Jake Lee (1915–1991) was a Chinese American watercolor painter. His work reflected the simple subjects of buildings and animals to Chinese immigrants, and the political and cultural aspects.

Bibliography

Jake Lee was a Chinese American artist born in 1915 and died in 1991. He was a watercolor painter who also worked with gouache. He lived in Monterey, California, but as he developed as an artist, this was not only in this location. Lee's subject matter primarily featured the natural environment. His landscape paintings are simple in concept, but the color shows excellent detail. Lee also featured a visual history of the life of Chinese immigrant labor in California. Jake Lee was also an illustrator of children's books during his lifetime.

Education

Jake Lee was a student at the

Otis College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design is a private art and design school in Los Angeles, California, United States. Established in 1918, it was the city's first independent professional school of art. The main campus is located in the former IBM Aero ...

in Los Angeles, California, and

San Jose State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the List of oldest schools in California, oldest public university on the West Coast of ...

in California. Jake Lee worked under artist Don Kingman, who greatly influenced his work.

Artworks

*1956; watercolor: "Laborers Working on Central Pacific Railroad" *1956: watercolor: 'Immigrants Disembarking Ship" *1956; watercolor: "Chinese New Year Celebration" *1956; watercolor: "Chinese Opera House, San Francisco." *1956: watercolor: "Pig Roasting in Nevada City" *1956: watercolor: "Shoemakers in Massachusetts,1870" *1956: watercolor: "Shrimp Camp At China Camp" *1956: watercolor: "Miners in Mother Lode Country" *1956: Watercolor: "Lantern Making in San Francisco" *1956: watercolor: "Cigar Makers In San Francisco" *1956: watercolor: "Vineyard Workers in Sonoma County" *1956: watercolor: '"Champion Firehouse Team of Deadwood, South Dakota, 1888" *1915-1991: watercolor and pencil on paper under glass: "Horse in a corra,l" 13.5" H X20" W *1915-1991: Watercolor: "Fulton ST., New York," 10.5"h x 12.25"w *1915-1991: Watercolor: " Coastal California Landscape," 14.5 x 21 inches. *1915-1991: Watercolor: "Rural Scene," 5" x 8 1/2" *1915-1991: Watercolor on paper: "Chinese Market," 39 x 29 1/4inches sight

Exhibitions

Jake Lee did a 12-piece for a restaurant to show the progression of Chinese American history in 1959. After the restaurant closed in 1972, the paintings disappeared until 2010, when the

Chinese Historical Society of America The Chinese Historical Society of America ( zh, s=wikt:美国华人, 美国华人wikt:历史, 历史wikt:学会, 学会, t=美國華人歷史學會, p=Měiguó Huárén Lìshǐ Xuéhuì, j=Mei5gwok3 Waa4jan4 Lik6si2 Hok6wui6; abbreviated CHSA) ...

purchased them from an auction and left them there in San Francisco. In addition to the now-famous location of his Chinese American history paintings in San Francisco, Jake Lee is showcased at the

Chinese American Museum The Chinese American Museum (Chinese: 華美博物館; abbreviated CAM) is a museum located in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. It is dedicated to the history and experience of Chinese America ...

of Los Angeles. The exhibition was called ''Sunshine and Shadow: In Search of Jake Lee.'' It was displayed from November 30, 2007, through April 13, 2008. Some pieces on display included ''Garage Sale, Olvera Street, and Old Spanish Light.''

Collections

The collection, based on artwork from Kan's restaurant, is held in the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco, California.The artwork displayed at the time was based on the contribution and culture of Chinese immigrants to America in the 1800s. One of the collections was the ''Sunshine and Shadow'' for the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles. It was based on the light against shadow on the "most mundane subjects."

Publications

One of the publications was a children's book. It was titled Farewell, Sweet Princess. This book was in watercolor and was published in 1953. It was a work done with another artist named

Jesse Marsh Jesse Marsh (July 27, 1907 – April 28, 1966) was an American comics artist and animator. His main claim to fame is his work on the early ''Tarzan'' and related books for Western Publishing that saw print through Dell Comics and later Gold Ke ...

. Jake Lee was published through the Westways Magazine and made 30 paintings for

Ford Times ''Ford Times'' was a monthly publication produced by Ford Motor Company. The first issue was published on April 15, 1908, until April 1917, ceasing publication with America's entry into World War I. After a more than 20-year break, Ford Times r ...

. For Westways Magazine, Jake Lee contributed pieces from the 1950s to 2007.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Jake 1915 births 1991 deaths American artists of Chinese descent Place of birth missing People from Monterey, California 20th-century American painters Painters from California American male painters American watercolorists Otis College of Art and Design alumni San Jose State University alumni 20th-century American male artists