You may remember Rajiv Surendra as the rapping mathlete Kevin G. in the 2004 hit movie Mean Girls, but did you know that the Canadian actor is also a talented calligrapher and artist?

Ever since receiving a package of letters from the 1800s as a gift when he was 12 years old, New York City-based Surendra has been fascinated with the art of calligraphy, crafting his own style of pen-and-ink penmanship over the years and expanding his work to encompass chalk drawings.

These large-scale trompe l’oeil sketches are inspired by the architecture of the city, whose classical flourishes find their way back into his hand-written correspondence.

“I’ve always felt a strong connection to the past,” Surendra says in the video. “I feel like I am sharing my own history and the history that I’m in love with with everyone who comes across my work.”

To find out more, watch the video above.