Biography

FREDERICK C. GRAFF  AWS-DF, NWS, TWSA-MS

Frederick C. Graff is one of the foremost watercolorists of today.  He is a Signature Member of all three major watercolor societies: American Watercolor Society “Dolphin Fellow”; National Watercolor Society; and Transparent Watercolor Society of America “Distinguished Master”.  He is also a Charter and Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and a longtime member of the Whiskey Painters of America.  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.  It is always my intent to challenge and express myself in an honest, expressive and creative manner."

 

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, France, and China, where he had a one-man exhibition in Qingdao, China.  His work has been featured in Watercolor Techniques For Releasing the Creative Spirit; Creative Watercolor Workshop, International Artist (February/March 2002), Watercolor Artist Magazine (February 2014, June 2015) and many other publications.

 

His diverse approach to watercolor painting has continued to attract individual and corporate collectors, including: Bank One; Wausau Insurance; General Tire; Mobay Chemical; Dayton Citizens Federal; Cambridge Savings and Loan; Guernsey Savings and Loan; Akron Beacon Journal; Key Bank; Zanesville Art Center; Southwest General Hospital; Sargent-Laessig Museum of Fine Arts; and many other corporate and private collections.

 


EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

AWS Gold Medal of Honor

AWS Bronze Medal of Honor

Elizabeth Callan Medal

Winsor & Newton Award

Bud & Gretchen Marble Medal

Millard Sheets Memorial Medal

Emily Goldsmith Award

Edgar Whitney Memorial Award

Achieved status of Dolphin Fellow

 

TRANSPARENT W/C SOC. OF AMERICA

Achieved status of Distinguished Master

(2) Maurice Prendergast Awards

(2) Winsor & Newton Awards

C. R. Williams Award

Award of Excellence

G. J. Slade Merit Award

Du Page Art League Special Merit Award

Madge Macfarlane Memorial Award

Frank Webb Merit Award

 

ADIRONDACKS NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF AMERICAN WATERCOLORS

Tina L. Wolfe Memorial Award

Exhibition Award

Realism in Nature Award

Forest Runes Award in Memory of Scott Stuart

Pulsifer Award

 

BUTLER MIDYEAR NATIONAL

 

SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL W/C BIENNIAL

 

ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA EXHIBITION
NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

International Soc. of Experimental

   Artists Award

Combined Donors Award II

Honorable Mention (China Exchange Exhibition)

Stan Green Arts & Educ. Purchase Award

 

OHIO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

(4) Gold Medals

(5) Silver Medals

(3) Bronze Medals

(2) Larry Joyce Memorial Awards

Win Dodrill Memorial Award

Moon Mask Award

Inveresk Paper Award

North Coast Award

The Artist’s Magazine Award

Award of Distinction

Transparent Watercolor Soc. Award

Merit Award

OWS Jim Brower Lifetime Achievement Award

 

SIGNATURE AMERICAN W/C EXHIBITION

The Fallbrook Arts Inc. Award

Tom & Sharon Koehler Landscape Award

Cheap Joe’s Award

 

VIEWPOINT NATIONAL EXHIBITION

2nd Place Award

John Crain, Best of Watercolor Award

Ray Loos Watercolor Award

Chairperson’s Award