As soon as Frank Colburn was able to use a crayon or mold clay with his hands, he showed a creative talent for art. Formal training came first from his mother who was a talented amateur artist and from art classes in high school.

In 1964, Frank entered the University of Oregon where he first studied sculpture under Jan Zach. Studies were interrupted in 1965 with a tour of duty in the Vietnam, where Frank was decorated as a front line medic with the infantry division. During this time, a strong bond of patriotism and loyalty to his country were solidified. It is no accident that these themes are recurrent in his art today.

After returning from Vietnam, Franke continued his art studies at the University of Oregon. Thee included a curriculum of not only sculpture, but painting, photography and biology. Such classes as zoology and comparative anatomy can be of great importa0ce in laying the foundation for working with natural forms in the three dimensions.

In 1970, Frank received his B.A. from the University of Oregon and went on to graudate studies in art. He studied at Karls Eberhardt University in Tubingen, West Germany. During this time, Frank travelled extensively throgh Europe visiting nearly every major museum on that conteinent. Research was also conducted at the University of Salonica in Greece. The following year, Frnak was awarded a prestigious Kress Fellowship to finish his Masters Degree.