Crossbreed II 1981

Dan Christensen made this painting, Crossbreed II, with a series of assertive and playful gestures. I imagine him there in his studio, lost in a world of color, as the canvas became a site for exploration. Look at the way the yellow mass swirls, a vortex of energy amidst the tranquil pink and the textural green above. It almost feels like he's in conversation with other color field painters. It is a field that many tried to break into. What was he thinking as he built up the layers of color? I can almost feel him considering the materiality of paint. The white drips add another layer of texture and depth, creating a sense of movement and flow. There’s something immediate about this painting, inviting you to contemplate its various forms and textures. It is as though these colours are inspiring other colours. Paintings like this remind us that making art is an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring creativity and exchange.