passionate about his role at R.J. Kinsella Magnet school of Performing Arts, where he is a full time Enrichment Program art teacher.