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Question: Howard Behrens: The Biography
Answer: The Monet of the 21st Century
Howard Behrens was the undisputed leader of American palette knife artists. While most painters use a brush to apply pigment and a palette knife only for mixing, Behrens famously abandoned the brush entirely in the late 1970s. He treated the palette knife as a "spatula for light," applying "big, juicy chunks of paint" (as he called them) to create a lush, sculptural skin on the canvas. This technique, which he termed "controlled spontaneity," allowed him to capture the vibrating sunlight of the Italian coast and the gardens of Giverny with an emotional intensity that traditional brushes couldn't reach.
Behrens’ career reached legendary status when he was appointed the official artist of the 2002 Winter Olympics. His home and studio, "Villa Behrens," became a landmark of its own, designed to mirror the light and architecture found in his paintings. Today, his work is held in permanent museum archives and prestigious private collections, including those of former President George H.W. Bush, solidifying his legacy as the premier romantic expressionist of his era. |
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Question: What makes Howard Behrens’ palette knife technique unique?
Answer: Behrens didn't just use the knife for detail; he used it to "sculpt" the entire composition. He would often splash large areas of the canvas with thick, wet paint and then use the sharp edge of the knife to "carve" back the edges of buildings, boats, and flowers. This creates a high-relief texture that physically catches the light in a room, changing the appearance of the painting as the sun moves throughout the day. |
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Question: Is it true that Howard Behrens invented the "Hand-Embellished Serigraph"?
Answer: Yes. In the early 1980s, working with Soho Editions, Behrens became the first artist to take a finished serigraph-on-canvas and personally apply fresh oil paint with his palette knife. This "enhanced" the print, giving it the physical texture and soul of an original. This process revolutionized the industry, allowing collectors to own a piece that had been physically touched and worked on by the artist himself. |
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Question: Why is he often compared to Claude Monet?
Answer: Behrens is frequently called the "Monet of the 21st Century" because of his obsession with light. Like the Impressionists, he virtually eliminated black and white from his palette. He believed that shadows weren't black, but were actually composed of deep violets, blues, and forest greens. In 2000, he even created a famous "Tribute to Monet" series after painting on-location in Monet’s gardens at Giverny. |
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Question: What are his most widely recognized works?
Answer: "In Motion" (his 2002 Olympic piece), "Varenna Morning," and "Bellagio Promenade" are among his most sought-after titles. These works are quintessential "Behrens," capturing the romantic, sun-drenched atmosphere of the Italian Lake District. |
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Question: How does his process differ from other landscape painters?
Answer: Behrens had a very specific "Experiential" method. He would travel the world armed with a camera and a sketchpad, taking 30 or 40 slides in a single 100-yard walk. He called his camera his "celluloid sketchpad." Back in the studio, he would combine these photographic memories with his sketches to create a composite "perfect" world that emphasized beauty and internal satisfaction over literal geography. |
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Question: Why is he called the "Monet of the Palette Knife"?
Answer: Behrens pioneered a "Dappled Light" technique using a palette knife rather than a brush. Collectors look for the "Impasto"—thick paint peaks that create a physical 3D texture on the canvas or giclee. |
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Question: What is the value of a "Lake Como" vs. a "California" scene?
Answer: His "Italian Lakes" and "Mediterranean" series are his most recognized "Brand" images. These consistently realize higher secondary market prices than his general American coastal scenes or floral works. |
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Question: Is "Condition" a risk for his thick-paint giclees?
Answer: Yes. Because he used a heavy, glossy varnish to mimic oil, any "Cracking" or "Yellowing" of the varnish is fatal to the value. A "Pristine and Glowing" Behrens is required for a top-tier sale. |
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Question: Why should I contact Herndon Fine Art for a Behrens acquisition?
Answer: With 40 years of experience, we have followed Behrens' career from his early Findlay Gallery shows to his peak as a world-renowned master. Our "Source & Scout" service is particularly valuable for Behrens collectors because we can distinguish between standard editions and those rare, early "Masterwork" hand-embellished canvases that carry the heaviest impasto and the most direct artist involvement. |
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1. EVERY piece of art receives my personal verification of condition and authentication.
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