About
ARTIST STATEMENT
I photograph moments of my everyday life that strike me, taking multiple images from different angles. Then I use watercolor and paper to create representational paintings, emphasizing kooky perspective and going for extreme color. Because the world is beautiful and deserves a second look.
BIO
Rose Manning is a Providence-based artist working in watercolor on paper and painted objects. She earned a BFA in Industrial Design from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. After college, she worked for ten years as an “envisioner,” developing and communicating early-stage product and service ideas. Trained as a painter from childhood with Solace Loven, her education also includes RISD Pre-College, painting and drawing coursework at MassArt, and classes at RISD CE, Providence Art Club, and the Rhode Island Watercolor Society.
EDUCATION
2008 — BFA, Industrial Design, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2018 - Present — Classes at RISD CE, Providence Art Club, Rhode Island Watercolor Society
MEMBERSHIPS
Rhode Island Watercolor Society
North East Watercolor Society
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 — Botanical Wonder, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, online. Juried.
2026 — Shades of Green, Spring Bull Gallery, Newport, RI. Juried.
2026 — Members’ Show, North East Watercolor Society, online.
CONTACT
Studio Address: 40 Sprague Street, Unit 1G, Providence, RI 02907
Email: rkmanning@gmail.com
The artist in her studio in her favorite jacket, 2026
POOLS
I’m a water sign (Scorpio).
I think it’s nice to look at water, it’s good for your mental health.
It is so hard to draw, technically. I’ll be trying to capture it for the rest of my life.
UMBRELLAS
I like the structure of umbrellas - they are extremely architectural.
If you are looking at the underside of an umbrella, you are generally in a very nice place - beachside, poolside, vacation.
And I like looking up, seeing things against the sky.
YEAR: 2025
MEDIUM: Watercolor and acrylic on paper
DIMENSIONS: 10 × 14 inches
FISHWIFE
I’m married to a fishmonger. I did his social media for the first few years. Every day, I tried to take artistic photos of fish. I now realize I wanted to paint them. Fish are funny, and beautiful and have very specific personalities.
YEAR: 2026
MEDIUM: Watercolor, acrylic and gouache on paper
DIMENSIONS: 7 × 10 inches
YEAR: 2026
MEDIUM: Watercolor, acrylic and gouache on paper
DIMENSIONS: 7 × 10 inches
PINK HOUSE
My mom goes to Naples in the winter. The light is hazy, the colors are bright, the land is still. We passed this house on a boat ride and it stuck with me.
