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. Due to the financial situation he was unable to pursue an artistic education. Following school he did his military service as a signaller in the navy.

After that F. J. Goosen took up an appointment with bargee O. Hansen & Son in Amsterdam, where he worked for eleven years. Drawing and painting remained his great passion and in 1976 he took the plunge and became a professional painter.

Frits's oeuvre consists not only of landscapes, harbours and city views but predominantly ships portraits. From the beginning of his career as an artist his passion for sailing-ships is evident in his works. He has specialized in charter sailing-ships and the so-called Brown Fleet, formerly cargo ships with brown sails, today often used as pleasure boats. He regularly takes part in regattas with these ships. Frits Goosen hardly ever misses the SAIL-event in Amsterdam.
 

Drawings, watercolours 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 charter-ships by name and the differences between them in great detail.

Besides his exhibitions in Holland F. J. Goosen regularly exhibits in Switzerland, Norway, England and the USA. Over the course of his painting career Frits Goosen has received several awards:

» Award of Excellence, Mystic Seaport Museum, Connecticut, USA, 1988, International Maritime Art Exhibition. (Five works of art recognized as outstanding examples of creativity, insight and integrity in marine art).

» Rudolph J. Shaefer Maritime Heritage Award, Mystic Seaport Museum, Connecticut, USA, 2001, International Maritime Art Exhibition (The judges will recognize the artist whose work best documents our maritime heritage, past or present, for generations of the future).

» Prize awarded by the public, Enkhuizen, Holland, 2002, exhibition 'Neerlands Vloot en de zee' on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the V.O.C. (United East Indian Company).

» In 1990 Frits Goosen was chosen as a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists (UK)