B.Summers

For Willie Cordy Jr., painting is a thing of relaxation. The Portsmouth, Virginia native can remember being an artist as far back as third grade. He remembered entering an art competition in grade school and coming up short behind friend. Cordy spoke ecstatically of drawing a cartoon character, and his friend (the winner) just drawing a car. We recently sat down with Cordy and talked about his experiences as an artist.

TheWallMag (TWM): How long have you been painting for?
Willie Cordy Jr.: Since… I think 3 rd grade. Third grade was my first art contest… Man a long time, longer than you were born.

TWM: How did you get into painting?
Willie Cordy Jr.: I don’t know it’s just something I liked to do, I just picked it up. It was relaxing. I could do it at home, I didn’t have to worry about going outside in the cold weather or if I got tired of messing with friends I just stayed in the house and drew. I liked cartoons. My main thing was cartoons. Cartoons are what got me interested.

TWM: Why do you paint?
Willie Cordy Jr.: To relax. I’ve got a lot of things going through my head constantly. Expression pretty much.

TWM: Any big plans for the future?

Willie Cordy Jr.: When I graduate, I want to teach and also I want to open my design studio back up. Before, I had a car accident and lost my studio. I’m doing better now. So when I graduate, and start working again in my field, I want to put my design studio back up. And I want my art work to be known world wide.

TWM: What would you say your best experience in art would be?

Willie Cordy Jr.: I think my best experience was my art taking me places that most people told me I couldn’t go. They said you couldn’t get a regular job messing around with art. I worked in the music business for a while. I did some work for the ‘96 Olympics. I had my own clothing line too. Art has always been my first love. It’s always taken me places. Art has never cheated on me.

TWM: What is your favorite piece, if you have any?
Willie Cordy Jr.: I did a Curtis Mayfield airbrush, but I sold it. I needed money at the time. Overall, I’ve always loved comics. I’ve interviewed for a couple of comics companies back in the early 90’s. I liked that. Comics have always been cool to me. That’s what got it, I didn’t like to read when I was little but comic books helped me out. The rest of the stuff, I think was kind of boring, but the comics got me going. I’ve always loved comics.

Contact Info for the artist : www.myspace.com/highcreator

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