Craig Keppler
Mechanicsville, United States
Craig Keppler’s initial artistic encouragement came from his high school teacher, Jason Churchill, who fostered self-reliance and experimentation in his style. Keppler later became deeply immersed in Japanese traditional art (irezumi)—learning its mythology and symbolism—which profoundly influenced his work. Currently, his subject matter has shifted toward creating medieval, gothic horror-themed pieces, drawing inspiration from games like Dark Souls and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Artist Interview
Q: Can you share how your artistic journey began? What inspired you to start creating, and how has that initial spark evolved over time?
A: I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. It’s always been something I did naturally, without much thought. It wasn’t until high school that I began receiving the support I needed to develop my own style. I drew inspiration from Shepard Fairey, at the time. Once I started getting tattooed and began an apprenticeship, I became deeply immersed in Japanese traditional art and irezumi. That became a primary focus for a long time as I learned the mythology and symbolism behind the designs.
Recently, I’ve shifted towards creating more medieval, gothic horror-themed pieces. I draw a lot of inspiration from games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, as well as the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Fantasy and mythology have always been central to my subject matter, driving much of my creative expression.
Q: What have been some of the most significant moments or challenges in your journey as an artist?
A: My earliest push towards developing my own voice and style came from my high school teacher, Jason Churchill. He encouraged me to create art that made sense to me and never discouraged experimentation. His guidance helped me become more self-reliant and confident in exploring my creativity without someone telling me what to draw. Getting tattooed and becoming friends with Tim Knecht showed me that people were genuinely interested in my style of art.
Tim pushed me to learn how to tattoo and helped me evolve my work into a more practical style for tattooing—a balance of reducing unnecessary detail while prioritizing flow and readability in the design. In recent years, I’ve been studying the works of Elliot Wells and Christopher Jade, challenging myself to create pieces that embody medieval, gothic horror themes.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to other creatives pursuing a career in visual arts, what would it be?
A: Trust your gut and don't be afraid to mimic or use other artist work as reference. We all learn from each other. Don't be afraid to message an artist you like. Most of us are weird, awkward, and nerdy.