Biography

Bio Pg PhotoFrederick C. Graff is one of the foremost watercolorists of today. He is among a select group of watercolorists who are Signature Members of all three major watercolor societies: American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, and Transparent Watercolor Society of America “Master Status”. His continuous growth and development in his pursuit of watercolor has enabled him to be a leading artist/educator in the field of watercolor painting. 

Artist’s Statement:

“When an artist understands the basic principles and elements of design, the subject matter becomes unlimited. The selection of my subject matter is determined by my immediate response to the subject and its surrounding environment. It is essential that I go beyond the level of just recording facts. It is my intent to convey a spontaneous response in an unrestricted yet semi-controlled manner. This approach to watercolor painting lends itself to a unique and unpredictable experience. This state of uncertainty compels me to further explore the world of watercolor.”

A native of the Western Reserve, Frederick C. Graff resides in his hometown of Medina, Ohio with his wife Jan, who is his workshop and gallery coordinator. They have two children, Kari (Industrial Engineer, Purdue University) and Wyatt (MFA, Savannah College of Art and Design). In addition to his art, he has actively been involved in extensive restoration of their Italianate style Victorian home.

Upon graduation from Miami University, Fred studied privately with the late Franklin A. Bates. He pursued additional graduate work at both Kent State University and the University of Akron. In addition to being a retired art teacher for the Berea City Schools, Fred has been conducting numerous watercolor workshops, demonstrations, and critiques throughout the United States and abroad for the last thirty-eight years. His work has been featured in Watermedia Techniques For Releasing the Creative Spirit; Creative Watercolor Workshop and International Artist (February/March 2002), in addition to other publications.

His diverse approach to watercolor painting has continued to attract individual and corporate collectors, including: Permanent Collection of the Governor’s Mansion of Ohio; Bank One; Wausau Insurance Co.; General Tire; Mobay Chemical; Dayton Citizen Federal; Cambridge Savings and Loan; Union Carbide; Guernsey Savings and Loan; Akron Beacon Journal; Key Bank; Zanesville Art Center; Sargent-Laessig Museum of Fine Arts at Cliffside; and many other corporate and private collections.

He has been accepted in numerous top national, state, and regional exhibits, some of which include:

AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

    (8) Annual Exhibition Acceptances
    (3) National Traveling Exhibits
    Millard Sheets Memorial Medal
    Emily Goldsmith Award
     

TRANSPARENT W/C SOC. OF AMERICA

    (11) Annual Exhibition Acceptances
    Master Status
    Award of Excellence
    (2) Merit awards
    C. R. Williams Award
    (2) Winsor & Newton Award 
     

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

BUTLER MIDYEAR NATIONAL
 

OHIO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

    Silver Buckeye Leaf Award
    (2) Bronze Buckeye Leaf Award
    Moon Mask Award
    Inveresk Paper Award
    (2) Larry Joyce Memorial Award
    North Coast Award 
    The Artist’s Magazine Award
    Award of Distinction
    The Transparent Watercolor Society Award
     

ADIRONDACKS NATIONAL EXHIBITION
   OF AMERICAN WATERCOLORS

    (3) Annual Exhibition Acceptances Exhibition Award
    (2) Traveling Exhibits

 
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