Interview:PERSUE Seventh Letter • MSK • AWR • COD

To start off with. Where are you from? What do you write? What crews do you rep?

Persue’: I was born and raised in San Diego, California. My Dad was from the Bronx and my Mom was from upstate New York near Woodstock. I write Persue’ (per-sway) but I don’t mind being called per-su, It’s common. I rep COD from the Bronx, Stick up Kids, The Seventh Letter, Bunny Kitty, Transcendental, Bloodclots and SBA.

Where does the name Persue’ come from?

Persue’: It was given to me by a friend in High School. He thought it was an original name so thats why I started to write it. It took me years to actually turn into Persue’. I think I live up to the name.

How long have you been doing graffiti?

Persue’: 20 years now. I picked up a can in 1988.

How did you first get started? What was your influence to start?

Persue’: Actually it was the same guy who gave me my name. He had a black book he called his “Bible” it was full of colorful drawings. I was blown away at that moment. I went back to class and started drawing and my life has been consumed by it since then. I had already been drawing prior to my introduction to graffiti and my parents had been calling me and artist since I was born. When I was a kid I didn’t know what an artist was. But now I completely understand.

When you first started out, who did you look up too?

Persue’: First, my crew mates Xpek and Fose. Then as I was getting around San Diego, Quasar, Zodak, Dyse, Sake, Peng(R.I.P), Zane, Joker and Nyse. As I started to venture out of San Diego there was Giant, Slick, Risk, AWR, Revok, Rime, Sever, Ewok, Aroe,Twist, Spie, Aladdin, Rayven, Dream, Wane, Mode2, Futura, Gnome, Virus, Bates, Ghost, Ket, FC-TC-5, Toast, Goal, and Can2. Shit, really I am inspired by alot of people. I have been fortunate to have met and painted with most of the people I mentioned. Out side of Graff I really like Shel Silverstein, Peter Saville, Klimt, Schiele, Ralph Steadman, Bode’ and Jim Henson.

Out of all the pieces you’ve done, is there one you can call a favorite?

Persue’: Yeah, I really like the wall Wane and I did in the Bronx in 2003. It was right after the USA went to war. It’s our pieces that read,”Know war, Persue peace”.

How did you come up with Bunny Kitty? Can you tell us about Bunny Kitty?

Persue’: At the time I was drawing a lot. I remember Toast from Switzerland was living in San Diego at the time. He was a great drawing partner because he does it so well. He helped me develop my drawing skills. I met a girl who asked me to draw her a Bunny Kitty. I had no Idea what one looked like so I made it up. I remember the night I drew up the first sketches I fell in love with the concept. When ever I come up with something good I can’t sit down. I start to pace the room and my mind starts to race with scenarios. So I developed more characters, a story and even a rock and roll band called the Slugganauts. Then I introduced it through my network. I had been involved with so many successful skate brands in my past. People would always ask when I would finally do something for myself. I had no Idea it was going to be Bunny Kitty, but I am happy with it. I don’t care if it ever makes me money, its all good!

You’re not only involved with just graffiti. You’re also a graphic designer, illustrator and shoe designer. Can you tell us a little about what all you’re working on?

Persue’: These days I am President for Vox Footwear a Skateboarding shoe brand based out of Vista, California. So I manage the company and design footwear with my friend B House. In the past I was involved launching DC shoes, Osiris shoes, I named and did the logo for Circa footwear. I have done countless T-shirts, Skateboard graphics and Snowboard graphics for brands like Dub, Droors, Special Blend, Forum, Tribal, and Evol to name a few. I got into the industry around ‘91 or so. Skateboarding was not as big as it is today. So I grew with industry and so did my reputation of being a talented artist. I am responsible for putting flavor into skateboarding art at a time when it was lacking it. This was before Dave Kinsey, Andy Howell and Shepard Fairy lived on West Coast. My brothers and I also run a shop in Encinitas by the name of Home. There is a good story behind this project. You can see it at http://www.amomentinyourlife.com.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve either seen or experienced while out painting?

Persue’: Geez, Been pretty lucky so far. No craziness yet. Doesn’t sound possible with 20 years under the belt does it? Oh! I sat on a cactus after a bombing mission once. I had to have a friend help me pull the thorns out of my butt cheeks. NO BUENO!

What can we expect to see from Persue in the near future?

Persue’: More Burners, more Bunny Kitty, more missions. There has been talks of a book but Im not holding my breath.

Interview Provided by: senseslost.com