Keith is either going at full steam or sleeping. And because the latter usually gets sacrificed for something more fun, his energy and excitement for events, arts, and friends is well suited to Vancouver’s Main Street, his current home base. He can be found running along the sea wall, biking to basketball or trekking with his guitar to his band’s jam space. Even when sitting quietly with his Chai Tea at a coffee shop, his toe is tapping out his newest guitar lick. He carries a notebook everywhere he goes to track the inspiration for his illustrations and visits dog parks to play with other people’s dogs – since he doesn't have one himself, YET. Always ready for a pint, Keith has large circle of really close friends and a huge appetite for Thai Food.
The Proof
01 My favourite place to be: on stage with my band Warless. Like a lot of visual artists, I've found that the excitement of music and energy of a live audience is totally addictive.
02 My girlfriend bought me this drawing table off an old french guy in West Vancouver back in December – his home must have been worth 15 million dollars, and he had built this table himself. I thought that was super cool.
03 "I may be a graphic designer, but there is only ONE logo that I actually will wear on a shirt."
04 My favourite view in the city. This picture does no justice of course, but just walk over to 7th and Oak, and the whole city suddenly opens up to you.
05 Another fun thing about playing in a band - GIG POSTERS. Rick and I take turns making them.
06 Cheeky coat-of-arms for the South Granville Social Club. Now that I am on the east side, it's time to make a new one.
07 My ride for about 5 years now. Weighs about a hundred pounds, but I've grown attached.
08 The reading list: Graphic novels, illustration, New Yorker cartoons. I have an unhealthy obsession with New Yorker cartoons.
The Questions
What neighbourhood do you live in?
I live at Main and 5th. Apparently it's called "Brewery Creek" (who knew?), just moved there in the fall and love it.
What do you do and where?
I work at UBC as a graphic designer; I'm the art director of UBC's Trek Magazine (among other duties). I do some freelance design as well. I'm also a cartoonist and illustrator - my biggest passion is for editorial illustration. And I play guitar in a band called Warless.
What are you working on?
There are three things I am most excited about right now:
1. Soon I will be starting "one cartoon a day" for 100 days and publishing them online. I want to build a body of work. These will be single-panel editorial/New Yorker style.
2. Warless' first EP, Coast, is coming out April 1. So we're working out a venue and a night for our EP release party.
3. 'The National Apologist', a social/political satire website and partnership with my friend Andrei Whitaker, coming soon!
Where can we find your work?
