Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift), c.1980s, by American abstract artist Don Bowman (b.1934), is a signed 36 x 26 in. oil on paper acquired in New York City, executed with his signature free-flow oil technique.
Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift) is a striking vintage abstract oil on paper by Don Bowman, celebrated for his mastery of fluid-motion oil techniques and atmospheric color fields. In this composition, a sweeping black form unfurls horizontally across the page, layered with translucent gray veils that rise and recede like shifting landforms or wings. A vivid burst of red and saffron yellow floats above the darker form, introducing a dynamic sense of heat, movement, and tension. Bowman’s hallmark process—manipulating the free flow of diluted oil paint on heavy paper—creates soft edges, feathering, and subtle tonal transitions that cannot be replicated, making each work absolutely unique. The handling of color is both minimal and expressive, characteristic of Bowman’s 1970s–80s maturity, where he merged lyrical abstraction with color-field sensibilities. Signed “Don Bowman” lower right, the piece remains in very good vintage condition with light age toning typical of his paper works.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — DON BOWMAN (American, b.1934)
Don Bowman, born in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American abstract painter known for his experimental manipulation of oil on paper and his contributions to late–20th-century abstract expressionism and paper-based abstraction. Exhibiting artistic promise from childhood, Bowman pursued formal art studies at Lincoln University (Missouri), where he trained in commercial art, fine art, and design. His early exposure to both the technical and expressive sides of artmaking shaped a career defined by precision, experimentation, and fluidity.
After college, Bowman worked professionally in the commercial arts before transitioning fully into fine art—a shift that allowed him to explore color, motion, and translucency in new ways. During the 1960s and 1970s, Bowman became increasingly associated with screen printing, mixed-media works, and oil paintings on paper, developing a unique method of guiding the movement of thinned oil pigment across the surface. This technique—achieved by pouring, tilting, and feathering oil paint—resulted in soft, atmospheric forms reminiscent of botanical structures, mist, or shifting landscapes. Bowman’s approach aligned him with American lyrical abstraction while retaining a distinctly personal visual vocabulary.
By the 1980s, Bowman’s paper works were circulating through galleries in California, Missouri, and New York, entering both private and notable collections. Gallery literature of the period referred to him as “one of America's foremost abstract artists working in uniquely fluid color-field forms,” particularly noted for creating pieces that appear simultaneously organic and ethereal. His mixed-media constructions and oil-on-paper abstractions remain his most sought-after works.
Today, Bowman continues to be recognized for his dedication to the expressive possibilities of paper and his innovative control of free-moving oil paint—a technique that ensures each painting is a one-of-a-kind original with no mechanical or print-based repetition.
Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift), c.1980s
Oil on paper, 36 x 26 in.
Signed lower right “Don Bowman.”
Horizontal abstract composition featuring layered gray translucent forms, a sweeping black ground, and a vivid red-yellow color drift, executed in Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique. Very good vintage condition.
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Title: Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift) (attributed title)
Date: c.1980s
Medium: Oil on paper
Dimensions: 36 x 26 in.
Signature: “Don Bowman,” lower right
Description:
A dynamic horizontal abstract oil painting featuring translucent gray veils, a dominant black flowing shape, and a vivid red-yellow accent, created using Bowman’s controlled free-flow oil technique on heavy wove paper.
Authenticity:
The style, materials, palette, and signature are consistent with verified works by Don Bowman from the same period. The technique aligns with the known body of Bowman’s 36 x 26 in. oil-on-paper abstractions from the 1980s. The signature matches authenticated examples.
Condition:
Very good vintage condition with minor toning to margins. No tears, losses, or structural issues noted. Suitable for archival framing with UV-protective glazing.
Provenance:
Artist Studio, Don Bowman
Private Collection, New York City (acquired via gallery, c.1980s)
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)
PROVENANCE CHAIN
Don Bowman (Artist Studio)
Private Collection, New York City
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current)
Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift), c.1980s, by American abstract artist Don Bowman (b.1934), is a signed 36 x 26 in. oil on paper acquired in New York City, executed with his signature free-flow oil technique.
Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift) is a striking vintage abstract oil on paper by Don Bowman, celebrated for his mastery of fluid-motion oil techniques and atmospheric color fields. In this composition, a sweeping black form unfurls horizontally across the page, layered with translucent gray veils that rise and recede like shifting landforms or wings. A vivid burst of red and saffron yellow floats above the darker form, introducing a dynamic sense of heat, movement, and tension. Bowman’s hallmark process—manipulating the free flow of diluted oil paint on heavy paper—creates soft edges, feathering, and subtle tonal transitions that cannot be replicated, making each work absolutely unique. The handling of color is both minimal and expressive, characteristic of Bowman’s 1970s–80s maturity, where he merged lyrical abstraction with color-field sensibilities. Signed “Don Bowman” lower right, the piece remains in very good vintage condition with light age toning typical of his paper works.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — DON BOWMAN (American, b.1934)
Don Bowman, born in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American abstract painter known for his experimental manipulation of oil on paper and his contributions to late–20th-century abstract expressionism and paper-based abstraction. Exhibiting artistic promise from childhood, Bowman pursued formal art studies at Lincoln University (Missouri), where he trained in commercial art, fine art, and design. His early exposure to both the technical and expressive sides of artmaking shaped a career defined by precision, experimentation, and fluidity.
After college, Bowman worked professionally in the commercial arts before transitioning fully into fine art—a shift that allowed him to explore color, motion, and translucency in new ways. During the 1960s and 1970s, Bowman became increasingly associated with screen printing, mixed-media works, and oil paintings on paper, developing a unique method of guiding the movement of thinned oil pigment across the surface. This technique—achieved by pouring, tilting, and feathering oil paint—resulted in soft, atmospheric forms reminiscent of botanical structures, mist, or shifting landscapes. Bowman’s approach aligned him with American lyrical abstraction while retaining a distinctly personal visual vocabulary.
By the 1980s, Bowman’s paper works were circulating through galleries in California, Missouri, and New York, entering both private and notable collections. Gallery literature of the period referred to him as “one of America's foremost abstract artists working in uniquely fluid color-field forms,” particularly noted for creating pieces that appear simultaneously organic and ethereal. His mixed-media constructions and oil-on-paper abstractions remain his most sought-after works.
Today, Bowman continues to be recognized for his dedication to the expressive possibilities of paper and his innovative control of free-moving oil paint—a technique that ensures each painting is a one-of-a-kind original with no mechanical or print-based repetition.
Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift), c.1980s
Oil on paper, 36 x 26 in.
Signed lower right “Don Bowman.”
Horizontal abstract composition featuring layered gray translucent forms, a sweeping black ground, and a vivid red-yellow color drift, executed in Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique. Very good vintage condition.
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Title: Untitled (Red–Yellow Drift) (attributed title)
Date: c.1980s
Medium: Oil on paper
Dimensions: 36 x 26 in.
Signature: “Don Bowman,” lower right
Description:
A dynamic horizontal abstract oil painting featuring translucent gray veils, a dominant black flowing shape, and a vivid red-yellow accent, created using Bowman’s controlled free-flow oil technique on heavy wove paper.
Authenticity:
The style, materials, palette, and signature are consistent with verified works by Don Bowman from the same period. The technique aligns with the known body of Bowman’s 36 x 26 in. oil-on-paper abstractions from the 1980s. The signature matches authenticated examples.
Condition:
Very good vintage condition with minor toning to margins. No tears, losses, or structural issues noted. Suitable for archival framing with UV-protective glazing.
Provenance:
Artist Studio, Don Bowman
Private Collection, New York City (acquired via gallery, c.1980s)
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)
PROVENANCE CHAIN
Don Bowman (Artist Studio)
Private Collection, New York City
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current)
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