Franklin Jones, winner of the American Watercolor Society's highest award - the Gold Medal of Honor (Dolphin Fellowship) - is acclaimed for his watercolor and his acrylic paintings. Franklin is listed in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in the East, and Who's Who in the World, and he also a lifetime member of the unique Whiskey Painters of America and an honorary member of the Akron Society of Artists.
During World War II, Franklin served as a public relations artist with the U.S. Marines. Later, Franklin was the Assistant Director (instructor for students and teachers alike) at the Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut. His portrait of Norman Rockwell, for which the great artist posed, hangs at the school today. For many years now, Franklin has been spending quite a bit of time outdoors, capturing New England's landscape and people with a brush. In search of subjects, Franklin can be found crouched in a meadow recording the different species of wildflower, standing in the snow at five-below sketching a farmer butchering hogs, or poised by the sea on the coast of Maine.
Two of Franklin's prize-winning works were a
purchase award for the collection of the Discovery Museum of Bridgeport,
Connecticut. General Electric, Westinghouse, and Blue Cross of Pennsylvania also own some of his work. Monarch Capitol Insurance, of Springfield, Massachusetts have purchased 50 of his paintings and sketches.
Though primarily a fine arts painter, Franklin has done more than 30 paintings for Gray's Sporting Journal - in one case illustrating his own short story. He has also done illustrations for Yankee magazine, Backpacker magazine, and numerous books.
Franklin's own instructional books were very successful: The Pleasure of Painting and Painting Nature. Gift shops in Stockbridge, Massachusetts all used to carry Sketches of Stockbridge, which is a collection of Franklin's pencil sketches of the notable and historical sites of this unique place in America. However, there are only a few remaining copies, and they can only be purchased here on this web site, or from the artist directly. Franklin lived in Stockbridge, across the street from the Berkshire Botanical Gardens, for many years; and his sister also worked just down the road at the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Currently, Franklin has a wonderful instructional VIDEO for sale that beginners and professionals alike will thoroughly enjoy! We also invite you to use this web site to find a copy of one of his books, order a print, or even purchase one of his fine unique paintings.