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Don TottenAbstraction, 1960sOil on canvas36 x 30 inches
Framed: 37 7/8 x 31 7/8 inchesSigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenEo, 1960sOil on canvas72 x 67 1/2 inches
Framed: 73 3/4 x 69 1/2 inchessigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenFloating Forms, 1960sOil on Canvas72 x 67 1/4 inches
Framed: 73 1/2 x 69 1/4 inchesSigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenFlowers, 1960sOil on masonite24 x 14 inches
Framed: 25 7/8 x 15 7/8 inchesSigned lower right and verso
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Don TottenPale Light, 1960sOil on canvas25 x 24 inches
Framed: 26 3/4 x 26 inchesSigned: D.Totten lower right
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Don TottenStructure, 1960sOil on canvas72 x 61 3/4 inches
Framed: 74 x 63 1/2 inchesSigned: D. Totten lower right
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Don TottenSynchrony, 1960sOil on canvas61 1/2 x 71 3/4
Framed: 63 1/4 x 73 1/2 inchesSigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenColor Structure, 1960Oil on canvas59 1/2 x 59 inches
Framed: 61 5/8 x 60 3/4 inchesSigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenLyric, 1960Oil on Masonite18 x 32 inches
Framed: 19 3/4 x 33 3/4 inchesTitled and dated verso
Signed D. Totten lower left
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Don TottenAbstraction, 1950sOil on canvas24 1/8 x 30 inches
Framed: 26 1/8 x 31 7/8 inchesSigned: D.Totten lower right
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Don TottenPattern, 1950-60Oil on canvas22 1/2 x 30 inches
Framed: 24 3/8 x 31 3/4 inchesSigned: D Totten lower right
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Don TottenSpring, 1950'sOil on canvas24 1/2 x 22 inches,
Framed: 26 3/8 x 23 3/4 inchesSigned: D. Totten lower right
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Don TottenAbstract I, 1940sOil on burlap19 x 16 1/8 inches
Framed: 20 3/4 x 17 3/4 inchesSigned: D Totten lower left
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Don TottenForms in Nature, 1940sOil on burlap30 1/4 x 16 inches
Framed: 32 x 18 inchesSigned: D.Totten lower left
Overview
1961 marks a pivotal moment in Totten’s career, departing from the subdued desert-inspired color palette that had characterized his previous work to embrace a more flamboyant and adventurous aesthetic, embarking on a creative exploration that resonated with the buoyant spirit of the era. This marked shift coincided with Totten’s deepening engagement with Synchromism, a movement spearheaded by Stanton MacDonald-Wright, under whose tutelage Totten had studied. Drawing inspiration from MacDonald-Wright, Totten absorbed the foundational principles of Synchromism, yet he always approached them as a catalyst for his own distinctive artistic vision.
Totten’s artistic process appears deceptively effortless, mirroring the demeanor of the man behind the brush. Modest, soft-spoken, and gentle, Totten embodied humility in his approach to his craft. Yet, beneath this unassuming exterior lay a profound commitment to his artistry. Immersed in the act of painting, Totten dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his practice, infusing each canvas with a palpable sense of daring and conviction.
To liken Totten’s oeuvre to that of luminaries such as Clifford Still or Edward Dugmore may seem audacious at first glance, however, upon closer examination, one discerns a shared mastery of abstract expressionism and a profound depth of artistic expression. Totten stands shoulder to shoulder with these titans, his capacity to produce profound abstract works attesting to his enduring legacy as a visionary artist.