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Will Kasso Condry
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Liquitex Featured Artist
Will Kasso Condry
Trenton, New Jersey
website:
www.spraygraphic.com/willkasso
Biography
Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, art was a creative outlet that manifested itself early on for Will “KASSO” Condry. He first noticed graffiti art at the age of 7 when graffiti artists from North Jersey and New York were creating murals for local businesses in Trenton. At age 11, he watched the legendary battle between LA graffiti writers HEX and SLICK on television and realized what he wanted to do: "That battle really opened my eyes to another world. I had never seen anything like that before. I remember it like it was yesterday. I immediately started drawing outlines and graffiti inspired characters and never stopped."
Today KASSO is primarily known for his unique portraits and vivid aerosol based murals. He is a pioneering force in the Trenton art scene. Along with community arts non-profit organization, ALBUS CAVUS, KASSO continues to promote and produce graffiti inspired art throughout the city and tri-state area.
We were really excited to work with Will during the development of our Liquitex Professional Spray Paint and he kindly allowed us to interview him about his work and his experience with this new exciting innovation.
Interview with the Artist
LQ: Was spray paint the first medium you started with?
WKC: I started using traditional mediums like oils, acrylics and watercolors when I was fourteen. I painted with them through to my 20’s when I started with airbrushing to make some extra money. At that time, an old school graffiti writer agreed to teach me how to airbrush. While working with him, he showed me his black books and I started to really get interested in graffiti art. He encouraged me to use spray cans since he saw my skill with an airbrush. Airbrushing is in some ways similar to spray painting but it is more technical than spray painting. With airbrushing it’s all in your hands, whereas with spray paint you use your whole body.
LQ: You studied art in college, did that influence your work now?
WKC: I have a minor in art history and was really influenced by the Impressionists because of their rebellious nature. They reminded me a lot of the graffiti artists of today. When the Impressionists started, they were told they were not good enough but they ignored all that and did their own thing until their work got noticed. Graffiti art is very similar.
I was also really influenced by the way the Impressionists used color. Before my studies, I did not feel that I was good with color and worked a lot in black and white. Looking at the Impressionist works and their bold dashes of color gave me the confidence to use color too.
LQ: Do you find the stigma around graffiti art and spray paint frustrating?
WKC: I see it as a challenge to try to break the stereotype. I try to prove these people wrong. You can talk all you want but showing it is key. I work with kids from some of the worst neighborhoods. I don’t try to lecture them but rather talk to them about how they can improve their lives by doing graffiti as art instead. I tell them that if you don’t wise up, there will be serious consequences to your actions. That if they vandalize, they can ruin their lives. They already have difficult lives and obstacles to overcome, adding a felony onto that will guarantee your life will be much more difficult than it needs to be.
LQ: What do you think about the new Liquitex Professional Spray Paint and how does it compare with other brands?
WKC: It’s great, especially when working indoors! There is little or no odor at all and that is a blessing in itself, as well as being able to mix acrylics with the spray without the worry of different paints reacting in a negative manner (ie; chipping or flaking off over time).
Compared to other brands, the low odor and mix-ability with acrylics is its biggest strength! The only protection you would possibly need indoors is a dust mask instead of a 3M respirator like you’d need with other brands. No other premium paint can allow you to work so easily.
LQ: After working with the Liquitex Spray paint for a while, how does the fact that it is not solvent based influence things for you?
WKC: It makes it a lot easier and smoother to paint indoors. No matter how long you have been working with spray paints, you cannot avoid the fumes. Even when wearing a respirator the fumes still seep in and you are forced to take breaks because the room gets too cloudy. When I was younger I was less concerned with fumes but I realize now that you have to protect yourself.
LQ: Do you have any advice for people getting started using spray paint?
WKC: Keep it simple! If you are doing letters, faces, abstract art and you don’t understand the medium, try not to get too complex too fast or you will just get frustrated. You may not get it overnight but if you keep trying, it will come. If you are already an artist and are looking to use sprays as a new medium, it will come quicker but it still takes practice.