How long does it take to make your work?

It really depends! Some pieces come together in a day, while others may take months—or even years. I’ve even set aside work and come back to it more than a decade later. In general, the larger and more detailed a piece is, the longer it takes. Nearly everything I create begins in my sketchbooks, where I spend 3–4 hours drawing and exploring ideas every day.

Why don’t you make paintings?

I’m drawn to working with paper - I absolutely love it. Everything I make, even my sculptures, begins with paper. It allows me flexibility, accessibility, and affordability, and I enjoy exploring all the ways it can be transformed. I also make books and, of course, those are made of paper too.

Where do your ideas come from?

Curiosity is my biggest fuel. Because I work consistently in my sketchbooks, I’m always writing and drawing down ideas. That process takes time and gives me space to wonder, which leads to lots of sketches. Many of those sketches grow into series or finished works, which in turn spark even more ideas—it’s an ongoing cycle of exploration. I have a love for certain things which consistently appear in my work: humor, isometric architecture, nature that resembles anatomy, gross food and chaotic complexity.

have you always made art?

In a way, yes. My parents noticed I was drawn to making art from an early age and encouraged me, though I resisted for a while. I didn’t take any art classes in high school, but while studying history in college I began taking art classes and that’s when I realized art was what I truly wanted to dedicate my life to.

What does it cost to buy your work?

My work is available at a wide range of prices. You can find items like catalogs starting around $5, limited-edition prints for about $50, original drawings and sculptures at various prices, and large-scale drawings that can take up to a year to create, which are around $20,000. Commissions vary by size and time. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re interesting in purchasing anything you see on teplin.com. Believe it or not I have much more work available in my studio than is posted here.