DRAWINGS

"A conversation was reported between the poetic painter, William Blake, and the landscape artist, John Constable. Blake, admiring one of Constable's drawings of an avenue of fir trees, exclaimed, 'Why, this is not drawing, but inspiration!' Constable is said to have replied, 'I never knew it before; I meant it for drawing.' Both artists were right. Drawing is at the same time the most direct and simple, and the most difficult and abstract process in which an artist can engage. The means are black and white; the stick of charcoal or the pen is a direct extension of the artist's hand. Any weakness of purpose or ignorance which afflicts the artist will appear and cannot be hidden by deception. Difficult, because when one draws a line, one is creating two shapes at the same time and has to be in control of both simultaneously; abstract because line and tone must stand for color, texture, and everything else that makes up the world we experience. In short, drawing is thinking on paper. James Windram is a thinking artist and it is with great pleasure that we present his work."

Rowland Elzea, former Chief Curator, Delaware Art Museum, from an exhibition brochure for a one man exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum, James Windram "The Sleep Series."