Organic Brush Marks: Art by Ken Herren

An abstract painting with a textured purple overcoatCarioca, acrylic-infused pumice on canvas

Ken Herren is a painter who blends wildly abstract, organic brush marks with strict, geometrically patterned compositions and cohesive colour schemes. The artist’s body of work speaks of contrast and visual reconciliation between the artist’s rural upbringing and his current urban lifestyle. 


A painting with textured, coloured pumice as a top coatDjango, acrylic-infused pumice on canvas

 

I really enjoy the thick, heavy textures of Ken’s paintings. As we saw in our previous feature of Ken’s expressions of worlds colliding, the artist uses a blend of ground pumice and acrylic pigment to create a thick, brightly coloured paste which is then applied liberally to an abstractly colourful canvas, creating a heavy layer of earthen texture that reveals moments of what seems almost like a different painting, below. 


A screen capture of Ken Herren's art portfolio websitewww.kenherren.com

 

The artist’s works are a fine balance between cohesive composition and contrasting tension. Even in his Oddities and Other Stuff gallery, Ken demonstrates an affinity for this thick, textured style of painting, which also calls to mind the work of David Maxim or David Tycho.


A painting with a bright yellow top coat over abstract coloursChiquitita, acrylic-infused pumice on canvas

Written by: Dallas Jeffs
Explore more artworks

Become a featured artist

You can't be featured if you don't submit!
40,000 people are waiting to discover your artwork today.