Goat IV 2021

James Jean's 'Goat IV' presents a lush world where figuration merges with surreal ornamentation. Imagine Jean’s studio, maybe filled with other drawings, or objects, things he is interested in. I see so many colours! The red and pink blend into the pastel blue of the bottom, giving it the feeling of a dreamscape. The paint looks quite thin, so it may have been applied with a very small brush. I can see it coming together in stages. The artist may have been trying to capture a feeling, maybe something from mythology or a folk tale. The image has a magical feel, as the artist might have looked to the traditions of decorative arts. I know that Jean has collaborated with other visual artists. Artists are constantly in dialogue with one another across time. They all spark creativity, and give us a sense of human experience and shared dreams.