A large and arresting 1976 untitled abstract oil painting on canvas by notable California Bay Area artist Don Clausen (b. 1930–2020).
Dominated by various shades of red, with prominent sections of semi-matte dark puce punctuated by thickly applied glossy impasto swaths of still wet-looking scarlet, carmine, white, tan, and emerald green, with a tantalizing touch of cerulean blue at top. The artist’s hand is on engaging display throughout, and invites and rewards closer viewing.
The following excerpt from Don Clausen’s 1stdibs “Creators” page that features a fantastic biography courtesy of Robert Azensky Fine Art nicely encapsulates the artist’s work:
“In his luminous abstractions, Clausen employs every color of the rainbow, the strong lines forming geometric shapes that appear to fly through space. Nothing is weighed down in his paintings; it’s as if images came to him from outer space or other realms. He turns the physical world into dabs and streaks of color that convey an engulfing sense of motion.
Whether abstract or representational, his works convey enormous energy and vitality, like masterpieces by Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning. They also are distinctive for their sculptural quality, a result of his thickly layering the paint and then slicing down to the canvas with a palette knife or section of a venetian blind; his choice of tools is as eclectic as his subject matter.”
Signed and dated at bottom right.
In bronze-toned anodized aluminum frame.
Dimensions overall;
Height: 40.5 in
Width: 32.13 in
Depth: 2.13 in
Sight is H 39.5 in. x W 31.25
Condition: Good Wear consistent with age and use. Art in great vintage condition, with a tiny white speck at upper right. Frame with a few tiny to small marks.