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Jasper Santos - Interview
Self taught artist Jasper Santos moved to the U.S. at a young age. His dedication to his art and the influences of many great innovative and diverse artists has developed a unique style. Jasper's vision of passion and pain mixed with his classic and urban influences fuses dreams and reality together in a way that allows the imagination tell his story.
La Famiglia- Who you are? Where you’re from? How long you have been creating art?
Jasper- I’m a 29 year old 5’6” Filipino with a head full of fro that moved from the Philippines to the US when I was about 9 yrs old. I’ve never gone back since. Someday I might head back just to do some walls there. When I was 5 yrs old my parents enrolled me at a little silk screen shop that was also teaching in drawing. The teacher would just basically let us draw whatever we wanted. At the same time he would be working on his T-shirt printing business. He was also a great artist. I remember drawing Snoopy and making them as greeting cards to give to my parents and copying cartoon characters from the Filipino newspapers. I always had a hunger for drawing ever since then.
La Famiglia- What influences you in life and your work?
Jasper- Graffiti has been a major influence in my work. It was what really got me away from getting into gangs. When I was growing up, those were the choices, either get in a gang or be a tagger. I wasn’t really into doing drive bys so I chose to write on everything! Eventually I got into piecing and getting into more technical procedures and more in the artistic part of graffiti. I enjoy painting in yards that people don’t go to and just being submerged in my work. It’s a total feeling of solitude. My work is basically like taking a slab of concrete off of a freeway underpass wall and taking it home, I paint my canvases like I paint my walls…Subconsciously.
La Famiglia- What artists have influenced your work?
Jasper- Living in Los Angeles, there are so many artist that I really look up to. When I started getting into graffiti, I saw a video called “Graffiti Verite” It was pretty the match that sparked up the fuel of creativity that was in me. “MEARONE” was the one that stood out to me the most because of his characters and the message in his paintings. “MARKA27” was the one that made me put more soul into my paintings. Marka27 was the one that told me to paint each painting like it’s going to be your last, because that’s what you’re going to be remembered by. ”TODD WHITE” was one of the motivations in why I started painting on canvas. I met Todd White before he started making a living from his paintings. Now, Todd is doing 8 city tour solo shows in Europe! I’m like “Man! I’d love to do that someday!”
La Famiglia- What hardships have changed your work and life?
Jasper- Having to lose a beloved brother made me realize that life is too precious and too short to waste. He was shot and stabbed when a fight broke out at a Hollywood bar. After he passed away, I devoted 21 of my first paintings on canvas to him. 21 because that was his favorite number and the age he died. Once I finished the 21 paintings something just told me to just keep going, and so I did. Mark, my brother, was my best critic. He has left a mark in my heart and soul. So with my God-given talent I will also leave my heart and soul to my audience thru my work. If looked hard enough in my paintings you’d find “M21” hidden in them. That’s for me to know that he’s always with me whenever I’m painting.
La Famiglia- How do you feel today's art and artist’s effect society?
Jasper- Artists these days have a lot to say just because of what’s going on. War, drugs, gas prices, global warming…there’s so many things to say and artists are the ones to express them in a form where people can be aware about it. A message can be sent out thru art in such a powerful way as long as it’s painted tastefully.
La Famiglia- Do you listen to music while you work? What have you been listening to?
Jasper- Yes, definitely. Music while Painting is a must. I’m a big vinyl music junkie! I’m infamous in hitting up thrift stores and flipping though their record collection. I listen to a lot of old classic stuff, Jazz, Instrumental, Classic rock, Reggae, Ska. A lot of the music nowadays is starting to sound all the same. And there’s nothing like the sound of vinyl! That raw scratchy sound is sort of like the sketchy lines on my pieces. It’s cool because I can remember what I was listening to when I look at my paintings. I’m currently working on a series of paintings called “My Tribute to Music” It’s my payback to music for keeping me company in the journey I go thru in creating my pieces.
La Famiglia- Has there been someone that has been a mentor to you over the years? How have they changed your life?
Jasper-
I’ve always been a self-taught artist all my life. I took some art classes but the instructor has always let me do my own thing. Just sort of float around and make up my own exercises. My mentors would probably be my friends in the crew I ran with, as far as learning tricks in Graffiti. I mean we all just feed off each other’s skills and help each other out. I ran with a crew called BAMC, Bombing All Major Cities! It was my friend KOPYE, VERSUS269, and I that started it out back in the summer of 2000. They took me out to there secret spots. We’d paint yards all day! Recently I just decided to move on and just go solo, and kind of grew out of the crew thing. I still paint with them form time to time though. But I must admit, without them I think I wouldn’t be where I am in the art world.
La Famiglia- Is there anything that you would like to accomplish that you have not?
Jasper- I have so many ideas in my head that I haven’t gotten around to…I’d love to do more murals in LA. Go back to the Philippines and paint some walls there. Do some collaboration with European graff artists.
La Famiglia- What do you love about your work?
Jasper- I love the reaction I get from people and how they interpret my pieces. It’s crazy how layers of paint and color can speak to people differently without saying a word. I like how others relate their lives thru my images.
La Famiglia- What is your most memorable experience through out your career?
Jasper- So far, it would be my first solo show “Scattered Thoughts” at the JFerrari Gallery. No artist could ever forget they’re first solo show. I was surprised on how many people showed up that night. I was just a great feeling when I did it. It was a sense of accomplishment. My wife set it all up for me as a surprise gift for an anniversary present.
Jasper- Is there anyone that you would like to collaborate with?
Jasper- Man, there’s so many artists out there that I’d like to collaborate on a canvas or wall piece with. MARKA27, MEARONE, TODD WHITE, CRAYOLA, BARRY MCGEE, THE SEVENTH LETTER CREW, THE MAC… the list just goes on. I’d love to go to Europe and get down with some graff artist there too! To me, the final outcome of the piece is not what interest me…it’s the process! The break down of layers, how and what did he or she do to get there.
La Famiglia- How is your work rewarding to you?
Jasper- The payoff for me is when a fellow artist or young aspiring artist tells me that my work is inspiring to them. I take that positive energy and transfer it on to the next painting. It’s also what keeps me motivated; it makes me feel like I’m going the right route. Painting for me now is just my part time hobby, a therapy, but hopefully someday make it a full time career. I know it’s a hard road to get thru but the pay off will be well worth it. Not everybody likes waking up and going to work everyday, but imagine waking up and doing something you love doing!? I mean don’t get me wrong, I like where I work now, but to roll out of bed whenever you want?! and start painting?! That’ll be the day! But until then I’m gonna have to just stick to my 9 to 5er.
La Famiglia- Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Jasper- I’d like to thank GOD for guiding me thru my journey in the art world, and giving me this ability to express myself and to be able to paint, draw and share my emotions in life to the public. I want to thank my wife for keeping me inspired and motivated. Without a Queen, you’re not a King! I want to say thanks to parents for telling me that I won’t be able to get nothing out of painting. Thanks to my friends that stuck around when times were bad. And the friends that you think that they’re your friends but as soon as you turn around they stick a samurai sword in your back, Thanks! Without them I wouldn’t have any things to get off my chest. And the best way to relieve stress for me is to paint!
Links:
www.jaspersantos.com
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