The character of an artist is often visible to the discerning eye, in the elements of the artist’s work. The style, subject matter, use of color, and technique all offer considerable insight to those who wish to know the person behind the painting. Upon meeting Howard Behrens, the correlation between artist and artwork quickly becomes apparent.

When away from a painting, Behrens pursues his other interests with equal fervor …thoroughbred horse racing, model trains, and of course, his trips to the shore. You will rarely find Behrens away from the sea.

On these trips, he can be seen snapping away with his 35mm camera. On his celluloid sketchpad, he is recording the images that will later be transformed, through his creative process and considerable facility, into paintings and serigraphs, works of art that are like the artist, energetic, enthusiastic, sunny and exciting.

To fully appreciate the work of Howard Behrens, there is another personality, besides that of the artist, which is crucial to understand that of the palette knife. It is stubborn, and when compared to the brush a rather inflexible instrument a diamond of metal with a handle affixed to one end. It lends itself to boldness rather than subtlety. It reveals its secrets slowly and only to those with patience and persistence. Although it is familiar to most artists, who utilize it in its traditional role as a mixing tool, it becomes rather intractable when drafted for the purpose of actually painting on canvas. However, for the few intrepid artists willing to see the learning process through, it will deliver the most thrilling of results. Behrens in one of those select few.

Howard Chesner Behrens is born in Chicago.1933

The Behrens family moves to a suburb of Washington D.C. 1940

Now seventeen, the young Howard breaks his leg in a sledding accident. Bedridden, he turns to painting to pass the time. 1951

Behrens receives his BA from the University of Maryland, and goes on to study medical art at John Hopkins University. He becomes disillusioned, and returns to the University of Maryland to obtain a Masters degree in painting and sculpture.

1952 Behrens is hired by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. where he is to until 1981, serving as chief artist for ten years. He continues to paint on weekends and nights. It is a period of experimentation and development, reaching a turning point in 1976, when he adopts the palette knife. 

1961 First one man show at the Phillips Gallery in West Palm Beach. Paintings sell for $1,500. 1980

First one man show at the Findlay Gallery in West Palm Beach. Paintings sell for $1,500-$3,200. 1982

Fifth one man show at the Findlay Galleries, New York. Paintings sell for $10,000.

1985 Behrens serigraphs first published by Soho Editions.

1986 Eighth one man show at the Findlay Galleries, New York. Paintings sell for as much as $20,000.