Howard Behrens was recognized as the master of palette knife artists and one of America’s most important contemporary artists. Considering himself as an expressionist more than an impressionist, Behrens conveyed emotion and spontaneity in his work. His passion for art dated back to his childhood when he turned to painting to fill the hours in bed convalescing from a massive leg injury. Born in Chicago in 1933, he later moved to the suburbs of the nation’s capital-where he lived with his wife Judi and his two children. Classically trained in art, Behrens held undergraduate and masters degrees in Fine Art. Prior to making the transition to full time professional artist in 1978, he was the Chief Artist at the US Government Printing Office. He designed a John Hancock stamped postcard and he prepared visual materials for the White House and the US Senate. Since 1980, Behrens had over 140 “One Man Shows” from coast to coast, most of which have been sell-outs. His works are sold around the globe and feature articles about Behrens have appeared in numerous magazines with his work on the covers of many of these. Celebrity collectors of Behrens’ work include Barbara Bush, Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson, Neil Diamond, and Marvin Hamlisch. Impressionist masters Van Gogh, and particularly Monet, had a strong influence on Behrens. He noted how they spontaneously expressed emotion through the use of color. Behrens felt that his use of the palette knife allowed him the same spontaneity to translate his feelings to the canvas. He possessed an almost magical ability to create works that resonate with color and light; they stand bold and vibrate with texture. Behrens’ passion was his art- and travel. He captured color, light, and romance as he took his collectors on a visual journey. Behrens refused to paint a place that he had not visited, preferring to “feel” the location rather than only relying on photographs. His wife Judi comments, “He was able to capture the essence and romance of a place in a single frame.”