Jama attended primary and high school in Ljubljana, but his passion for painting ignited when he and his family moved to Zagreb during high school. Although he initially enrolled in the faculty of law, he abandoned his studies in 1890 and journeyed to Munich. In Munich, he joined a private painting school, where he honed his artistic skills. After two years, he returned to Ljubljana, earning a living as an illustrator, contributing illustrations to the magazine “Dom in svet.”
In his later period, Jama collaborated with fellow Slovenian impressionists, notably Rihard Jakopič. Together, they worked on projects such as “Side Village” and “Kraljevec ob Sotli.” During this phase, Jama delved into the study of light and fully embraced impressionism. Initially focusing on watercolors, he transitioned to oil on canvas around 1900, which became his primary medium for creating his most famous works throughout his life.
Jama’s artistic legacy is commemorated by the naming of Jamova cesta (Jama Street) in Ljubljana in his honor.
