Sep 1-3, 2026

The Hawthorn Center 

6175 Sunny Spring Rd. Columbia, MD 21044-5623

Registration:

Not a Member?
Consider becoming an Associate Member for $30/year.

If you don't login the system will not know you are a member so you will not be able to register during the members only registration time and the computer will not give you the members only  price.

All registrations have to be paid within 5 days of registering. No exceptions please.

Workshop Instructor:

Join artist Frank Spino, an internationally renowned watercolorist known for his bold, realistic style for a 3 day in-person workshop.

This course is intended for the experienced beginner through to the advanced painter.

Although all are welcome, this is not an introductory-level class. We will cover a lot of territory at a brisk pace.

Supply list:

Click on the link below to see the recommended supply list. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sh85xZTKk2WQQxpRxNArHmiGULdk4jIC/view?usp=drive_link

INSTRUCTIONS

BIOGRAPHY:

In 2009, a friend took Frank to his first watercolor show. The talent surprised him - and it got him excited about the medium. Soon after, he began a serious exploration of watercolor.

Frank started his career as a sign painter. He painted thousands of walls and windows, developing logos and branding businesses, large and small. After 15 years he was asked to join the team at Kennedy Space Center. He transitioned to billboard painting where he would often paint a 10’ x 30’ billboard in a single day. As the age-old craft of signpainting began to wane with the advancement of computer technology, Frank went with the rising tide and moved on to computer graphics.

Frank’s decades of creating good design, his knowledge of color, and tens of thousands of hours with a brush in hand were of tremendous benefit when he finally turned his eye towards watercolor.

Frank had a five month solo show at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Florida. His watercolors have been selected for many worldwide exhibitions: World of High Watercolor in Russia, World Watercolor Masters at the International Watercolor Society in Holland, World Watercolor Masters Select Group at The Hague, International Watercolor III, IV & V in Greece, Biennial International Prize Marche D’Acqua in Italy, Shenzhen International Watercolor Biennial in China, Shanghai-Zhujiajiao International Watercolor Exhibition in China, FabrianoInAcquarello in Italy, International Watercolor Society in Canada, Missouri Watercolor International Exhibition in Spain, National Watercolor Society (NWS), American Watercolor Society (AWS), Transparent Watercolor Society of America which he will judge in 2027 (TWSA), Southern Watercolor Society (SW), Florida Watercolor Society (FWS) and many other regional and state watercolor societies. He has achieved signature status in the AWS, NWS, TWSA, SW, FWS, BWS and PWS. (Baltimore, Pennsylvania)

His paintings have been published in the Art of Watercolor, American Artist Watercolor, Watercolor Artist, and many others. He had the cover and a seven page article in Watercolor Artist. His painting graced the cover of “Splash 14, The Best of Watercolor,” a hardbound book published annually, and his paintings have been included in Splash 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21. 

WORKSHOP PRICE:

$320.00 for BWS members (Signature Artists, Associates, and Students) and

$360.00 for non-BWS members.

The class size is limited to 22 people, and the workshop cannot be split with another person.

PAYMENTS:

Please pay online if possible. The payment system allows the use of Credit Cards. Otherwise, checks should be made out to Baltimore Watercolor Society. Please enter the name of the workshop on your check. You will receive another email with the instructions for the check payment, if online payment is not opted during checkout process. Questions can be addressed by replying to this email.

Confirmation of your registration will be sent upon receipt of your check or online payment. Checks must be received within 5 days of registration to be considered as registered.

FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION VISIT:

Remember that these workshops fill up very quickly. When filled, you can join the waiting list.

WAITING LIST:

BWS maintains a workshop waiting list. When openings occur, BWS fills the openings from the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.

BWS adds names to the waiting list according to the date and time.

You can join the waiting list if a workshop is filled. There are often openings so it is worth doing if you are interested in the class.

You can't join a waiting list before registration opens.

Waiting List registrants - Do not send payment until you are informed of an opening and have been sent an invoice. Any check sent before you have been informed you have a spot will be destroyed.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:

BWS makes decisions and incurs fixed costs based on the number of initial registrants. Cancellations can affect these costs even if there is a waiting list. In addition, cancellations incur processing fees and other costs paid by BWS as well as requiring extra time and organizational effort. Refunds for extenuating circumstances are at the discretion of the event coordinator.

In the event of inclement weather, the workshop will still be held unless the Hawthorn Center is unable to open or the workshop artist is unable to travel. If BWS cancels the workshop, then all paid registrants will receive a full pro-rata refund for those days that were cancelled.

Check the website for changes, updates and new information.

Questions and requests to be added to the waiting list can be directed to Workshop chair by replying to this email.

LOCATION:

The Hawthorn Center is located in the community of Hickory Ridge in Columbia, Maryland:

6175 Sunny Spring Rd. Columbia, MD 21044-5623

Tel: (410) 730-7327

WORKSHOP HOURS:

First Day Hours - Sep 1, 2026 - Hawthorn Center doors open at 9:30 AM to allow you to set up your workspace. Workshop instruction begins: 10:00 AM on the first day and end at 4:00 PM.

Sep 2 and 3  - Doors will open at 9:00 AM and instruction will be from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

One-hour break for lunch

Please plan to leave by 4:15 PM. Hawthorne Center closes and doors are locked promptly at 4:30 PM

Please be advised that we are not requiring participants to wear a mask at this time.