Today we’d like to introduce you to Juri Umagami.
Hi Juri, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started oil painting in Tochigi, Japan when I was eight years old. In 2009, I moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue my goal of being an artist and art instructor. After college, I started working at Kline Academy of Fine Art in Los Angeles, CA. I learned painting techniques from my mentor Cheryl Kline who also gave me opportunities to study under top artists from around the world. Now I am an instructor of three classes where I teach classical drawing and painting techniques.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road. For a long time, I had a hard time communicating with people because English is not my first language. My Visa statues was another issue. I needed to attend school in order to keep my Visa, so I was constantly struggling with my finances.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love drawing and painting portraits of people I know. I strive to portray the personality, beauty and complexities, not just the likeness of each figure. That being said, my current painting series focuses on portraiture of my creative students and friends. In this series, students of my classical painting class become a literal part of the old master paintings they have chosen to copy or study from. This idea of placing students in their master copies best represents or visualizes my role as an art instructor who helps build skills and explore creative sides. At the same time, I believe each re-creation deeply unites the history of art and people in the modern world. I take the liberty of changing composition, costumes and props in my updated rendition to add a conceptual idea that creates another layer to the original pieces. I hope my revision brings a one-of-a-kind experience and memory to the models, people who know them and viewers.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I also enjoy digital painting, which might be surprising to some people because my main focus is on classical drawing and painting. I feel I have more freedom in style and concept when I draw or paint digitally. I have a series of digital pieces where I depict the anxiety and discomfort of adolescence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juriumagami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umagamijuri/
Image Credits
Juri Umagami
