He has been ‘beavering’ at this for weeks, we thought he was getting no where…

Bob Brennan, musician, the composer who wrote several pieces inspired by Gordon Frickers paintings today wrote, “I have spoken to Gordon Frickers as soon as I returned home, during which conversation, he asked if he might come to meet the Lord Mayor of Plymouth at 11.30am on Friday, July 1st. (That is this coming Friday.)

I hope this will be convenient to The Lord Mayor, and hope that you see this note when you arrive at your desk on Thursday morning. Gordon is looking forward to this meeting very much. His e mail address is art-gf@pobox.com

Please could you say what security procedures he and I need to follow for this meeting, by E mailing both Gordon and myself?

Alison took note of this request on your behalf at about 15 25hrs today, Tuesday 28th June“.

~

There are several issues for the Lord Mayor to think over including:

He has on his hands the only Marine Artist ever to be invited to the European Parliament.

Probably the only one from Plymouth indeed from the whole of the South Weest of England – and the regional media missed the story as did all the local galleries and the City museum!

Excellent publicity opportunity for the Lord Mayor?

The large new painting “Emigration, Plymouth Cattewater“ is yet to be displayed in Plymouth.

Gordon Frickers has not exhibited in Plymouth for over 10 years.

Sale of prints could aide the Lord mayor’s favourite charity – as did “The Port of Chester 1863″.

For the story and pictures including with the mayor of Chester see page http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/tag/chester/

Mind you, Chester gave the artist a civic reception at the Guildhall with over 400 invited guests attending and we sold 90 +  prints that night!

Chester Sea Scouts benefited.

Can Plymouth match of better that?

What else could be done inexpensively to better the cultural image of Plymouth and attract visitors and investment?

The Plymouth web site very poorly represent it’s painters and its museum to tourists.

A reputation might be enhanced by over seeing that?

This could easily and cheaply be dramatically improved! Currently Plymouth -could jump ahead of most British towns and cities which are lagging way behind many continental cities and towns – and missing out on tourist income…

This is on behalf of a descendant of an emigrant to Australia

This “Palmyra” was contemporaneously described as -

Type             Barque
Tonnage 602 tons
Constructed Calcutta, in 1820
Construction Teak, sheathed in felt and copper in 1836.
Port of registry London
Port of Survey London
Owner G. Joad (1836-1838),  J.Somes (1838-1840)

This barque appears to have had a survey and refit in 1836, probably when changing ownership which might also have meant a change of name.

On 26th September, 1838, the Palmyra, arrived in Sydney from London after a
voyage of 136 days (the “Samuel Plimsol” did it in 75 days, and the “James
Baines” in 65!) carrying 260 Government immigrants – plus crew – under the
command of Captain Parsons.
Its arrival was briefly noted in the “Sydney
Gazette & NSW Advertiser” of 27 September,1838, thus:” Yesterday, from
London 13th May, The barque Palmyra, with emigrants”.

If we are able to establish more on this Palmyra I’d be happy to share our discoveries.

You may be interested to know, the enquiry came about as a result of my painting the emigrant ship “Samuel Plimsol” preparing to leave Plymouth (England).
This new painting, “Plymouth Cattewater” (of the same water the Pilgrim Fathers and many other emigrants departed from) can be viewed on my blog http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/ and has already attracted quite a lot of attention.

I painted Plymouth Cattewater for several reasons including it had to be done and as a potential centerpiece for an exhibition on marine transport next year (May) at the invitation of the European Parliament.

I am only allowed 50 guests at the EP Expo so if you are interested let me know ASAP including why and how likely you are to attend, thank you.

HISTORIC: Marine artist Gordon Frickers finishing the painting of old Plymouth

A PAINTING of Plymouth Cattewater showing a scene from the early 1880s is to be one of the centre pieces at an exhibition at the European Parliament.

Marine artist Gordon Frickers, from Plymouth, has been asked to submit the painting, entitled Plymouth Cattewater, which shows a clipper loading prior to her imminent departure for Australia.

It is believed Gordon will be one of very few British artists ever invited and certainly the first marine artist from Plymouth to exhibit at the Parliament building in Brussels.

Gordon said the invitation came about following an enquiry on his website, www.frickers.co.uk

“The person was looking for two prints of the marine painting “HMS Formidable, Seafires Returning” which was originally produced for a lady who’s husband had served as a pilot,” said Gordon who spent 300 hours creating the 48ins x 30ins work.

“It turned out I was speaking to a gentleman whose father had served on Formidable in WW2.

“This person turned out to be Brian Simpson, MEP with transport responsibilities.”

Brian offered Gordon the opportunity to exhibit at the European Parliament next year.

Gordon added: “I’m delighted to have been asked to exhibit the piece at such a venue.”

]]> http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/06/23/from-the-plymouth-herald/feed/ 0 http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/06/20/so-how-was-plymouth/ http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/06/20/so-how-was-plymouth/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:23:49 +0000 Gordon Frickers http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/?p=2137 My visit to Plymouth, looking back as I try to catch up on work at Itzac, went quite well including some good PR; the bad news was getting up early to be with Gordon Sparks on BBC Radio Devon the good news, Gordon  Sparks Sparkie is great fun to be interviewed by,

There will also be a a piece in the Plymouth Evening Herald ~ (circulation about 250,000) by Tristan Nicholls of whom some including David Folley say “the best journalist on the Herald”  about the new large marine painting Plymouth Cattewater and the invitation to exhibit next year at the European Parliament in Brussels. 

The photo here is a different view of the the Cattewater, River Plym, Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club from which I used to sail in former family days and looks towards the east shore and my former home at Plymstock.

Besides visiting familiar places and there is more to tell!

On the recommendation of Ian Criddle and Nigel Overton who viewed the original marine painting of Plymouth Cattewater, I have a probable invitation to exhibit at the Plymouth City Museum who are interested in piping the European Parliament to the post.

It was also said having failed to exhibit most of Plymouth’s famous artists during their life time ~ hang on , Plymouth’s famous artists you querie that?

OK, here are a very few, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Beryl Cook, Robert Lencavitz, Alan Cotton, Tim Thompson; the list is a long one and visitors who loved Plymouth include J M W Turner.

Thus I consider to be even mentioned in the same breath as those people an honour I am thrilled to merit!

~

http://www.frickers.co.uk/about.html

The weather has been typical, rain, strong winds and some calm beautiful days too.
This day started with a swim at 07.00. at Plymouth Central Park pool before going on to the Art Centre at Kelly Bray, Callington in Cornwall (Tel:01579 383523, www.artistsmaterialsonline.co.uk) .

I have been a customer for over 30 years at the Art Centre, formally Westward Art Frames, which I have seen evolve into a thriving business with an excellent selection of materials and probably unbeatable framing service; Jen and Roz who now look after the shop and framing respectively are much better looking than Ian and Darren!

I have been a customer with the Art Centre at Kelly Bray, Callington, for some 30 + years so they know me quite well and vice versa.
The objective was to drop off some French landscape paintings for framing, to discuss framing including for my limited edition and prestige prints and to buy from their extensive range of art materials.

The early morning dip at Central Park was inaugurated about 15 years ago by a keen few and has gradually become very popular across the age range.
I used to take my 2 children for a half hour, usually they wanted more but the drill was home to make them breakfast, often porridge,  then walk them to school thus giving them a good start and my beloved x an easy morning before she went to work.

Into the bargain en route to Callington I had the painter David Folley for company.

David Folley, best known for his portrait art and who paints great landscapes also wanted some supplies from the Art Centre.

We enjoyed a drive through fabulous blossom and wild flower rich countryside in glorious lighting hence the photo of me looking far to pleased with myself!

I had lunch in Plymouth with a good friend, the composer Bob Brennan who tells me he had just returned from Amsterdam having attended a Christian Judea conference.
Bob has composed music inspired by my paintings, unfortunately not on the web site; maybe I can find a way to place music on the blog?
Bob has also helped me several times, with expenses when I made an exhibition in Jerusalem, Israel and more recently with historical research for the large marine painting “Plymouth Cattewater“.
On this occasion after lunch I was able to show Bob Brennan the original painting of “Plymouth Cattewater“.
This afternoon I was in Plymouth seeing people in the Plymouth Museum and Naval Library about the painting “Plymouth Cattewater” including Nigel Overton and Ian Criddle.
They have kindly said they will recommend “Plymouth Cattewater” for exhibition and mention it to the regional press.
Not a bad day’s work?

I was heading up a rather humid and at times very grey Brittany to the port of Roscoff.

Half way across on the pleasant crossing on the almost new ferry Armorique, launched 2009, GT 29,500 tons, the weather quite suddenly cleared.

I was able to sunbath!

The weather that is usually in France was visiting Devon and Cornwall with visibility 30 + miles we could soon see the Dodman Head more than half way down the Cornish coast, a fine view of the rythmes of cliffs, beaches and moor land beyond, spectacular!

Plymouth Hoe!

The entry into Plymouth was spectacular, the port and environs looked magnificent.

This is  a good omen for the pictures I have conveyed, 2 special marine paintings one of which is a real collectors piece,  of Plymouth Cattewater by moonlight, and a selection of remarkable landscapes of France.

I am looking for quality outlets and for high profile exhibitions prior to go to the European Parliament next year, any suggestions?

Up early ish today and loading my car including with 2 major marine paintings (Plymouth Cattewater and Nelson at Gibraltar 10 Dec 1796) and numerous French landscapes.

One of the objectives of this return to my home port of Plymouth is to find out how the paintings are received, perceived and valued, another is to consider suitable exhibition venues.

The marine art was produced with in mind,  next years offer of an exhibition at the European Parliament, that being as far as I know the first time a marine artist from any country has been asked to exhibit at the European Parliament, certainly the first time an artist from Plymouth has been asked.

Thus with a fairly full car, including my traveling easel, paints, and so on I left Itzac sharp on 09.00 on a gloriously sunny morning, first stop Sauternes in Bordeaux with my good friends Isabelle and Jean Marie, the mayor and mayoress of Sauternes.

I admit I love Sauternes,

You may know of Sauternes wine?

The most exclusive white wine in the world comes from Sauternes, itself a very modest village of some 650 souls.

I have visited and painted there several times as part of my “Famous Wine Villages of France” project more of that on the web site.

You can view some of this work on page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/wine/index.html

This is a project I am looking to re start this summer partly because the villages have changed, more so because my work has matured and the new paintings will be even more fascinating.

As I was carrying, most unusually, a selection of about 40 french landscapes and 2 major marine paintings.

I was prevailed upon to show my work, not to hard, to show the art work I was conveying.

My friends know my work well, owning a landscape of Sauternes, also the town hall purchased a fine example, a painting of the town hall (and the gardens of the place de Sauternes)!

Isabelle and I had discussed my stopping as I more or less pass Sauternes on my route North, I had coffee at mid day in mind,

Isabelle had other ideas…

Barbeque and birthday cake,  surprisingly a truly  excellent Chardonnay from South Africa courtesy of Edward their son who unsurprisingly works in the wine industry and surprisingly has just returned from a tour working in overseas vineyards including in Chile and South Africa.

A wonderful spontaneous lunch, thank you my friends.

After a nap, onward to Bordeaux then te long haul North North North…

]]> http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/05/24/en-route-to-england/feed/ 0 http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/05/19/1975/ http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2010/05/19/1975/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 16:07:39 +0000 Gordon Frickers http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/?p=1975 I hear from my friends at Sea Breezes magazine, “Yes we did manage to get the Glenorchy scan to a publishable quality“.

Sea Breezes, Glenorchy the marine painting is in the June issue which is on sale today.
We had a slight problem because of the tight deadline.
I have an excellent 5″ x 4″ transparency of this beautiful marine art painting but no high resolution digital image and my Epsom Perfection 2450 scanner is currently NBG, refuses to talk to Vista.

~

Glenorchy is on the Sea Breezes gatefold in this issues, a rare chance to have a nice print of this classic Glen Line ship and Empire class tugs, some of the ex William Watkins,  Alexander Towing Company tugs.
You can find the picture and more text on page http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/glenorchy_thames.html.

The pop up on this page shows you the painting about life size but is not as crisp, sharp as the original consequently the colours have suffered a bit.

Of course, many of the illustrations here and on www.frickers.co.uk you can view larger than life.

Recently for your enjoyment, we have started to include a grey and a colour scale with the pictures thus if you wish to se them as close as is possible to the image we place on the web you can adjust. yourscreen.

I hop you think, still fun to see though?

The editor is would like to use more of my pictures in the future, probably “Plymouth Cattewater” featuring the crack clipper Samuel Plimsoll next.
Sea Breezes are preparing an article on the Samuel Plimsoll.
I mentioned to my friends at Sea Breezes, the exceelent new-ish Nicolette Jones book “The Plimsoll Sensation” to them (ISBN 978-0-349-11720-1).

The scene is based principally on my numerous memories of Plymouth Cattewater by moonlight and shows the “crack” clipper ship Samuel Plimsoll during the 1880’s, loading emigrants Australia Bound. Colour and tone bars are placed here in the picture margin so you can adjust your monitor/screen if you wish to better view this new marine painting

This painting is intended as one of the center pieces for the exhibition next year offered me at the European Parliament; ~ unless some one makes me an offer I can’t refuse!

I also hope this formidable marine painting will inspire Plymouth City Council to make better use of the site in the same sort of way the splendid “Port of Chester 1863″ inspired Chester council, a splendid story documented on page http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/chester.html which included a civic reception for the painting and artist.

You can pre order a copy of this painting, quickly, safely and securely  for as little as £150.00 using page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/making-a-payment/

~

There was a time when Plymouth was the preferred venue for emigration from Britain and only London and Liverpool saw more emigrants leave.

The facilities (the buildings on the right) at Plymouth were the best in the country by far, some thing Plymouth  can always be proud of.

This historic  site has been semi derelict and very neglected since the two large buildings were demolished in the 1930’s and is now up for re development.

The building nearest still stands and is the home of the Mayflower Sailing Club.

Cattewater? because this was a secure anchourage.

In former times ships would load in Sutton Pool and from adjacent beaches and coves which we now call Plymouth.

Then the ships would anchour and await favourable tide and wind.

When departing the anchour was raised and to re secure the anchour a type of derrick known as a Catte  was used.

Plymouth as many people world wide are aware was a point of departure for numerous emigrations probably the most famous being the settlement at by the Elizabethans inspired by Sir Walter Raleigh

Prior to the site being used as an emigration depot it’s history includes use by the British Royal Navy as a victualing quay up to about 1840  before  the construction of the victualling yards on the River Tamar at Stonehouse.

The Roanoke Colony settlers,  the first English colony in the New World, sailed from Plymouth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Colony) as splendidly documented in the book Elizabeth Big Chief The historic site of the Roanoke Colony is off of U.S. Highway 64 on the north end of Roanoke Island, North Carolina

The infinitely more famous Pilgrim Fathers emigrated from Plymouth in the Mayflower, boarding Mayflower from about where Gordon Frickers has composed this painting .

Thousand more people emigrated from Plymouth following those adventurers and famous voyages too numerous to cover here started from Plymouth Cattewater, to name drop a few, Francis Drake, first captain to circumnavigate the world, the Elizabethan fleet to combat the Spanish armada, James Cook navigator and discoverer.

We know the ancient Phoenicians were here trading for tin, they used the beach opposite under Mount Battern and probably the beach where Phoenix Wharf quay and the emigration depot were eventually built.

All would have departed from this same stretch of water, Plymouth Cattewater.

You can pre order a copy of this painting, quickly, safely and securely  for as little as £150.00 using page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/making-a-payment/

Of course the history of this splendid port goes back way before the 1880’s as shown here and it is to be hoped Plymouth City Council will develope the site sensitively for our future.

When I have more time I’ll add here credits, principal sources and some of the story of the Clipper ship Samuel Plimsoll, watch this space!