About the Artist
Frank Gaffney
Frank has been interested in art all his life and always received encouragement from family and art teachers when growing up in Northern Idaho. After high school, he came to Seattle to study Advertising and Design at Cornish School of Allied Arts. Took courses at the University of Washington in Portrait Sculpture and Graphic Design, studied portraiture with Leslie B. DeMille at the Scottsdale Artist’s School, studied painting under William F. Reese and took a workshops with Master Artist Ned Mueller, Daniel Gerhartz and Alexander (Sasha) Zimin, from the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia plus a Painting Workshop with Slava Korolekov, a impressionist oil painter from Moscow, Russia.
Frank had his first solo exhibition shortly after graduation from Cornish, then began working in the graphic arts field as a corporate designer and illustrator. During this period he painted numerous portraits and other fine art commissions, operating a gallery and studio part-time with a fellow artist. While Frank’s first love is portraiture, his extensive boating experience on the waters of Washington state and British Columbia, Canada, has inspired many marine paintings. Recent works also depict new experiences sailing in Croatia and the Caribbean Islands. Frank’s latest inspiration is a painting trip in England.
Frank is a Life Member and past President of The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists, a Signature Member of The American Society of Marine Artists and a Charter Member of the Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Artists. He is also a member of the Oil Painters of America, and the Coast Guard Art Program.
Frank’s work has been juried into shows and galleries nationally, winning numerous awards and accolades.
Painting Resume:
Memberships:
A Life Member and past President of the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists
A Signature member of the American Society of Maritime Artists
Charter Member of the Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Artists
Oil Painters of America
The Coast Guard Art Program
Awards:
June 2025 - Best of Show, Puget Sound Group Northwest Artists at Willard Art & Frame: Bothell, WA.
September 2023 -Honorable Mention- Mountlake Terrace, WA.
July 2021 - George Gray Award for Artistic Excellence; U.S. Coast Guard Art Program collection.
July 2019 - Honorable Mention- 26th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
October 2018 - Best Of Show - Gardens Town Square; Bellevue, WA.
August 2018 - Honorable Mention - 25th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
September 2017 - AWARD - 39th Annual Juried Art Show; Mountlake Terrace, WA.
June 2017- Third Place - 19th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
April 2017 - Entry of Merit Award - Coos Art Museum eXpressions West.
June 2016 - 2 Honorable Mentions - 18th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
July 2015 - Featured Artist - 22nd Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2014 - Honorable Mention - 16th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
November 2013 - Merchandise Award - Evergreen Association of Fine Arts Annual Open Exhibition; Bellevue, WA.
July 2013 - Honorable Mention - Maritime Art Exhibition, Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor, WA.
June 2013 - 2nd Place Award - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
December 2012 - Kirkland Art Center Award - Eastside Association of Fine Arts Annual Open Exhibition; Bellevue, WA.
June 2012 - Honorable Mention - 14th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
July 2010 - Award of Merit - 17th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition, Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR .
October 2009 - Honorable Mention - Aqueous IV, ASMA-Western Division; Ventura County Maritime Museum; Oxnard, CA.
August 2009 - Fourth Place Award -11th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
July 2009 - The Director’s Award - 16th Maritime Art Exhibit, Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
July 2008 - Award of Merit - 29th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition, Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
Juried Shows:
July 2025 - The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, at the Columbia River Museum; Astoria, OR.
June 2025 - The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, at the Harbor History Museum; Gig Harbor, WA .
June 2025 - Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase.
October 2024 - The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists at Cannon Beach Historical Society; Cannon Beach, OR.
September 2024 - 44rd Annual Juried Art Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace, WA.
July 2024 - 30th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2024- Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA .
June 2024 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY.
June 2024 - 44th Edmonds Art Festival, Edmonds, WA.
September 2023 - 43rd Annual Juried Art Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace, WA.
June 2022 - Edmonds Art Festival, Edmonds, WA.
June 2022 - Hello Summer Art Exhibition - Gallery North, Edmonds WA.
June 2022 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY.
September 2021- Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artist Great Annual NW Art Exhibition, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland WA.
September 2021 - Spring Marine Art Exhibition for The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, Seattle, WA.
August 2021 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
July 2021 - 27th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
August 2020 - Oil Painters of America, Virtual Salon Exhibition of Traditional Oils.
September 2019 - 1st annual Marine Art Exhibition for The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, Seattle, WA.
September 2019 - 40th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, The Maritime Gallery, Mystic CT.
September 2019 - 41st Annual of The Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace, WA.
September 2019 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
July 2019 - 26rd Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
August 2018 - 25th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR .
June 2018- 20th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA .
June 2018 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA .
September 2017 - 39th Annual Juried Art Show; Mountlake Terrace, WA.
August 2017 - 24rd Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2017- 19th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
June 2017 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
April 2017 - Coos Art Museum eXpressions West ; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
August 2016 - 23rd Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2016 - 18th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
June 2016 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
October 2015 - Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artist’s private Exhibition at the Rainier Club, Seattle, WA.
August 2015 - Featured Artist 22nd Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR .
July 2015 - 31st Northwest Marine Art Exhibition; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
June 2015 - 17th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
June 2015 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
Oct. 2014 - Dec. 2015 - 16th National Internet Exhibition, American Society of Maritime Artists.
August 2014 - Juried the 21st Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2014 - 16th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
June 2014 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
November 2013 - Aqueous V, Channel Islands Maritime Museum, Oxnard, CA.
November 2013 - Evergreen Association of Fine Arts 38th Annual Open Exhibition; Bellevue, WA.
August 2013 - 20th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
August 2013 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
July 2013 - GigFest Maritime Art Exhibition, Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor, WA.
July 2013 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY .
June 2013 - 15th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
June 2013 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA .
June 2013 - Oil Painters of America, Solon. Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey, MI.
January 2013 - Contemporary Marine Artists of The West Coast; Lodi, CA.
July 2012- 28th Northwest Marine Art Exhibition; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
June 2012 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
May 2012 - 40th Anniversary invitational show; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 2011- 27th Northwest Marine Art Exhibition; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 2011- 18th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
June 2011 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
June 2011 - GigFest Maritime Art Exhibition; Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor, WA.
2011 - Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston, Texas.
July 2011 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY.
October 2010 - Eastside Association of Fine Arts 35th Annual Open Exhibition; Bellevue, WA.
August 2010 - 12th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
July 2010- 17th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition; Coos Art Museum; Coos Bay, OR.
July 2010- 26th Northwest Marine Art Exhibition; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 2010 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Federal Hall National Memorial; Manhattan, NY.
June 2010 - ASMA North 2-venue Exhibition, at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and Minnesota Marine Art Museum.
June 2010 - Edmonds Arts Festival; Edmonds, WA.
June 2010 - U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Exhibition; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY.
May 2010 - Puget Sound Group of Norhtwest Painters Spring Show at the Kirsten Gallery; Seattle, WA.
February 2010 - Annual Wash. State Juried Art Competition, Collective Visions Gallery: Bremerton WA.
October 2009 - Aqueous IV, ASMA-Western Division; Ventura County Maritime Museum; Oxnard, CA.
August 2009 - 11th Annual Kenmore Art Show; Kenmore, WA.
Showings:
November 2020 - The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, at University House; Issaquah, WA .
August 2020 - Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists, Great Annual NW Art Exhibit.
August 2020 - The Pacific Rim Institute Of Marine Artists, Online Show.
March 2020 - Gardens Town Square; Bellevue, WA.
October 2019 - Aljoya Mercer Island, Mercer Island, WA.
October 2018 - Gardens Town Square; Bellevue, WA.
May 2018 - University House; Issaquah, WA.
January 2017 - Contemporary Masters of Marine Painting, Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI.
November 2015 - Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle’s 3rd Annual Art Show , Seattle, WA.
July 2016 - 33rd Northwest Marine Art Exhibition; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 2016 - Museum of Northwest Art Store, 121 South First Street, La Conner WA.
November 2015 - Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle’s 3rd Annual Art Show , Seattle, WA.
July 2014 - 30th Northwest Marine Art Exhibition, Kirsten Gallery, Seattle WA.
June 2014 - Surf and Turf Art Exhibition at The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists Gallery, Seattle, WA.
June 2013 - Four Man Show at The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists Gallery, Seattle, WA.
June 2010 - The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists Spring Show; Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA.
March 2010 - Gallery San Juan, Friday Harbor, WA.
August 2008 - Renton Art & Antique Walk, Renton, WA.
August 2007 - Renton Art & Antique Walk, Renton, WA.
May 2006 - Arthead Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 2003 - Northwest Marine Art Exhibition at the Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle, WA.
Feb. 2001 - North Seattle City College, Seattle, WA.
July 2001 - Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle, WA.
April 1999 - Nautilus Marine Art Gallery, Seattle, WA.
July 1999 - Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters Group Show, Lynnwood, WA.
Education:
Advertising and Design at Cornish College of the Arts; Seattle WA.
Portrait Sculpture and Graphic Design at the University of Washington; Seattle WA.
Portraiture with Leslie B. DeMille at the Scottsdale Artist’s School; Scottsdale AZ.
Portraiture and figure painting with William F. Reese; Woodinville WA.
Plein Air Workshop with Ned Mueller: Renton WA.
Still life workshop with Alexander (Sasha) Zimin, from the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Painting Workshop with Daniel Gerhartz, at the Figurative Art Convention & Expo, Miami, FL.
Painting Workshop with Slava Korolekov, a impressionist oil painter from Moscow, Russia.
