Frits Goosen

Frits Goosen (born 1943) has been giving substance to the connection between art and nature in Dutch landscapes for many years.  His career first began in the military with the Royal Dutch Navy.  Goosen, a self-taught artist, began studying and sketching the older fishing boats while working as a manager of the Amsterdam Dockyards. During this time, he began to consider the idea of building a life as an independent artist.  He officially began his artistic endeavors by selling paintings in his father-in-law's home furnishing store.  He has many influences from The Hague School; a result of Barbizon Style combined with the Old Masters traditions of The Netherlands.

His paintings are characterized by his sensitive manipulation of composition, light, arrangement, and color.  Goosen possesses an intense admiration of nature and life.  This admiration derives his focus and passion of water and its surroundings.  He is known for his works of harbor scenes that feature a soft white light, giving his paintings a radiant quality.

In 1988 he received the Award for Excellence.  His paintings are showcased in Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Geneva, Frederikstadt (Norway), London, Washington D.C., and Charleston, SC.  Many of his pieces hang in collections across The Netherlands and England. In addition to 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 including the 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), the Rudolph J. Shaefer Maritime Heritage Award, Mystic Seaport Museum, CT, 2001, International Maritime Art Exhibition, 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).