Jami Miyamoto Interview

VIEW THE STUDIO ROJA MEZUZAH COLLECTION

11 QUESTIONS WITH JAMI MIYAMOTO OF STUDIO ROJA

Risa Borsykowsky: How long have you been a jewelry designer?

Jami Miyamoto: 18 years

Was this always your career?

I was a graphic designer before I started my company and worked in design studios working on logos, brochures and other collateral material.

How did you get started? Where did you train?

I always made jewelry starting in high school. I took some jewelry classes at night while I worked as a graphic designer.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspired by pop culture and everyday objects and phrases.

What do you enjoy most about this career?

I enjoy the creative process, coming up with new ideas and forming them into 3D products.

What made you get into Judaica?

I got into Judaica because a friend suggested it to me. She was doing mostly Judaica and thought my style of design would lend itself to Judaica. I've always been familiar with everything Jewish and have been interested in Jewish traditions. Growing up in Los Angeles, I've had a lot of Jewish friends. As a matter of fact, my 4 best friends are Jewish and I've had 3 Jewish boyfriends, so I've gone to many, many Passover dinners and Hannuakah parties. I even have a menorah that we put out during the holidays because my daughter thinks that it's all part of the holidays tradition. I think I was Jewish in my last life :)

Who or what had the greatest influence on you as you developed as an artist, or did you always have your own style? How would you describe your style?

One of my influences was an art teacher in college who taught me how to think about the process of creating and who also taught me a lot about the history of design in the context of it's era. My style is fun and funky sometimes serious.

What do you do for fun?

Fun is hanging with my daughter and my crazy dog and doing yoga and biking at the beach.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Don't try and copy what's out there but take time to experiment because that's where the ideas come from. Don't be afraid to have a lot of duds. It's part of the process.

How would you describe your creative process?

Can't really describe it. It's always different.

Who is your favorite artist? Musician? Writer?

My favorite artist is Vermeer, Picasso, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, the architect Gaudi, the photographer Lee Friedlander

Thanks so much, Jami!

You're welcome. That was fun!

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• Advice from the Artists - Getting Started in Your Career
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