Alligators and Trains

While recuperating [from a burst appendix] I’ve been drawing & making some small simple black & white painted sketches of railroad engines. The main line to Albany-Montreal is just across the river. It’s busy ‘round the clock & late at night the low shrill wail of the train whistles echoing up the valley have brought back a flood of memory/images to this railroader’s son. It has tapped & plumbed some depth & all these night/mystery train images have come like a flood gift . . . automatically off the end of pencils, brushes & nerve ends. What a thrill!
Dutterer letter Jamie’s parents, 8.30.1990