Skip to main content

Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

American, b. 1978

One of the foremost American Impressionists of the 21st century, artist Ben Fenske is known for his bold, energetic brushstrokes and signature use of vivid colors. His figurative paintings, still-lifes and interiors are flooded with warm natural light and dazzle in their wealth of blues, greens and soft violets.

Born in 1978, Fenske grew up in the small rural town of St. Joseph, Minnesota. His interest in art began at an early age. When he was 12 years old, Fenske would spend a minimum of two hours each day drawing and painting, working with charcoal, watercolors, acrylics and pastels. His passion for art broadened in high school, leading him to attend the Minnesota River School of Fine Art at age 18. There, he studied under artists including Joseph Paquet and Darren Rousar.    

Following a brief stint as a graphic designer, Fenske studied in Minneapolis at the Bougie Studio, learning figure drawing and cast drawing from artist Peter Bougie. Later, when he was in his early 20s, Fenske decided to go to Florence, Italy, to study painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art

While in Florence, Fenske became inspired by French Impressionism of the 19th and 20th centuries as well as Old Masters paintings and Russian and Soviet art — notably the works of brothers Aleksei and Sergei Tkachev.

For more than a decade, Fenske divides his time between Sag Harbor, New York, and Italy’s Tuscan hills, where he draws inspiration for his landscapes from the surrounding countryside. In addition to his paintings, Fenske has a considerable portfolio of portrait drawings and nude sketches. He has also delved into figurative sculpture, such as the bronze Wild Boar, which he created with artist Richard Zinon.

Fenske regularly exhibits throughout the United States, including annually at the Grenning Gallery in the Hamptons. In 2016, he participated in the “BP Portrait Award Exhibition” at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He was also named by American Artist magazine as one of the “Best 25 Living Artists” in 2012.

On 1stDibs, find a range of Ben Fenske paintings, drawings and sculptures.

to
6
3
2
6
4
1
1
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
5
1
4
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
79
709
80
74
46
6
6
3
2
2
Artist: Ben Fenske
"Golf" plein air oil painting, woman leaning on Fiat with dog in Tuscany, Italy
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Golf" is a plein air oil painting of a woman leaning against her Fiat with her dog in Tuscany, Italy. Her dog sits at attention while she is relaxed. Ben Fenske (b. 1978), althoug...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Linen

"Conch Shell" contemporary impressionist oil painting of seashell, peach tones
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Conch Shell" is a contemporary impressionist oil painting of seashell with peach and blue tones. A shell from the East End of Long Island in summer. Artist Bio Ben Fenske (b. 1978)...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Derby, Wellington FLA
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A gestural painting of a horse and rider landing from jumping an oxer in a large green field in sunny Florida.
Category

2010s Abstract Expressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Horse Standing - Contemporary realist oil painting by American Impressionist
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a brown horse, standing on green grass on a sunny day. Painted en plein air, after days of studying and sketching, Ben Fenske captured the correct proportions and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

"Pony and Groom" 2014 oil painting on wood, impressionist sketch, equestrian
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Pony and Groom" is an unframed, oil on wood panel, contemporary impressionist painting. Painted during the 2014 Wellington Winter Equestrian Festival. Center stage, stands a fit, br...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

Horse Sketch
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil on wood panel sketch of a horse, on a sunny day. The horse stands before a bright green field. Wood panel remains exposed as your eye drifts away from the center of the painti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Related Items
Mid-Century Paleolithic Hunt Scene
By Nan Street Fowler
Located in Soquel, CA
A wonderful mid-century interpretation of prehistoric, Paleolithic cave paintings; done in reddish earth tones and rich in visual texture by Sausalito, California artist Nan Street F...
Category

1950s Abstract Expressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Gardeuse de Moutons - Impressionist Figure in Landscape Oil by Julien Dupre
By Julien Dupré
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed impressionist oil on canvas figure and animals in landscape by French painter Julien Dupre. The work depicts a shepherdess resting on a log as her sheep graze in the green mea...
Category

1880s Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Desert Night Fox
By Tara Zalewsky-Nease
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This painting is part of a series of whimsical foxes. For these pieces, Tara has a collection of small toy foxes that she sets up like a still life for reference. I needed a dark background to offset the desert sand and warm hues of the fox, so I added in a dark sky flecked with little stars, Tara explains of this painting. I think of foxes as mystical creatures, leading the viewer to an otherworldly destination.

About the Artist

Desert Night...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Fun Fetch, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Jeff Fleming describes his painting style as kinetic impressionism. In this piece, a beagle triumphantly retrieves a stick thrown into the ocean. Jeff started the piece with a pencil sketch on the canvas, then with gloved hands, he applied oil paint using his fingers. Details were later added using brushes. Once these layers of paint dried, he moved the piece to his studio floor. "At this point, I whisked paint in random but authoritative strokes - a speckling technique which replicates water splashing."


About the Artist
Artist Jeff Fleming uses fingerpainting to create exuberant portraits of dogs. Growing up in Southern California, Jeff was first introduced to fingerpainting in kindergarten. He painted through high school and college and won several art awards, including Best of Show in a city wide student competition. After graduating with a degree in journalism and advertising, he went to work as an art director. For the next 40 years, he created print, radio and television ads for a number of top agencies. "After retiring in 2019, the clouds of stress and pressure cleared and allowed me to set my creative energy free," says Jeff. He began developing new techniques focused on the excitement and energy of painting. Today, he uses a variety of methods and tools, including fingerpainting wearing nitrile gloves, traditional paint brushes, bamboo shish kebab sticks, kite string, spraypaint and splattering. While working, Jeff always listens to music, including Broadway musicals, dance music and rhythmic Hawaiian tunes.


Words that describe this painting: beagle, dog, pet, impressionism, Iris Scott...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Hunting Dog retrieving Grouse after the shoot, Landscape Oil in Gilt Frame
By Edward Armfield
Located in ludlow, GB
This is a wonderful painting by Edward Armfield (though it does not have a signature). We have had the painting cleaned and the Frame has also been restored and cleaned. Absolute s...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

San Fermin Pamplona Spain oil on canvas painting
By Juan Soler
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Juan Soler (1951) - San Fermin - Oil on canvas Canvas measures 80x80 cm. Frameless. He was born in 1951. Under the direction of the master Pedro Bermejo, he began his artistic career, quickly highlighting and observing in his works an unusual mastery of drawing. A very mature painter who has known how to stop time in all his works. His themes are preferably costumbristas although in his work the usual thing is to see eight century themes, with horse carriages, hats, umbrellas and still lifes. Observing his work reminds us, by the subject, of Maestro Palmero...
Category

1990s Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Thoroughbred Horse 1940 by Ada (Kruse) Ducker - Exhibited Nevada State Museum
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous horse portrait by Ada Ducker Kruse a Santa Cruz artist (American, 1900-1995), 1947-1948. Signed and dated lower right corner "Ada Ducker "1940". Presented in vintage giltwo...
Category

1940s American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

August Koi, Oil Painting
By Onelio Marrero
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero displays a stunning koi pond in mesmerizing shades of deep blue and green. Part of his series of paintings exploring ponds, waterlilies, g...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Tropical Coral Reef Painting Ocean Art Underwater Seascape Original Painting
Located in Sempach, LU
Tropical Coral Reef Painting by Olga Nikitina Title: Coral Reef Size: 100x75cm Materials: Oil, Stretched Cotton Canvas, Palette Knife. Shipping: ga...
Category

2010s Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Wang Yan Impressionist Original Oil On Canvas "Girl Feed Pig"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Girl Feed Pig Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 39.25 x 29.5 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting is laid on the matt board and appears to be in exc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Love Scorn, classical gestural abstract male nude figure, dog, blues, earth tone
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Homage to baroque allegory, symbolic figurative realism. About Tom Bennett: With quick brushstrokes, Tom Bennett creates representational images of human figures and animals, emphas...
Category

2010s American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Thoroughbred Race Horse "Sabu" 1948 by Ada Kruse
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous horse portrait a white Arabian horse named "Sabu" by Ada Kruse (American, 1900-1995), 1945. Signed and dated lower right corner with brass plaque. Presented in vintage paint...
Category

1940s American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Previously Available Items
Pony Standing
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An impressionistic painting of a pony from a side view.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pony Standing
H 23.5 in W 31.5 in D 0.5 in
Girl, Dog, Early Summer
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A large scale, horizontally oriented oil painting of a figure at rest in the grass, a dog beside her. The largest canvas in his 2021 solo show, “Girl, Dog, Early Summer” depicts a wo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Training at Spycoast
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted during the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. A black and white depiction of an equestrian field, a single horse ridden by a figure is the main subject....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Polo Pony, Sketch
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Framed dimensions: 17.5 x 21.5 inches An impression of a horse, standing on the grass in the sun, before a trailer which is attached to a pick-up truck. Ben Fenske (b. 1978) althou...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Horseshoe Crab
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted from life, a creature that dates back to prehistoric times. Horseshoe Crabs are known to inhabit the waters of the North-East United States, so ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Horseshoe Crab, Green
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted from life, a creature that dates back to prehistoric times. Horseshoe Crabs are known to inhabit the waters of the North-East United States, so ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Horseshoe Crab, Blue
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted from life, a creature that dates back to prehistoric times. Horseshoe Crabs are known to inhabit the waters of the North-East United States, so ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Polo Wellington
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Ben Fenske (b. 1978) although a native of Minnesota, and has been working and living in Sag Harbor, New York and Florence, Italy for the last 7 years. An oil painter in the spirit ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Ben Fenske Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Ben Fenske animal paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ben Fenske animal paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ben Fenske in oil paint, paint, panel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Ben Fenske animal paintings, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Anastasia Kurakina, Georgij Moroz, and Leonid VAICHILIA. Ben Fenske animal paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,000 and tops out at $30,000, while the average work can sell for $2,900.

Recently Viewed

View All