2020 Ohio Watercolor Society Jim Brower Lifetime Achievement Award

Frederick C. Graff

Medina, Ohio

Frederick C. Graff is one of the foremost watercolorists of today who is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society “Dolphin Fellow”; National Watercolor Society and Transparent Watercolor Society of America “Distinguished Master”. In 1978, he was one of the 17 Charter Members who were instrumental in founding the Ohio Watercolor Society and served on the board as its first Treasurer.

Prior to pursuing his education at Miami University, he studied privately with Alvin F. Staufer, author and illustrator for a variety of different railroad and locomotive books. During his senior year, he married Jan, who at that time was also attending Miami and pursuing art education. In 1968, he graduated from Miami University, with a B.S. Degree in Education, and secured a teaching position with the Berea City School District as an art instructor. 

He studied privately with Franklin A. Bates, a nationally recognized watercolorist, who was best known for his many demonstration appearances on the Mike Douglas and Paige Palmer television shows. Fred credits Bates for giving him all of the necessary skills and knowledge for pursuing watercolor at a professional level. After more than 3-years of intense study with Bates, Fred pursued graduate work at both Kent State University and The University of Akron. 

In 1972, he began to teach summer watercolor workshops and participated in a variety of art festivals such as the Boston Mills Art Festival, Ann Arbor State Street Fair, Three Rivers Art Festival, and Virginia Beach Art Show, among others. He was also responsible for helping organize the first Medina Art in the Park in 1972. After more than 50 years of teaching, he has conducted more than 300 workshops throughout the United States, France, and China. In 2015, in conjunction with an invitational watercolor workshop in Qingdao, China, he was personally invited to participate in and attend an international exhibition in addition to having a one-man exhibit that featured 35 framed watercolor paintings.

Born and raised in Medina, he and his wife Jan, raised their two children in his hometown where he had his home studio/gallery as well as being in partnership with the Artists’ Originals gallery on Medina’s Historic Square. His wife Jan served as his gallery and workshop coordinator and assistant. His daughter Kari accompanied him on many workshops and graduated from Purdue in Industrial Engineering. His son Wyatt graduated from SCAD with a B.A. Degree in Illustration and an M.A. Degree in painting. Fred and Jan also have three amazing grandchildren.  In addition to Fred’s artistic endeavors, he enjoyed restoring their 1885 Italianate Victorian home up until he and Jan moved to South Carolina in 2017.

During his tenure at Midpark High School, Fred’s students gained national recognition and secured numerous scholarships throughout the United States. He also initiated Midpark’s Alumni Art Collection which is now permanently on display at Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights. When Fred retired, after 33 years of teaching, from the Berea City School District, he coordinated and conducted a fund-raising auction of his artwork that raised more than $46,000 for an annual, self-perpetuating art scholarship. He also personally generated funds for the Ohio Watercolor Society by conducting a fundraising workshop and a benefit gallery sale of his work. He was inducted into both the Medina High School Cultural/Performing Arts Alumni Hall of Fame and the Midpark High School Distinguished Staff Hall of Fame.

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); Palette Magazine, and many other publications.

His diverse approach to watercolor painting has evolved through the years and can be found in several individual, corporate, and public collections. He has served as a juror for the American Watercolor Society (Awards Chairperson), Southern Watercolor Society, Kentucky Watercolor Society, New England Watercolor Society, and many others.

His watercolors have received more than 200 awards, some of which include:

OHIO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

(4) Gold Buckeye Leaf Awards, (3) Silver Buckeye Leaf Awards, (2) Bronze Buckeye Leaf Awards (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, Merit Award, TWSA Award

AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

Bronze Medal of Honor, Elizabeth Callan Medal, Winsor & Newton Award, Bud & Gretchen Marble Medal, Millard Sheets Memorial Medal, Emily Goldsmith Award

TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA

(2) Maurice Prendergast Awards, (2) Winsor & Newton Awards; National Watercolor Society International Society of Experimental Artists Award

ADIRONDACKS NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF AMERICAN WATERCOLORS

Tina L. Wolfe Memorial Award, Exhibition Award, Pulsifer Award

SIGNATURE AMERICAN WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION

The Fallbrook Arts Inc. Award, Koehler Landscape Award, Cheap Joe’s Award