Frits J. Goosen

Frits J. Goosen (13 December 1943, Hilversum, Holland) is currently one of the leading impressionist painters. From an early age he sketched and painted and was often able to look around the studio of Stephen Kip, a painter who lived nearby. Following school he did his military service as a signaller in the navy. Drawing and painting remained his great passion and in 1976 he took the plunge and became a professional painter.

Frits’ oeuvre consists not only of landscapes, harbors and city scapes but predominantly ships portraits. From the beginning of his career as an artist his passion for sailing ships is evident in his work. He has specialized in charter sailing ships and the so-called Brown Fleet, formerly cargo ships with brown (tanbark) sails, today often used as pleasure boats. He regularly takes part in regattas with these ships.

Drawings, watercolors and photographs taken on site form the basis for his paintings. Back in the studio the oil paintings are created, using his imagination and photographic memory. His intimate knowledge of trees, cattle and the technical aspects of ships are essential in bringing the paintings to perfection. Frits Goosen knows practically all local sailing ships by name. Fritz has won many awards at Mystic Seaport Museum such as the Award of Excellence, Rudolph J. Shaefer Maritime Heritage Award, and in 1990 Frits was chosen as a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists.