I know that everyone has an opinion, like it or not, that is the power that we all possess as individuals (Being right or wrong is a different issue). As an artist, I have been given the true weapon to observe, analyze, add, subtract and most of all “Attack”. My favorite weapons are: my canvas, pencil, brush and paint. With that in mind, I attack as if I were in an endless battle with any subject that I choose to take on at any given time. If I wake up today and feel like I want to travel and take on the world of music, I can put on my gear and embark on that journey. The same holds true for any other subject that I may choose to attack. That’s the freedom that we as artists possess: The endless subjects that I refer to as “the battle grounds in this vast universe that we are fortunate to be a part of.”

I know it’s been said that artists have to stick to one particular style; which will enable the viewer to know and be familiar with his/her work. I believe by doing that, not only would I limit myself as an artist but fall into the trap of being controlled by the almighty dollar.

As an artist, I have to be not only in the right mood, also the right state of mind in order to create. Just like music creates and sets different moods, my artwork should do the same. When the viewer is looking at my work, he or she should be asking, what am I being asked to see, analyze and take away. Sometimes, what we think is the most obvious, is not. When we read a book, after we’re done, we know what the book was all about. The artwork does the same, with the exception of what the viewer wants to take away from the artwork (sometimes, not what the artist’s intent was); that is where our opinions surface and where the beauty of art resides.

When I started my latest series, “Music Becomes Us,” one of my main goals was to create a visual expression of what music means to me. In my vision, lines and planes are ever changing and go from a harmonic cacophony of lines and colors that slowly metamorphose into a symphony of musical notes, instruments and musicians that represent each color, shade and variation of the spectrum. They all eventually take over the music field. It was my desire for each composition to allow the viewer to think of themselves as part of the painting, as an intrinsic part of each musical instrument and to enjoy the “artist becoming one with the instruments.”

Let your eyes take you into this exciting journey as the vivid palette, shapes and the accentuated lines take you through the bravado that is each of these paintings in the :Music Becomes Us” series.

Several pieces of Jean's artwork are shown below. Click on the image to enlarge.

Please call PARKLANE if you are interested in contacting Jean concerning his work.

Jam Session

Symphony 2