#37 1951

James Brooks made this painting, #37, with oil paints and a dedication to the messy joy of process. Look at the colors—dusty rose, faded denim blue, and chalky white—applied in layers that feel both intentional and haphazard. There’s a real physicality to how Brooks handles the paint. It's neither thick nor thin, not quite transparent, but definitely not opaque. You can see how he built up the surface with broad strokes and delicate flicks. Notice that single, bold stroke of dark blue in the upper right quadrant, it’s like a punctuation mark in a lively conversation. The paint seems to dance across the canvas, each color influencing the others, and those thin trails of white adding a spontaneous energy to the whole thing. Brooks reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, who also threw herself into the act of painting. But where Mitchell’s work often feels grounded, Brooks seems to be floating. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t need to be pinned down; it’s about keeping the conversation open.