She Is Always Hungry:
Jam Maruyama grew up in the mountainous area of Sapporo, Hokkaido.
The ever-changing beauty of the seasons found in Hokkaido that Jam deeply appreciated as a child became the foundation of her keen sense of color. The soft, exquisite colors that she acquainted from growing up surrounded by nature is evident in her artwork although at first glance, it is her vivid color palettes that are noticeable in her creation.
Another distinctive feature of Jam’s artwork is her permeation of the thematic portraits of young women. Having continuously and intensely sought for “inner strength” in her adolescent years, Jam struggled but hoped at the same time to someday evolve from confusion and insecurity to a compassionate, independent woman. The assertiveness that can be observed among the young women portrayed in Jam’s artwork might be a reflection of Jam’s inner strength and confidence.
Rather than expressing her beliefs or sending specific messages through her art, Jam looks within; has an internal-dialogue with her inner self and expresses that in her art. For her, creation of her artwork is a part of meditating process – peacefully appreciated, just like the natural environment that her home city offered her long ago.
A Little Husky in a Big City:
Songhee Lee is a South Korean Illustrator and Visual Designer living in New York City since 2007. Her style has been recognized with fluid ink depicting cityscapes, travel, animals, and portraits — most often expressed with a simple Japanese brush gracing a clean sheet of watercolor paper. Much of her inspiration is derived from her love for nature and animals. The purpose of her visual storytelling is to explained her life in three words: curiosity, exploration, and joyfulness.
Songhee Lee’s formal training lies within Visual Communication and Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) — as well as painting at Art Students League of New York. Songhee Lee’s career has been flourished with successful collaborations and experiences as a freelancer for New York City and South Korea’s publication and design agencies. In all, none of her works and achievements would have been made possible without three things she values the most as an artist: Travel, Friends, and her Siberian Husky: Jazz.
P.S. …and perhaps with a freshly-brewed cup of coffee.