A Mexican-American now living in Eastern Europe, Keaps tells us from Prague, his adopted hometown, about the different stages that enabled him to become one of the most gifted artists working today in the fields of lettering and calligraphy.
Hi Keaps, you were recently exhibiting at the Gods of Ink tattoo convention, how was the experience?
It was incredible to have taken participation in that event as it was bringing many great artist some of who I admire and respect. It definitely marks a highlight in my life personally because it was something I always wanted to take part of. Looking forward of what the next years event could bring.
A lot of Chicano tattooers and calligraphers were there, did you meet some of your heroes ?
Yes i was able to see some of the guys I have been admiring for a while now, and some that I known already. I had some nice talk with several of them and it was incredible to experience.
You did a graffiti session with Mayonaize, can you tell us about it?
He was kind enough to write my babygirls name on one of my prints so it was more of an intervention, also something I wont forget. I have a collection of her name by the best lettering/calligraphy guys and I had to have Mayonaize in there.
What place does graffiti culture has in your experience?
Graffiti is like my base for what I am now. It has made me wonder and explore the many ideas that come with it. Graffiti is the fountain of youth, when you get older it brings you back to when you where a kid. Now days graffiti has a big part in tattoo culture as many artist did this as kids.
You’re now living in Europe, in the city of Prague in Czech Republic. How does a Mexican American finds himself in Eastern Europe?
Through life and its circumstances, as I was coming to Europe I met a girl and as time passed we decided that we should be together. We decided to stay in Prague as it made a good base to live and move around Europe for work.
Your relationship with art is linked to your life experience and the prison, a stay during which you made a very particular work. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Yes being behind bars has been a life experience for me. I learned so much as a person and artistically it tought me a lot. I was spending all those left over hours drawing and drawing, some for tattoo designs and some just for commission. There is where I first learned how to tattoo and build everything from the needles to the machine. My main focus was chicano art work just with pencil/Graphite, I wanted to be known for that.
It then continues with the publication of one of your drawings in a magazine which acts as a trigger for you. What happened?
Yes this drawing was send from jail to Lowrider Art Magazine in hopes to be featured in it. What happened was better than what I expected I had won centerfold and took first place. At that time I was out already and made confirmation that I should continue pursuing art as a profession.
How do you explain that it never stopped?
The passion in me is still the same and as long it's in there I will always continue to create.
Where did this attraction for lettering and calligraphy with a brush come from?
The attraction to letters was always there and that led me to calligraphy itself. Like I had said, the exploration led me to it, and in conjunction with the tattoo culture there are many more possibilities.
How did your approach to calligraphy develop, under what influences?
It started progressing when I started letting loose and started to mind my own business as there could be many influence from the outside.
Your calligraphy is also close to figurative work - with animal motifs, weapons, - but also abstract. Is it a desire to open the field of your creation beyond the letter and the message it conveys?
Yes, I want to be able to tap in into all kind of likings some people don't know anything about calligraphy. So, when you present in different motifs it makes that connection. I want to appeal to the oldest to newest and make people realize the possibilities of calligraphy.
Which artists do you look at and why?
I look at the ones that are working hard and making progress in their craft, the ones that will make me get up and put work in my stuff.
Finally, where does your name Keaps come from?
Keaps was picked randomly out of a book as my first name was too long and this is the alternative I stayed with, it did not have a connotation to anything. + IG : keaps_25lr https://www.keaps.store
