Jammer 2021

James Jean made this painting, Jammer, using layered washes of blue, a color that can be both calming and melancholic. It's a dreamy piece. I love how the washes create a sense of depth and atmosphere, like she's floating in a pool of blue ink. Look closely at the way the color pools around the edges of her body, creating a soft halo effect. The delicate rendering of the girl's features, and the intricate designs on her roller skates, feel so tender and vulnerable. It’s like the skates are her armor, her escape, but she’s not going anywhere just now. It’s funny, this work puts me in mind of Odilon Redon. He was interested in exploring the inner world of dreams and emotions, and I think Jean does the same, but with a contemporary twist. Ultimately, this is a piece about the beauty and complexity of being human, about finding moments of stillness and reflection in a world that's constantly moving.