Hound II 2021

James Jean made ‘Hound II’ sometime around now, and he did it with paint, I imagine. The colour is like a psychedelic garden party – bright, bold, and a little bit unreal. The hound itself, rendered in cool blues and purples, has this otherworldly vibe, like a character in a dream. There’s a tension between the smooth, almost airbrushed quality of some areas, and the delicate, precise lines that define the figures and details. Look at the way Jean renders the fabric of the figure's garment, each flower feels meticulously placed, but the overall effect is wonderfully organic. This contrast reminds me of the work of Yoshitaka Amano, where detailed figures exist in fantastical landscapes that seem to breathe and shift around them. It’s all about creating a space that invites us to wander and wonder, where fixed meanings give way to a sense of possibility and openness.