Kityo is a comic artist who started his own group Kitswagg Crew in the name of promoting art. He believes one day people will appreciate his works and art in general. He tells us more about this talent.
What exactly do you do in art?
I do comics, symbolic art and graffiti.
How do you call this business?
I named it Kits Comic.
Where did you learn this from?
It’s a family thing straight from my dad, mum and siblings. We are all into art, so I will basically say it is a calling.
What materials do you use to make your pieces?
I use art and colour pencils and sketch books for sketching, sprays for graphitti, bark cloth, water colour, glue and water.
How have you benefited from this talent?
I got sponsors who pay my tuition at school and through art, I’m getting to be known and I’m earning something from it.
What challenges have you faced so far?
Comic art is not known yet and it still has a long way to go, so people have no interest and it’s difficult for people to buy comic books. They have this perception that cartoons are for children and those interested buy them cheaply.
Are you going to do this your entire life. A business that you also know won’t make money soon?
Like I said, it’s because of passion but I’m going to upgrade to animations, they fetch more money.
How much do you earn out of these pieces per month?
That depends on the size of the piece and what is encrypted on it. If it’s a farm piece size110 x 180cm, painted on a piece, of back cloth, I sell it at $420 (about Shs1.26m). A 62x98cm piece goes for $160 (about Shs480,000). Wildlife art pieces go for Shs60,000 each.
How long does it take for you to make an art piece?
In a day, I can make a cartoon comic book of 10 pages if I’m given a story but for art pieces, I can do 10 small ones, and if it’s a big one, I take a whole day.
How can one contact you?
Through Facebook, Kityo Derrick Kits.
