About Me

I love many different genres of the visual arts; from the Fine Arts (Portraiture, Still Life, Landscape), to Illustration (editorial, books), and graphic design. I have experienced all of these genres as a professional -- albeit, to different degrees -- and they have shaped the way I have approached my career. However, within the pages of this site, you will find mostly samples of Fine Art and Illustration. I'm currently working on new pieces. Stay tuned! 

Earl Lam has always been passionate about art. As a child in Panama City, in his native country of Panama, he started his career by leaving more crayon marks on his white shirt -- then part of his Catholic school uniform -- than on the paper given to him by his art teacher. This happened so often that every time his principal would see him -- now Cardinal of the Archdiocese of Panama -- he would greet him with an endearing, "Hola, Picasso!" This inherent passion for art would become more disciplined under the guidance and exposure to the arts from his father, who was an illustrator, graphic designer, and photographer working for the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone -- then an unincorporated U.S. territory. 

After moving to the United States at age 11, Earl grew even more as an artist under the guidance of great teachers in Middle and High School. There he was encouraged to pursuit art beyond the realm of a hobbyist by continuing his art education with a scholarship at Ringling College of Art and Design, in Sarasota, Florida. After his junior year at Ringling,  he participated in a paid internship as an editorial illustrator at The Miami Herald. Upon graduation, he landed a full-time job at the Miami Herald. 

After his departure from The Miami Herald in 2000, Earl began to focus on his freelance career, which has led him to create illustrations for children's books, tutorials, and editorials. He has also done a few commissioned portraits. His last illustration for The Herald, was a portrait of Dolphin football quarterback Dan Marino for a special section that appeared on the Sunday he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. 

Although he no longer works with crayons as a professional, he still manages to get his clothes full of paint when creating his current work. Old habits, perhaps. 

Earl Lam currently resides in Miami, Florida. 

My inspiration? Hmmmmm! I will have to examine the term, "inspiration" itself and gather a few thoughts from its roots as a muse in order to arrive at a proper explanation as to what I find inspiring. 

The term, "inspired", from the latin, "in-spirit" seems to land me on religious and a spiritual context rather quickly. And what can I say to that except that I wholeheartedly agree that the role of the artist is, and still remains, the archetype that tries to make, "the invisible, visible." 

My inspiration? Well, I would have to say: everything! All that is visible is but a metaphor for that which is invisible. .