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Frank Wilson is a member of the International Guild Of Realism.
A full time professional artist for over thirty years, Frank's formal art education took place at the School of Practical Art and the Art Institute of Boston with further studies under Marko Lolo Marchi and Steven Yankopolis. Over the years, the artist has won many awards for his paintings and sculptures. In September of 2005 he was awarded by the City of Chico California, the COBA (Chico Outdoor Board Art) Peoples Choice Award and a commission for a large outdoor mural. Twice, by invitation, he exhibited in the New York State Museum, and has also been featured in art galleries in Canada, New England, Virginia, North Carolina and California as well as in Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland.
On October 9, 1998 he was a featured artist on ABC's nationally televised 'Good Morning America' show. On January 23, 2009 he was a featured artist on CBS Action News on KHSL TV in Chico, California.
A prolific painter, Wilson has created over 2,900 original works in oils and watercolors just since 1995 in addition to hundreds of sculptures. Wilson’s paintings and sculptures are in private and corporate art collections in dozens of countries on five continents. He also has painted scores of murals and illusions in homes and businesses.
The wilds of nature, in all it's diversity, is the common denominator for this multi-talented artist. The hills and mountains in the wilderness areas of Northern New England and Northern California are the inspiration for his widely ranging work in water media. Hiking by the light of the full moon has inspired Frank to create a series of 'nocturnal' watercolors. Climbing in the high country, the artist has witnessed the light of dawn and dusk and translated those moments into dramatic paintings. These unique watercolor and gouache paintings capture the magic of a moonlit winter's evening or a mountain sunset. Sunny days or violent storms, clouds play an important role in many of his landscapes.
Wilson also paints in oils which he prefers to emphasize the atmospheric quality of mountain vistas and the winding trails he loves to hike. Wilson is known for his 'landscape portraits' of well known natural beauty spots and detailed paintings of wildlife. His wildlife art has been exhibited in many of the major Eastern Wildlife Art Shows. Two of his wildlife paintings were published in Canada as limited edition prints of six thousand each which sold out soon after publication.
Frank is one of the 54 internationally selected artists showing on ArtStudio54.com
Frank Wilson has always had a deep appreciation for natural beauty and a reverence for the natural world. His passion is evident in each of his works, whether it be a small gouache study or a large oil painting.
Artist’s Statement
“My paintings spring from a life long involvement with the wilderness areas of Northern New England and more recently, in Northern California. From an early age, I combined my passion for the wilds of nature with my art. This passion has greatly influenced the academic and professional directions I have taken in life, including where I chose to make my home, most recently in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California.
When hiking and rock climbing in the high country, I look for the immense power and drama inherent in the untamed landscape. That is what I seek to portray in my art. Clouds have always intrigued me with their contribution to the spiritual and emotional impact of a wilderness scene and I try to incorporate those values in my paintings. In my work, you will not find not much man made impact on the landscape, other than a hiking trail or back country road. I have always sought to capture the unspoiled and pristine vistas that are rapidly vanishing in our world.
Throughout my career, I have made a conscious choice to paint wild, beautiful, natural, and inspiring landscapes instead of the “dark themes” that I see so often in exhibitions of “cutting edge” art.
I take pride in the craftsmanship of my art as well, using only the finest archival materials in the paintings and in the framing.”
Resume
ART EDUCATION:
School of Practical Art, Boston MA 1968 Art Institute of Boston, 1969 - 1971
Further studies under - Marko Lolo Marchi and Steven Yankopolis
CURRENT GALLERY AFFILIATIONS: (partial listing)
Gallery On Merchant’s Square, Historic Williamsburg, Virginia
Gallery On The Green, Woodstock, Vermont 'Featuring the Best Of New England'
Osterville Fine Art & Design, Osterville, Massachusetts Winner 'Best Fine Art Gallery' readers choice award -Cape Cod Life
Doiron Gallery, Sacramento, California
Gallery Alta Vista, Valle Crucis, North Carolina
Blue Heron Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
Northwoods Art Gallery, Chester, California
Helen Jones Gallery, Sacramento California
OTHER:
Featured Artist on ABC's nationally televised “Good Morning America' show aired October 9th, 1998
Selected for the City of Chico’s COBA Art Board Project for 2004 & 2005
Owner of the “Tradewinds Gallery”, East Gloucester, Massachusetts 1971 to 1973
One of only 54 internationally selected artists showing on ArtStudio54.com
JURIED and INVITATIONAL EXHIBITS and ONE PERSON EXHIBITS: (partial listing)
New York State Museum, Invitational Art Exhibit, South Hall Gallery, Albany, NY 1988
New York State Museum, Invitational Art Exhibit, Terrace Gallery, Albany, NY 1989
Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences, “International Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Woodstock, VT 1986-1997
Vermont Council on the Arts, “State House Art Exhibit”, State Capitol Building, Montpelier, VT 1988
Chaffee Art Center, “Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Rutland VT 1990
Montshire Museum, “Art & Science Exhibit”, Norwich, VT 1991
Helen Day Art Center, “For Art Sake”, Stowe, VT 1990 - 2000
Flat Rock Brook Museum, “Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Englewood, NJ 1991
New Hampshire Art Association “Annual Exhibit”, Sunapee, NH 1991-2001
Vermont State Craft Gallery December 2001 - January 2002 “Moonlight In Vermont” the Work Of Frank S. Wilson
Avenue 9 Gallery “From The Garden” Chico, California May 2004
Northwoods Gallery, Chester, California 'Featured Artist' for month of November, 2005
Doiron Gallery, Sacramento, CA March 10 to April 1, 2006 “The California Wilderness - A Preservationists View “
Arte Junction Gallery Of Fine Art, Winters, CA, Featured Artist month long showing; November - December 2006
Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, California 'Chico Icons, Waterworks' group exhibition December 2008 to January 2009
COLLECTIONS:
Paintings and sculptures in private and corporate collections in dozens of countries on five continents.
Over 1,800 original paintings sold through art galleries since 1995. Over twelve thousand prints sold.
RECENT AWARDS: (partial listing)
Winner, “Peoples Choice Award” City of Chico, CA COBA 2005
Recipient of an Outdoor Mural Commission for the City of Chico California
1st Place Sculpture, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, VT
Award of Artistic Excellence 2008
ORGANIZATIONS:
Current Member of the International Guild Of Realism
Current Member of the Chico Art Center, Chico, CA
Current Member of the Paradise Art Center, Paradise, CA
Past juried member New Hampshire Art Association, Portsmouth, NH; 1985 to 2002;
Past juried member North Shore Art Association, East Gloucester, MA
Past juried member League Of New Hampshire Craftsmen 1978 to 2002
Past juried member Vermont State Craft Center, Windsor Vermont 1978 to 2004
