Catalogue of the Great
American West
David C. Behrens
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DAVID C. BEHRENS' love for painting and his passion for
pursuing truth merge each time he starts a new piece. For him, creating what he calls
"historically accurate art" is no easy task. The many significant events in
Native American history that are lost in our modern day curriculum. "The problem is
not so much in the diluting of history, but in the total absence thereof".
Being of Italian/German descent, many wonder where his interest in Native Americans comes from. For Behrens, his interest stems from his deep spiritual base. " I remember being moved while reading a copy of The Indian 23rd Psalm. It read, in part, "The Great Shepherd Chief Above is with me. His and with Him I want not. He throws out a rope to me and the name of the rope is love. He draws me to where the grass is green and the water not dangerous". After reading this, I knew my life would never be the same."
When David paints, he holds authenticity in the highest regard. Only after thoroughly reseaching a subject is he ready to lay down his first brushstroke. His research comes to him in three distinct forms. First, he studies actual accounts from trusted authors such as Dee Brown. Then, he consults with historical societies to supplement his readings. Finally, he converses with those who have ancestors who were actually involved in the events he portrays.
About his paintings
The painting technique that Behrens enjoys working in traces its roots back to the early Italian Renaissance period. This "oil glazing" method requires much patience. Using several thin layers of oil washes, David slowly begins to see his subjects emerge. Behrens prefers to paint on a surface of gesso because he loves how the fusing of realism and texture activate one another.
Along with his intriguing montage images, one cannot deny the emotional pull found in his work. "Facts and figures speak to our mind's, but images touch our hearts. It is a heart's change that will ultimately help us see the world through different eyes. This is my highest hope...for God to use my art in that way".
| DAVID C. BEHRENS was born on March 1,1969 in Queens, NY, David was eventually raised in Huntington,Long Island(NY). He attended East Carolina University and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from their School of Art in 1992. David's work is represented in six US museums and can be viewed internationally at hundreds of locations. He can also be seen regularly in such publications as Southwest Art, Native Peoples, and Art Business News and on several bookcovers published by the University of Oklahoma Press. David currently makes his home near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlotte, NC. |
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When Colors Bleed II ----"sold out"
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When Colors Bleed -----"sold out"
Five Cent Peace
Iron Horse Apocalpse 
They Moved Them
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