Whilst developing Maze - Lucid, James returned to his original reference of Edgar Degas’ ballet dancers. During a life-drawing session accompanied by a dancer, James re-draws the pose of Maze with a renewed perspective.
The posture of Maze is a nod to the nimble ballerinas that the impressionist artist would draw from the wings of the Paris Opéra. Her feet are gently turned out, her hands delicately resting upon her hoop and her head is dipped just slightly.