Kenn Davis

Kenn Davis (1932–2010) was an American surrealist painter and mystery novel writer. During the 1950s and 1960s he was associated with the Beat Generation at San Francisco's North Beach.

Life and education Kenn Davis was born as Kenneth Allan Schmoker in Salinas, California. After his parents divorced, he moved at age 5 with his mother and younger brother (born Marvin Schmoker) to San Francisco. He attended grammar school in San Francisco. today's San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Friendship with Richard Brautigan

Davis and Marko were close friends of author Richard Brautigan, whom Kenn met in 1956 or 1957. Kenn designed the covers for two of Brautigan's poetry collections, The Galilee Hitch-Hiker (1958) and Lay the Marble Tea (1959).

Works

Paintings

Davis was mostly a surrealist. Some of his paintings reflect a critical analysis of society while others show an introspection of human psychology. Some paintings still draw on material reality and thus could be classified under magic realism. The style of his surrealistic paintings show the influence of European surrealists like Hieronymus Bosch. His earlier paintings of the 1950s and 1960s are darker both in color schemes and mood than his later paintings. The technique of his oil paintings at the end of the 1950s and early 1960s show the influence of old masters. His later paintings often include a humorous or satirical detail. Kenn Davis first solo exhibition was at the Studio 44 Gallery in San Francisco in 1956. Davis' paintings were displayed at the Coffee Gallery in San Francisco.

Davis designed the book covers of Robert Bloch's Lost in Time and Space with Lefty Feep, edited by John Stanley, 1987, Creatures at Large Press, as well as Creature Features Strikes Again Movie Guide and Revenge of the Creature Features Movie Guide, both by John Stanley.

Selection of Paintings

1954 - Point of View, oil on linen, 24" x 28", private collection 1957 - Impression of Actor Ben Gazzara, ink on canvas, private collection 1959 - Richard Brautigan as a Young Poet, oil on linen, 32" x 20", private collection This character first appeared in 1976 in the mystery novel The Dark Side that Kenn coauthored with John Stanley. Carver Bascombe appears in seven more mystery novels. Outside, (vi) Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Feb 1979

List of Books

1976 - The Dark Side (with John Stanley), Avon 30957 1979 - The Forza Trap, Avon 44552 1980 - Bogart '48 (with John Stanley), Dell 10853 1981 - Dead to Rights, Avon 78295 1984 - Words Can Kill, Gold Medal 12667 1986 - Melting Point, Gold Medal 12901 1987 - Nijinsky Is Dead, Gold Medal 13096 1987 - As October Dies, Gold Medal 13097 1989 - Acts of Homicide, Gold Medal 13351 1990 - Blood of Poets, Gold Medal 13352

Film

1978 - Nightmare in Blood (co-written and co-produced with John Stanley)