In the 1970s, Richard Diebenkorn further solidified his status as a major American artist through the development of his Ocean Park series, a body of work that exemplifies his shift towards a more abstract, geometric style. This series, which Diebenkorn began in the late 1960s and continued for the next two decades, marks a significant period in his career, showcasing his unique approach to abstraction influenced by the landscape and light of Southern California. The Ocean Park series is characterized by its large-scale compositions, luminous color, and a geometric division of space, which collectively evoke the expansive, open quality of the landscape around Diebenkorn's studio in Santa Monica. Diebenkorn's method involved building up successive layers of pigment, creating paintings that possess a translucent luminosity. This series is notable for its synthesis of the principal currents of the twentieth century's most rigorous abstract art, combined with a painterly sensibility that Diebenkorn maintained throughout his career​ (The Museum of Modern Art)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. Throughout the 1970s, Diebenkorn's exploration of abstraction was not merely a stylistic choice but also reflected his ongoing interest in the balance and interplay between color, form, and composition. His work from this period demonstrates a clear sense of balance and control, with every element—color, form, space, line, composition—meticulously considered to achieve a harmonious whole. This approach allowed Diebenkorn to create works that were deeply expressive, yet rigorously structured, marrying the spontaneity of abstraction with a disciplined attention to formal composition​ (The Museum of Modern Art)​. Diebenkorn's Ocean Park series has been celebrated for its significant contribution to abstract art, with its distinctive style influencing subsequent generations of artists. Through these works, Diebenkorn achieved a new level of abstraction that was both reflective of his environment and indicative of his mature artistic vision. The series remains a pivotal achievement in Diebenkorn's oeuvre, representing a profound engagement with the possibilities of abstraction and the expressive potential of painting​ (The Museum of Modern Art)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​.