Fernando studied at leading institutions:​

• The National Academy of Fine Arts, NY,
  mentored by S. Adoquei

• The New York Academy of Art,
  mentored by Alyssa Monks

• The Art League of NY,
  mentored by Gregg Kreutz

• The Montclair Art Museum, NJ

• Woodstock School of Art, NY

• College of Maryland for Creative Arts

Memberships in Art Institutions & Societies:

• The National Academy of Art, NY
  (Charter Member)

• The Portrait Society of America

• The Portrait Society of Canada

• The National Portrait Gallery, UK

• Art Renewal Center, NJ

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

• France Artistique Association, France
   ​

Selected Awards & Honors​

• 2000 - Winner, Carson Art Assoc.

• 2001 - First Prize, Brea Art Assoc.

• 2002 - Winner, Los Alamitos Art

• 2004 - 1st Place Los Alamitos Art

• 2005 - Winner, Lakewood Artists

• 2006 - Top Prize, Anaheim Art

• 2007 - Prize Award, Bellflower Art

• 2008 - Juried Recognition, Brea Art

• 2009 - Juried Winner, Lakewood Art

• 2010 - Recog, Am. Fine Arts Soc. NY

• 2011 - Prize Winner, Clifton Art

• 2012 - Awardee, Rutherford Art

• 2013 - Winner, Bloomfield Art

• 2014 - Grumbacher, Rutherford Art

• 2015 - 1st  place, Montclair Art

• 2016 - Winsor & Newton Award, NY​

​

Ateneo de Madrid
Spain’s oldest and most esteemed intellectual institution
International Juried Art Competition
Participated by 85 countries | Over 1,900 submissions
 

• 2025 -- Finalist (7 Works)
  Formally invited to exhibit at The Ateneo de Madrid*

• Radiant Scarlet, Figurative*

• Reflection of Time, Figurative

• The Descent, Figurative

• External Connection, Figurative

• Harvest Light, Still Life

• Fragments of Identity, Figurative

• Surge of Freedom, Animal
   

• 2025 -- Semi-Finalist (15 Works)​

• New York, Landscape

• Evening Conversation, Landscape

• Autumn Cascade, Landscape

• Guardian of the Skies, Animal 

• Morning Light, Still Life

• Radiance in Bloom, Stil Life

• Moment of Grace, Figurative

• Behind the Curtain, Figurative

• Elegance in Motion, Figurative

• Kalinga Tribe, Figurative

• Manny, Figurative

• Flamingo Passion, Figurative

• Kamala, Conceptual

• Imagnary Words, Figurative

• Rebecca, Figurative

​

​​​​Portrait Society of Canada

       2024

• Artist of July & Aug, Cigar Man

• Artist of July & Aug, Dr. Liz

• Artist of July & Aug, Rebecca

• Artist of July & Aug, Vibrant Wisdom

• Cert Excellence, 1st Int'l Animal Competition, Freedom’s

• People’s Choice Award, Miracle of Portrait, Embers

• Top Finalist, Miracle of Portrait, Whispers of Solitude
  2025

• 24th Anniv Members Exhibition,Timeless Bond, Portrait

• 24th Anniv Members Exhibition, Braided Memories, Portrait

• 24th Anniv Members Exhibition,Shadow of Ref, Portrait

• 24th Anniv Members Exhibition, Stillness in Scarlet, Portrait

Portrait Society of America
       2024

• Finalist - Int'l Members Juried Competition, Harvest Light

• Finalist - Int'l Members Juried Competition, Eternal Freedom

Grey Cube Gallery, USA
      2024

• Merit Award - 5th Inter. Portrait Competition, Shadows of Ref

• People’s Choice Award, 5th Int'l Portrait Competition, Whispers S. 

      2025 

• Merit Award - Int'l Gray Art Competition, Manny 

• Merit Award - Annual Inter Portrait Competition, Nicolas 

• Merit Award - Annual Inter Portrait Competition, Whisper of Youth
  ​

Collectors Choice Awards, San Francisco
       2025

• 1st Place Overall - Freedom, Animal

• 1st Place - Enigma, Figurative

• 1st Place - Autumn, Landscape

• 3rd Place - Silent Whimsy, Humor

• 3rd place - Radiant Pride, Figurative

• 4th Place - Whisper Blooms, Still life

• 5th Place - Nicolas, Famous People

• 3rd Highest Score Overall, Freedom
   

World Art Awards, San Francisco, CA
       2025

• 5th Place - Autumn Serenity, Still Life

• 6th Place - Reflection of Time, Portrait

• 1st Place - Surge of Freedom, Animal

• 5th Place - Manny, Portrait

• 3rd Place - Rebecca, Figurative

• 3rd Place - Rhythm of Soul, Figurative

• 1st Place - Echoes of Spring, Still Life​
   

Gallery Ring, USA
       2024

• Crystal Award - Annual Int'l Contest, City Rhythms

• Emerald Award - 2nd Int'l Contest, Moments Grace
  2025

• Ruby Award - Artist of the Month - May, Flamingo, Figurative

• Best of Show - Annual Int'l Exhibition, Quiet Monk, Figurative
   

Gallery 4%, San Francisco, CA
      2024

• Distinction Award - 13th Int'l Juried Competition, Whispers, Figurative

• Laurel Award - 4th Int'l Juried Competition, Autumn S, Figurative

• Distinction Award - 13th Int'l Juried Competition, Poise, Figurative

• Distinction Award - 13th Int'l Juried Competition, Whispers, Figurative

• 3rd Price - Annual IInt'l Juried Competition, Freedom, Animal

• Distinction Award - 3rd Int'l Juried Competition, Harvest, Still Life

• Distinction Award - 3rd Int'l Juried Contest, Whisper, Still Life

      2025

• Distinction Award - 34th Int'l Juried Contest, Shadows, Figurative

• Distinction Award - 34th Int'l Juried Contest "Moment, Figurative
   

Light Space Time Gallery, New Mexico, USA
       2024

• Special Recognition - 14th Int'l Juried Competition, Shining

• Honorable Mention - 15th Int'l Exhibition, Behind, Figurative

• Special Merit Award - 15th Int'l Exhibition, Fires, Figurative

• 10th Place - 14th Int'l Juried Competition - 474 entries (21 Countries) Freedom’s

• 8th Place overall - 14th Int'l Juried Competition - 474 entries (21 Countries) Freedom’s
   

Artist Space Art Gallery, USA
       2024

• Distinction Award - 1st Int'l Juried Competition, Autumn

• Distinction Award - 1st Int'l Juried Competition, Harbor

• Distinction Award - 3rd Int'l Juried Competition, Vibrant
   

Camelback Gallery, Arizona
      2024

• Bronze Medal of Honor - 7th Int'l Juried Exhibition, Freedom

• Finalist - Int'l Juried Competition, Cigar, Best in Medium
   

Ten Moir Gallery, USA
      2024

• Honorable Mention - Int'l Juried Competition, Golden Ember

• 3rd Place - Int'l Food Juried Competition, Culinary Focus 
   

Fusion Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
       2024

• Finalist - 9th Int'l Juried Competition, Serenade, Waterscape    

• Finalist - 10th Int'l Juried Competition, Rebecca, Figures

• Honorable Mention - 10th Int'l Juried Competition, Kalinga, Figures

• Finalist - 9th Int'l Juried Exhibition, Shadows, B.W.

​​

Art & Color 365, USA PleinAir Salon
       2025

• Special Mertit Award -- Old Men | Portriat Art Competition​​​

​​

Fondazione Effetto Arte French Rivera
       2025

• Book Published -- The Descent

​​​

Visua Art Association UK
      2025 International Art Open Competition

• Accepted -- Manny 
   

PleinAir Salon, USA International
Journal for Art Connoisseurs
       2025

• Accepted – Autumn | Landscape | 14th Annual PleinAir Salon

• Accepted – Backstage | Figurative | 14th Annual PleinAir Salon

• Accepted – Flame | Still Life | 14th Annual PleinAir Salon

• Accepted – Freedom | Animal | 14th Annual PleinAir Salon

• Accepted – Timeless | Portrait | 14th Annual PleinAir Salon

• Finalist – Ancestors | Portrait | 15th Annual PleinAir Salon

​

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​Early Awards and Recognitions​​
A Look Back