As a young teenager in the early 1940s, I was fascinated with the various airplanes flying over central Texas. I could identify each one of them by the sound of its engine. In my mind the pilots were indeed the daring young men in their flying machines, and the wild blue yonder was the place to be. Each type of airplane was a personality as well as the collective product of many designers sweat and imagination. As we have learned, Each innovation was an almost imperceptible track in the path to the moon. And each airplane left its on track on the clouds~Artist, James Frederick

A few years ago James entered these graphite drawings in a contest challenging artist to depict airplanes of a certain type. He competed and was selected in the top acceptable category. The original was sent to the Smithsonian. When they realized that the drawing selected was a series of four, they had him send the original of each of the four drawings.

I am proud to say that James is the father-in-law of my daughter. We share six beautiful grandchildren and only extends the art of my family.

James not only does graphite drawings, but has painted in acrylics, oils and pastels. However, all of his works are in the realistic style. He chuckles now, because back in the 1950s when he was a student taking an art course (not his major but what he thought would be an easy grade) at the University of Texas, realistic style of painting was not the “in thing.” The Abstract movement was on its way, and James didn’t jump into that pool. He was happy staying realistic with his art.