About
Hello,
My name is Shauna Leva. Currently, I am enrolled as a full-time student
at the University of Hartford Art School because I want to be an
Illustrator. I have always wanted to be an Illustrator; I was drawing at
a very young age and creating and depicting stories through my doodles
was one of my favorite things to do. I could keep myself busy for hours
illustrating my thoughts and ideas on a stack of white printer paper. Because
of my talents, I was always known as the “art girl” at school, and I
was awarded the superlative “most artistic” during my senior year of
high school. I always had a wide range of styles: I was encouraged
throughout my elementary schooling to depict the world both
realistically, and through cartooning. I was very interested in the
style of manga when it came to America, and I taught myself to draw like
the Japanese manga-ka in no time. At age thirteen I began selling my
manga work at Anime Conventions. My work was very well received and so I
continued to sell at conventions and festivals for the next few years.
In 2006 and 2007 I published the first two volumes of an original Manga
series: Celestial Condemnation. The exposure
that I gained from selling my work prompted me to begin this website
where I could display, promote, and possibly sell my work or services as
an illustrator. Shortly after starting this website back in 2006 I
began teaching how to draw workshops in libraries and community centers
in the Boston area. Though
illustration is a very important part of my life, I have interests in
other creative areas as well; I sew, scrapbook, and cosplay for fun. I
also have a great interest and aptitude for other areas of art such as
ceramics, drawing, painting, and design. I’m also a big fan of science
and knowing how things work. While in school, I aim to further
develop and diversify my skills as an artist. I continue to take
commissions year-round, and I attend anime and comic-book conventions to
cosplay seasonally. After I graduate, I plan to become a full-time
Illustrator, but I hope to always have a wide range of hobbies and
interests.
If you have any questions about commissions, workshops, or any of my work, I'd be happy to send you more information.
-Shauna Leva
Art Awards and Achievements/ Recognition
- Outstanding Sophomore Portfolio for 2010 Award from the Hartford Art School Illustration Department.
- UHA Science Fiction Society (The Guild) Art Contest Winner: First Place
- University of the Hartford Spectrum Club Halloween Costume Contest Winner, couples division
- UHA Science Fiction Society (The Guild) Halloween Costume Contest Winner: First Place.
- University of Hartford Excellence in Freshman Drawing Award
- New England Scholastic Press Association: Journalism Award: Special Achievement for Artwork/Cartoon
- 6th District Congressional Art Competition : Best in School
- Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards: Silver Key, Gold Key Portfolio and Honorable Mention
- Selected for Art All State 2007
- Participant in High School Majors Art Gallery Show, four years
- Pre-College summer exhibition ribbon at the Art Institute of Boston
- Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competiton, Honorable Mention
Scholastic Achievements
- President and Dean's list for the '10 spring semester at the University of Hartford
- President and Dean's list for the '09 fall semester at the University of Hartford
- President and Dean's list for the '09 spring semester at the University of Hartford
- President and Dean's list for the '08 fall semester at the University of Hartford
- Induction to Sigma Alpha Pi, National Society of Leadership and Success.
- Book Award from Rhode Island School of Design
- Student of the Month October of 2007 Burlington High School
- Holy Cross Book Award
- Burlington High School Red and White Award (all A's all four terms) four years in a row
- Burlington High School Academic Achievement Awards in:
- Drawing and Painting I, II, and III
- Portfolio/ Advanced Art
- World History I
- Latin I, and II
- English
- American History
- Geometry
- Member of National Honor Society since 2006
Leadership Roles
- Sergeant at Arms of the University of Hartford's 'The Guild.' Spring semester, '10.
- Co-President of High School Anime Club two consecutive years
- Private Drawing and Workshop Instructor
Artwork Permanently on Display
- Mural: Burlington Public High School: 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA
- Mural: Sammy's Deli: 59 Winn Street, Burlington, MA
- Mural: Peabody Institute Library: 82 Main St, Peabody, MA
Conventions/ Art Festivals/ Gatherings Previously Attended
- Connecticon 2010
- Anime Boston 2010
- I-con 29, 2010
- Connecticon 2009
- Anime Boston 2009
- Arts on the Common 2008
- Anime Boston 2008
- Anime Boston 2007
- Another Anime Convention 2007
- Arts on the Common, Burlington, MA 2007
- Anime Boston 2006
- Another Anime Convention 2006
- Arts on the Common 2006
- Anime Boston 2005
- Anime Boston 2004
- Connecticon 2003
- Anime Boston 2003
Libraries/Community Centers Previously Employed By for Workshops (Incomplete List)
- Burlington, MA Public Library
- Burlington, MA Recreation Department
- Peabody, MA Institute Library
- Topsfeild, MA Public Library
- Bedford, MA Free Public Library
- Hudson, NH Hills Memorial Library