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Jasper Santos
818-674-9260
www.jaspersantos.com
jasper.santos@yahoo.com
Jasper Santos’ style of painting comes from what he learnt doing graffiti. His primary choice of medium is spray paint with acrylic as his secondary preferred choice. Jaspers paintings depict images that he has formed from events in own life or other people’s life stories. Often they are images of scattered thoughts that run thru his mind. When working on canvas he uses mostly acrylic and turns to “buff “paint (house paint), as spray, when doing larger outside walls.
“Acrylics give me freedom to paint faster and the ability to layer my colors more easily.
I’ve transferred my methods of painting walls to something I can transport and share with everyone whereas the work of the graffiti artist, once done is immobile. I enjoy the feeling and the reaction I get from people just by what I do with layers of paint. It might be a little offensive or dark or even funny, but I think it’s a gift I was given to share with everyone.
My paintings are like my children. I have a mental bond with them. They are little time capsules of me.”
Jasper Marquez Santos was born on August 28, 1979 in Angeles City, Philippines. With no formal art education except for drawing classes at a silk screening facility at the age of 7 and a few life drawing classes in local community colleges, Jasper is truly a “natural.” Having arrived in the US in the March of 1989, he was instantly drawn to graffiti found throughout Los Angeles. Names like “OILER,” “TOOMER” and “CHAKA” spray painted in black with white outlines are embedded in his memory while driving down the 110 South to his grandparents’ house. It is in graffiti that Jasper found his origin in art.
Using the city of Los Angeles as his main influence, Jasper’s curiosity in graffiti led him to start doing his own in 1996. He was enamored at the notion that a blank wall can be turned into a piece of art. His influences in the graffiti world include Mear One, Marka27 and Craola, not to mention artists in the first Graffiti Verite film.
It was a few years later in 2000 that he soon realized no matter how many times he painted on walls it was eventually “erased” or painted over. It was at this point that Jasper’s passion for creating art on walls expanded into working with traditional mediums like canvas and acrylics. Applying the same conceptual methods as he had once used when approaching graffiti art, Jasper continues to create paintings on canvas that are just as interesting and unique in their own right.
It is best to read Jasper’s own words to fully comprehend his vision and method of approaching a new painting, whether on a wall or on canvas: “My paintings are a time stamp of what I was going through at that specific moment… feelings that were translated into a physical form. I paint for a temporary source of relaxation and relief. My paintings pick on events that an average Joe goes through such as obesity, alcohol, love, and politics. I have a strong belief that artwork should give some kind of feedback of feelings. Whether my audience hates it or loves it, you still get a reaction.”
Jasper’s art has turned many heads in a variety of venues such as clubs, festivals, galleries and bars in and around Los Angeles whether his work is displayed or if he is doing a live painting. His art is embraced by audiences of all ages and many have yet to see his artistic talent that will continue to thrive.
Jasper Santos is a member of the Pasadena Society of Artists
2007 Art Exhibition, Whites Art, Framing & Restoration, Montrose CA
2007 Art Exhibition & Sale, Los Angeles Arboretum, Pasadena CA
2007 82nd Annual Exhibition, Viva Gallery, Sherman Oaks CA
OTHER EXHIBITIONS
2007 Crash Mansion, Los Angeles
2007 J. Ferrari Gallery (solo Show)
2006 Catch A Fire Show, The Mountain Bar, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Excessive Acts Productions @Hangar 1018 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Cannibal Flower Show, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Eagle Rock Underground, Eagle Rock, CA (Group Show)
2006 Eagle Rock Underground, Eagle Rock, CA (Live Show)
2005 Inquisition Show @ hangar 1018 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Group Show)
2005 Gallery Domingo, Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (Group Show)
2005 “Dia De Los Muertos” Show, Mama’s Hot Tomales, Echo Park, CA
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* None of the artworks may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Artist