The Art of Sign Painting with Steve Powers
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- Known in his early days as graffiti icon ESPO, Steve Powers has been a charismatic figure in both New York's art and graffiti world throughout the past 20 years. Seen all over the streets of Philadelphia, New York, and Brooklyn, his flat top and name have been synonymous throughout these street scenes since the mid-90s. However, after ESPO's success for several years, Steve decided to step away from the shadow lands of graffiti and establish himself as a sign painter. In this episode of Art Talk we accompany Steve to explore his new project "Love Letter to Brooklyn" in the heart of downtown at the old Macy's parking garage. We get a behind the scenes look into his life as ESPO, how his work has developed over the years, and his life as a dad.
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Originally aired in 2010 on VICE.com
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Most people can't explain exactly why analog sounds better than digital; it just does. These hand-painted signs just look better than signs made with stencils or computers (and feel better to look at, too). Truly an under-appreciated art form.
I work on Hoyt Street and have always love that installation! Great piece.
Very inspiring!
legendary painter.
Mr.Powers, I saw you at eh S.F. MOMA about two years ago. I went there that day day and had no idea that you had an exhibit there. I went through the whole museum and at the end, I saw you. It made my day.
i am so in love with this artist's vision. loooove steve powers.
This was great. Steve Powers seems like an awesome person. Would love to see some more of his stuff.
I really enjoyed this video, more like this would be great!
This was a great interview, ireally enjoyed it. I am familiar with the graphic production environment and signs produced by hand are getting to be a lost craft, not only are they technically quite difficult, the very nature of creating signs this way is something our culture has disregarded, along with so many other skilled trades that are really more art than craft. thanks for making this.
"I'm up waiting for you." is a great piece.
Super interesting hearing his thoughts on art in general
What I like about the signs is the authenticity of being painted, yet the lines and letters are so clean looking
i loved that!!! please come to this part of the world and paint - would be great here, that real 20s-40s era style thats back in style. some of that was priceless, and im not even an art connoseir. lwaterboard spongebob ride heh heh. the only downer, we were never allowed to see full pictures, complete phrases etc, just snippets, but i will find them, streetview maybe
With only very minor changes, this would make a hilarious comedy short.
"I'm a sign painter, I'm a raconteur, former break dancer, present artist..."
And then (sigh)... like the green pants and the neon shirt under the cardigan and the haircut... Anyone out there who imagines themself to be a hipster -- you are amateurs
@@zammmerjammer Lmao
visiting NYC in november, def gonna check this out.
When this dude was up he probably got up more than anyone of us will ever he was and still is beast at letters
ESPO! when i saw this in my feed I had to stop what i was doing to watch this, great artist
i love sign making, everything that is brush, paint & surface.
This video was so damn COOL !
Thank you!
SBF
I love SP's work, so funky, so revolutionary, yet so simple.....
renaissance guerrilla
Indeed...😁
Hey Vice you should do more of these, they are fucking awesome.
Thanks. You made me rethink.
awww he still gets excited by things that go BANG bless him....
It's good to see a positive transformation from a negative to a positive, some lost kids need to know art can be a career and a way out, or even a glimmer of hope for another path. Some just don't understand the struggle and others will not put principles before personalities and leave ignint comments seen below mine. Thumbs up for peace and pomposity.
I'll take some yellow ones as well! It's AWSOME that Macy's let him paint that much space. I like his craft.
@ 7:20 ...The way he said "Within the shadowlands of Graffitti" ...lol
As a designer and sign shop owner i appreciate this. I love the art of sign painting. We do a little of both vinyl and sign painting. Of course i would be totally broke right now if i all did was sign painting. I prefere to hand draw my letters and create graphics out of them. It's just more robust for me. But i love a sign painter and i love sign painting. Everyone said it would go away with computers and vinyl. They are both awesome though. A real artist can take advantage of both.
Shocked to see Espo, stock cap master, being the focus of this video. Old hero. Makes me feel good.
Well said my friend!
Where the hell do you even begin on a project this huge? Excellent outcome...
Bro that guy David I think he was in the getting up graff documentary I think such a good Doc
I Like his kid:
"Pretty awesome"
"I know!"
Like a baws :P
This is ESPO? Holy shit! Memories!
very good work! please come to France!
Good stuff!
Thanks Steve! ^^
I feel like there are way to many letters are way to big, almost chaotic not artistic to me at all. I couldn't imagine seeing that everyday. paint pictures
This is great
Love it 😀
Did anyone catch that They Live (1988) moment at the lady in red?
Neat. I’ve seen the Syracuse ny signs
I'd like to know how you laid out the design. Large lettering, Centering. Hard to tell where your at with such large work and up in the air where you can't back off and look at it every now and then. Over all, Very nice work. Be proud and give yourself a pat on the back !
math son math
There are lots of ways to sketch that out, measuring is one but the easiest is using a projector and outline the projection.
very poetic
Pretty awesome.
i think there is an art and skill in producing good typography. It is so much harder than it looks.
Really enjoyed this one! Yikes with the downvotes. I've done some little sign painting projects locally and it's cool to see it done on a much larger scale.
Gotta love when people who dont understand art pass judgement on this guys work, calling it "boring" or "easy". Seriously, try doing this yourself and see how far you get.
What song was it at the end
You know he's a creative person because he has "outrageous" hair.
awesome
I never met espo but I've seen a lot of his old paintings in tunnels etc. I was shokced when I found out he was doing big time projects for philly, honestly I thought he had died or been locked up.
Thanks for saying so, some people just dont appreciate a thing, most of my peers just have no thought to things like signs.
gimme more !
@3:00 CHINO! Respect to any graff writer who immediately recignized his face.
crazzzzy looking guy..
You've clearly never looked at his work, it is worth reading what he's writing... because his work is simple in appearance, but deep in content and context.
I think it fits for that particular area/job. Although, it seems like he exclusively uses that font. I'd like to see a little more variation.
Cool!
Reminds me quite alot graf artist Aboves works...
I see the style and I see the hair.. It will always be ESPO because of the two.
Where the fuck can I get the tune from the end?? Anyone???
Song at the end anyone?
dope
He's so high! xD
Check out the other Steven Powers who shares a Gallery with Wyland in Hawaii
I spotted a spelling mistake at 4:26 "entrepeuneur" instead of "entrepreneur" [R] Other than that, I find this art form necessary.
"I see working for a toon has rubbed off on you. Remember me, Eddie? When I killed your brother, I talked... just... like... THIS!"
1:62 he looks like the "aliens" guy
This guy looks like Kramer!!
This is a few awkward pauses away from being a Christopher Guest film.
his hair!!!
very knowledgable guy.,, i get it
I thinked pretty long what are you sayin in that comment because my bad english, but when I got it, I totally agree
Chino cameo !
yeah, thats it what he said.AGREE.
cosmo kramer hair ftw
Firstly: Art isnt for everybody, its also expression. If you want to communicate something by picking your nose and taking a photo of it, thats art. You can like it, dislike it, interpret it or misinterpret it but the fact that it is art remains.
Secondly: A single person is not a universal arbiter for taste. If you express your disapproval of an artwork (be it because you dont understand or agree with it) it is subjective, just like the artwork.
Nice work, ESPO. I mean Steve
i dig it
haha they spelt "entrepreneur" wrong at 4:23
And any artist know that drawing or painting letters is one of the hardest things to do.
What kind of glasses is he wearing?
i painted billboards for 18 years. i know a little about it.
Man, sign painting is taking off with the hipster explosion.
Steve Powers, Graffiti and art are very much cohesive together, as graffiti is the single biggest form of social statement art!.. It makes me some what angry that you wouldn't use that term. Almost all "statement art" is based off or started writers, we are the reason art has taken a turn to meaning more then oil on a canvas so to speak. When writing has driven the art world forward, it deserves more credit than a understated form of art. Most big artist either bite writers or draw inspiration.
i prefer to see different taggers tagging their names everywhere
DAT HAIR
if you can read you would realize I said it was art not graffiti? he said it was graffiti when it's not its art graffiti has its own ways and ranks
He reminds me of Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Lol
press alt + F4 for it to become really impressive
these auto-ads are starting to make me HATE CZcams.
Like totally
It isn't quite Bristol England
He put some words on a shitty old building, whoop de fucking do.
Did this guy stick a fork in a light socket before they did this video? xD
Why diden't the just use the guy on the bike? 3:08
haha i get it "big picture"
YUP,what he said!
Not talking genius.
he sounds like topher/beiberhole69 from workaholics
Yes, you are.