Harmony 2021

James Jean created this intriguing composition, Harmony, deploying the commercial medium of graphic illustration. Although it resembles traditional painting, the effect is achieved with acrylic and colored pencils, a complex process of layering and blending. Jean’s smooth application gives the artwork a digital aesthetic, which contrasts with the labor intensive nature of its making. The artist builds depth by overlaying vibrant colors and curvilinear forms, to create a dreamy, surreal atmosphere. Note how the artist uses line to define the forms, and the texture of the colored pencil to create subtle variations in the surface. These material qualities of line, color, and texture are significant to the way in which Jean renders the subject matter. Ultimately, the beauty of Harmony emerges from the artist’s playful embrace of technique, and a material understanding of his chosen medium. In this way, the image transcends its commercial origins, becoming a uniquely personal expression.