Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study), 1982 – Don Bowman (American, b. 1934), Oil on Paper, 36 x 26 in., a rare early free-flow abstract landscape from a leading mid-century American painter and printmaker.
Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study) is a 36 x 26 in. oil-on-paper original painting by American abstract artist Don Bowman, created in 1982 and acquired from a New York collection. Executed in Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique, the work features layered tonal gradients of blue, gray, and white that dissolve into one another like distant mountain ranges viewed through atmospheric haze. The artist’s precise manipulation of oil paint creates soft-edged strata, giving the work a meditative, floating quality reminiscent of Color Field painting and early lyrical abstraction.
Bowman’s distinct approach—controlling the movement of fluid oil pigment without hard lines—produces a one-of-a-kind visual depth impossible to replicate. The artwork is signed “Don Bowman ’82” in the lower right, confirming an early point in his artistic evolution when he was refining the flowing techniques that would later define his reputation. This is an exceptional example of mid-century abstract American painting from a recognized innovator in screen printing, oil painting, and experimental processes.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — DON BOWMAN (AMERICAN, b. 1934)
Don Bowman was born in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, where his artistic ability emerged early. He pursued formal education at Lincoln University in Missouri, studying drawing, design, color theory, and the foundations of commercial and fine art. After graduating, Bowman worked in both commercial art and studio painting, experiences that honed his mastery of color transitions, surface control, and layered composition.
By the late 1950s and 1960s he became deeply involved in screen printing, abstract painting, and oil-on-paper experimentation, developing what would become his signature technique: the controlled free-flow manipulation of oil paint, allowing pigment to move organically across the surface while still maintaining compositional intention. This process required exceptional timing and sensitivity, giving his works a luminous softness and atmospheric depth that invited comparison to both Abstract Expressionism and contemporary gradient minimalism decades ahead of its time.
Bowman gained national attention as his works entered private and corporate collections, earning him recognition as one of America’s important abstract artists of his period. Represented by several galleries during the 1960s–1980s, his works were widely collected for their serenity, technical innovation, and modernist appeal.
Today, Bowman’s paintings and unique oil-flow abstractions are increasingly sought after in vintage and mid-century art markets, appreciated for their distinct combination of emotion, atmosphere, and technical virtuosity.
Don Bowman (American, b. 1934), Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study), 1982. Oil on paper, 36 x 26 in., signed lower right. Early abstract atmospheric composition featuring Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique. Excellent vintage condition. Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery inventory; Private NYC collection; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Don Bowman (American, b. 1934)
Title: Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study) (attributed title)
Date: 1982
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 36 x 26 in.
Signature: Signed “Don Bowman ’82” lower right
Condition: Excellent vintage condition
Provenance:
– Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (retired inventory)
– Private Collection, NYC
– Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current)
This artwork has been examined for authenticity, period correctness, materials, and signature consistency. It is confirmed to be an original oil-on-paper work by Don Bowman, created during his early development of the free-flow oil technique for which he is recognized.
PROVENANCE
Artist Studio (Don Bowman)
Mitch Morse Gallery, NYC (original distributor)
Private Collection, New York
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (Current Owner)
Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study), 1982 – Don Bowman (American, b. 1934), Oil on Paper, 36 x 26 in., a rare early free-flow abstract landscape from a leading mid-century American painter and printmaker.
Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study) is a 36 x 26 in. oil-on-paper original painting by American abstract artist Don Bowman, created in 1982 and acquired from a New York collection. Executed in Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique, the work features layered tonal gradients of blue, gray, and white that dissolve into one another like distant mountain ranges viewed through atmospheric haze. The artist’s precise manipulation of oil paint creates soft-edged strata, giving the work a meditative, floating quality reminiscent of Color Field painting and early lyrical abstraction.
Bowman’s distinct approach—controlling the movement of fluid oil pigment without hard lines—produces a one-of-a-kind visual depth impossible to replicate. The artwork is signed “Don Bowman ’82” in the lower right, confirming an early point in his artistic evolution when he was refining the flowing techniques that would later define his reputation. This is an exceptional example of mid-century abstract American painting from a recognized innovator in screen printing, oil painting, and experimental processes.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — DON BOWMAN (AMERICAN, b. 1934)
Don Bowman was born in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, where his artistic ability emerged early. He pursued formal education at Lincoln University in Missouri, studying drawing, design, color theory, and the foundations of commercial and fine art. After graduating, Bowman worked in both commercial art and studio painting, experiences that honed his mastery of color transitions, surface control, and layered composition.
By the late 1950s and 1960s he became deeply involved in screen printing, abstract painting, and oil-on-paper experimentation, developing what would become his signature technique: the controlled free-flow manipulation of oil paint, allowing pigment to move organically across the surface while still maintaining compositional intention. This process required exceptional timing and sensitivity, giving his works a luminous softness and atmospheric depth that invited comparison to both Abstract Expressionism and contemporary gradient minimalism decades ahead of its time.
Bowman gained national attention as his works entered private and corporate collections, earning him recognition as one of America’s important abstract artists of his period. Represented by several galleries during the 1960s–1980s, his works were widely collected for their serenity, technical innovation, and modernist appeal.
Today, Bowman’s paintings and unique oil-flow abstractions are increasingly sought after in vintage and mid-century art markets, appreciated for their distinct combination of emotion, atmosphere, and technical virtuosity.
Don Bowman (American, b. 1934), Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study), 1982. Oil on paper, 36 x 26 in., signed lower right. Early abstract atmospheric composition featuring Bowman’s signature free-flow oil technique. Excellent vintage condition. Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery inventory; Private NYC collection; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Don Bowman (American, b. 1934)
Title: Untitled (Blue Atmospheric Study) (attributed title)
Date: 1982
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 36 x 26 in.
Signature: Signed “Don Bowman ’82” lower right
Condition: Excellent vintage condition
Provenance:
– Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (retired inventory)
– Private Collection, NYC
– Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current)
This artwork has been examined for authenticity, period correctness, materials, and signature consistency. It is confirmed to be an original oil-on-paper work by Don Bowman, created during his early development of the free-flow oil technique for which he is recognized.
PROVENANCE
Artist Studio (Don Bowman)
Mitch Morse Gallery, NYC (original distributor)
Private Collection, New York
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (Current Owner)
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