Chemist and inventor E.H. Fredrichs developed the tongue and groove style stretcher bar in 1875 and later was the first in America to manufacture canvas specifically for artists. It was from this foundation that the Fredrix company was built in 1868.

Fast-forward 100 years to 1966. From an artists' brush background, Wally Klarman and John Benator started a new artists' canvas company called Tara. In 1971 they purchased the Fredrix company and moved it from New York City to Lawrenceville, GA. When Tara acquired Fredrix they also acquired the Fredrix Master Primer who had been applying the oil priming to fine Belgian linen since the early 1930's! This man trained the current Master Primer, Jimmy Lyons, who has been with Tara Fredrix since 1973. So important is Mr. Lyons' craft that when his family needed to move from suburban Lawrenceville to rural Barnesville in 1980, Tara Fredrix moved their oil priming facilities to accommodate him!

Not just a Master Primer, Mr. Lyons began preaching in 1988 and was ordained in the Baptist Church in 1990. He currently pastors two churches in central Georgia. In addition to his typical congregational and Sunday duties, Jimmy preaches over 80 days of Revival through out the state each year.

Today Michael Benator, John's nephew, is the President of Tara Fredrix, continuing a lineage that has maintained a commitment to quality artists' products for 140 years.
47 of 47 Items
47 of 47 Items