Most Fire Island & Great South Bay News cover artists this summer have come by us through a connection – professional or personal – they are someone’s friend or affiliated with an organization. Frank Genova, however, basically cold-called us. He responded to and did well on a social media summer solstice photo challenge. He emailed to thank us for the exposure and mentioned that he was also a painter. He referred us to his website frankgenova.com. The rest is history.
“I fell in love with the natural beauty of Fire Island and the architecture,” said the soft-spoken frequent visitor to Fire Island Pines. “It started my watercolor experience. Before that, I only worked in oils, but the island lends itself to watercolor painting, which took off from there.”
Over the past ten years, Genova has participated in several Fire Island Pines Art Project Biennial exhibitions, where he sold work and met patrons.
“It is nice to meet the people, patrons, some of the people that buy my work. I like to hear them tell me what drew them to it and where they plan to hang it. Sometimes, there are interesting histories behind the sales. One person purchased a painting I did of downtown Sayville. He told me his grandmother lived in the building in that painting, and it meant a lot to him to have it. Such stories are very rewarding to me.”
He studied art at Brooklyn College, which has a respected art program.
“The problem was, during the time I attended, the instructors leaned towards more abstract work, which was not my forte,” Genova explained. “I was not interested in it, and representational art kind of fell out of favor. So, I felt discouraged because the professors pushed for a style that was not me.”
However, while at Brooklyn College, Frank also studied engineering and ultimately pursued a career in technical drafting – perhaps why his rendition of the boat in the cover image is so precise, and the view from Fire Island Pines Harbor immediately recognizable.
While growing up in Brooklyn, Genova moved to a 55-plus community in Monroe Township New Jersey upon retirement. He does not make it to Fire Island as much these days but makes a point of visiting friends here when he can. He enjoys playing the keyboard with a music group member of his residential community, who has organized. He also has a passion for travel and will be visiting the city of Prague soon.
