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sweeps across the paper over a deep plum (almost black) and white gouache and mauve dye background.  Untitled, 1971, 9 x 12 inches is a small, very delicate, gentle, quiet statement of light blue washes and dark brown lines contrasting with white paper collage.  These works on paper are a striving for a direct expression of contemporary experience. 

James Brooks' first exposure to an education in art was in Dallas, Texas, where he studies with Martha Simkins, Olive Donaldson and Ralph Rountree at Southern Methodist University, and with James A. Waddell at the Dallas Art Institute.  Coming to New York, he studies at the Art Students' League with K. Nicolaides and Boardman Robinson while supporting himself as a commercial letterer and display artist.  He became known as a social realist and a muralist, the chief examples of the latter being part of the WPA Federal Arts Project, including murals in New Jersey and New York and culminating in the mural "Flight" at New York's LaGuardia Airport Marine Building.  Of this 235 foot long and 12 foot high decoration, Thomas Hess, in his book, "Abstract Painting", said, "Brooks, born in St. Louis in 1906, was one of the most successful 'American Scene' painters in the '30's, becoming attracted to the style of abstraction after long experience as a muralist - his decorations for the old seaplane base in New York's LaGuardia Field are among the more attractive adaptions of anecdotal painting to architecture in America; finished in 1942 they already showed a marked preoccupation with non-representational effects." E.A. Jewell, quoted in the "The New York Sunday Times" described it as, ".....A sound and well-sustained and sincere performance.....One of the most satisfactory murals on so vast a scale, thus far produced by American artists."  Each of his professions shed light upon each of the others, each of his careers upon what he knew from the others, thus making him an excellent and sought-after teacher.  The precision of his working in lettering, some firm decisiveness of character and his fine mural painting brought him patience.  Drawing for Brooks is the essence of art.