Howard Behrens
“As an Expressionist, I paint fast while the passion for the painting is very strong. For me, the paint is the subject matter just as much as the image. I love the juicy chunks of color that I can translate to canvas with my palette knife.” — Howard Behrens Find beautiful framed art prints by Howard Behrens. |
Howard Behrens BiographyAmerican Painter, 1937 -Howard Behrens is known as the master painter with the pallete knife. Having created beautiful paintings without the use of a paint brush, Behrens' highly sought-after paintings are a beautiful representation of the many places the artist has visited over his career; from France and Italy to Mexico and even sunny California. Howard Behrens is one of master painters of his generation and one of the most popular artists in America today. For nearly seven decades, his life has been devoted to painting. His paintings are dramatic, intense, and alive with color and texture. Howard Behrens' art has been strongly influenced by Monet, Van Gogh and Nicola Simbari, the Italian palette knife artist. Like the Impressionists before him, Behrens is enchanted by the effects of light on the world, in particular, the radiance of the sun. Behrens attempts to express the subtle nuances of the sun in all the places he visits around the world. His works explore shadow, light and color and his palette knife technique perfectly expresses the boldness and control his passion requires. Behrens recalls,"One fact always puzzled me. The color of the paint on the palette was so much brighter, more exciting than the paint on the canvas. In 1976 when I had just returned from a three week trip to the western United States, I decided to try applying the colors directly onto the painting with my palette knife—the handheld metal tool usually used to mix and blend paints. "It was easier for me to be freer with the subject matter of the western landscape. Wide open spaces. Wandering riverbeds. Brilliant cloud formations. The western landscape lent itself to being more spontaneous—and using the palette knife instead of the brush allowed me to work with the paint much more quickly while retaining the pure, vivid color of the paints. I was hooked. I've been applying the colors directly onto my paintings with a palette knife ever since." His bold use of color and rich surfaces create lively, yet romantic and picturesque moments. Behrens uses classical principles when composing his paintings so the eye is allowed to rest while the imagination can explore Behrens' world—pristine coves, gentle palms, pink villas and breathtaking overlooks. Howard Behren's romance with the sun takes his viewers from ancient paths next to idyllic lakes in Italy, to intimate gardens in New England. He says the sun has taught him to be patient, to observe and to play. Like Monet, Howard Behrens appreciates the ever-changing play of light and shadow on the world, altering both the look and feeling of the location from hour to hour. Behrens has had over 150 one-man shows from coast-to-coast since becoming a professional artist in 1980. His works have been on the covers of many art publications and he has been the featured subject of numerous magazines and newspapers. After visiting Giverny, France, last year, Behrens created a "Tribute to Monet" series that was exhibited at the Embassy of France in Washington, D. C. As an official artist for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Behrens' painting, "In Motion," was featured at the games. The artist's works are owned by numerous, well-known collectors and are in the permanent collections of many museums. Find beautiful framed art prints by Howard Behrens. More art by Howard Behrens
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