Margaret Woodward knows how to draw. In today's art scene that ability is sorely missing from many a visual artist's repetoir and sadly missed by the viewing public. Good drawing is the foundation on which all good art rests so when there is an exhibition of excellent drawing like this one, artists, students and art appreciators should see it.
Woodward allows her drawing implement ~ be it paint brush, conte stick, pastel crayon or inked pen ~ to dance over the surface. The path it takes appears to be guided by the artist's hand until it begins to move of its own volition. On all occasions the marks made are examples of joy and integrity.
In the oil composition Floating in the water's soft drift rhythmic lines in soft blues drift across the large horizontal canvas. Among them bright orange and mellow yellow lines draw themselves into suggestions of long-tentacle jelly fish, or plant forms or just meandering moving points. The sense of gentle movement soothes the mind.
Pastel offers stronger hues and a darker pool in the smaller square composition The romance of the deep pond Arnhem Land. The surface here is a collection of rich dark blues relieved by a patch of 'sunlight' that illuminates the medium's linear dance around a single yellow flower.
Even the 'negative' areas of the paper, those sections left untouched by medium, are of value to these compositions as the artist leaves room for contemplation. This is beautifully exemplified in the conte drawing Dancing with that dog in the corner again. The line draws then disengages from a sketched face in the upper left corner, twists through movement and form to stop abruptly at the contours of an elegant woman's profile. The page is then silent until we note the defined face and sketched body of a dog in the lower right corner. The pose, the linear movement, the open space, the surprised dog together offers a different and delightful lyric each time it is viewed.
The subjects of Woodward's images may be serious or whimsical, narrative or not, but always the image is well constructed and display solid drawing skills, elements of art that are much appreciated by so many. Stunning stuff.