Untitled (Chromatic Crossing), 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 and executed using his signature free-flow oil technique.

Untitled (Chromatic Crossing) is a vivid and dynamic abstract oil on paper by Don Bowman, known for his pioneering free-flow oil technique that produces fluid, interlacing shapes and translucent layers. Exploding with saturated hues—crimson, violet, gold, orange, and deep blue—the composition evokes motion, energy, and organic rhythm. Bowman’s flowing bands of color overlap and feather into one another, creating luminous veils and radiant intersections characteristic of his mature 1970s–1980s period. Signed lower right, this 36 x 26 inch original was acquired in New York and exemplifies Bowman’s signature approach to color-field abstraction, lyrical movement, and expressive chromatic layering. A one-of-a-kind modernist work ideal for collectors of vintage American abstraction.

DETAILED ARTWORK DESCRIPTION

This striking abstract composition features dramatic intersecting bands of red, purple, golden yellow, amber, and blue—each layer applied in thin, fluid washes of oil that create translucent, feathered edges. Painted in the 1980s, a defining period of Bowman’s career, the work demonstrates his innovative method of manipulating diluted oil paint across heavy paper by tilting, guiding, and allowing pigment to pool organically. The result is a dance of overlapping forms that appear simultaneously botanical, atmospheric, and kinetic.

The work’s style bridges lyrical abstraction, California color-field sensibilities, and free-form expressionism, all hallmarks of Bowman’s mature period. The soft gradients and sweeping arcs recall movement in nature—wind currents, petals, wings, or shifting light—though the artist intentionally leaves the imagery abstract so that viewers bring their own interpretations.

Inspiration for works of this series is rooted in Bowman’s lifelong fascination with the behavior of pigment, the interaction of layered color, and the poetic potential of paint when freed from rigid structure. His technique—developed after years of printmaking and fine art practice—yields forms that cannot be duplicated, making each painting exclusive and unrepeatable.

The signature “Don Bowman” appears in pencil in the lower right, consistent with documented works from the same medium, period, and aesthetic lineage.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — DON BOWMAN (American, b.1934)

Don Bowman was born in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, where his early aptitude for drawing and color theory became apparent at a young age. He pursued formal art education at Lincoln University in Missouri, where he trained in both commercial art and fine art, gaining technical mastery that later shaped his studio practice. After graduating, Bowman became fully immersed in visual arts, working in commercial illustration, design, and experimental printmaking before shifting more intentionally toward fine-art painting.

During the 1960s–1970s, Bowman explored screen printing, watercolor, mixed-media constructions, and oils on paper, eventually developing the free-flow oil technique that would define his mature career. Working predominantly on large sheets of heavyweight paper laid flat, he manipulated thinned oil pigments, guiding their movement through gravity, tilt, and controlled gesture. This created layered, ethereal abstractions marked by soft transitions, luminous color fields, and shapes that often evoke landscapes, floral forms, or atmospheric currents.

Bowman’s work gained traction in galleries throughout California, Missouri, and New York, where his paintings and serigraphs entered notable private and corporate collections. He is frequently cited in market archives as an innovative American abstract painter whose contributions align with lyrical abstraction, color field painting, and expressive paper-based modernism.

His artistic process is deeply rooted in discovering “the natural intelligence of paint”—allowing material behavior and color interaction to guide the composition while maintaining refined control through timing and motion. Works such as Untitled (Chromatic Crossing) reflect both his technical discipline and his intuitive, emotionally resonant approach to form and color.

Bowman is recognized today as a significant figure in late 20th-century American abstraction, with a body of work that remains highly collectible for its originality, craftsmanship, and unique visual language.

Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Untitled (Chromatic Crossing), c.1980s
Oil on paper, 36 x 26 in.
Signed lower right “Don Bowman.”

Vibrant abstract composition with intersecting translucent forms in red, purple, gold, orange, and blue, executed in Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique. Acquired in New York City. Very good vintage condition.

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Artist: Don Bowman (American, b.1934)
Title:Untitled (Chromatic Crossing) (attributed)
Date: c.1980s
Medium: Oil on paper
Dimensions: 36 x 26 in.
Signature: Signed “Don Bowman,” lower right

Description:
A dynamic multi-layered abstract oil on paper featuring vividly colored intersecting forms in transparent washes of red, purple, yellow, orange, and blue. Created using Bowman’s characteristic free-flow oil technique on heavyweight wove paper.

Authenticity:
The signature, palette, technique, and paper type are consistent with authenticated works by Don Bowman of the 1970s–80s. His known free-flow oil process is clearly evident in the feathered edges and translucent gradients.

Condition:
Very good vintage condition with minor age-related toning at the margins; no tears or structural losses. Suitable for archival framing.

Provenance:

1. Artist’s Studio (Don Bowman)

2. Private Collection, New York City (acquired via gallery, c.1980s)

3. Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)

PROVENANCE CHAIN

1. Private Collector, New York City – acquired from a NYC gallery, c.1980s

2. Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC – current owner