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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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'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 !
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.
I don't even know what you're talking about dude. Now matter how you express it legally or illegally, it's still art. That's what you are failing to understand.
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.
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
Further more a sign painter has to have a perfectly balanced hand. Like a surgeon. There is one try to get it right otherwise the entire job gets fucked up and you've lost money. If you had any idea or clue what art was you'd know that there is beauty in simplicity. I could go search out the most advanced realism artist, the most amazing stylized artist, the most wild comic book artist, and they are all going to say the same thing. Lettering is fucking hard. You missing the entire point.
I just think the whole vinyl or paint thing is stupid. Especially if you are a hand drawing designer and graphic artist. It's absolutely necessary in the real world to take advantage of digital printing, vinyl, and graphics. It's when they are both mixed that they look awesome.
Nobody covers the devastation war causes. Vice usually does damn good inside coverage, that's probably all this guy want's when he says war docs, not art.
letters are art. whether its a skilled trade/craft makes no difference. it is an art just like painting a car is art. if you dont know espos history and where he comes from this video isnt for you. the cool guys know whats up
Or...there is very little other source of info that seems reliable that brings footage and awareness to what is going on in the world, however this stuff is good too.
It's not easy at all, who ever says this is easy is a liar. This is a craft that takes years to get a hold of, the reason why hes so great at it is because graffiti teaches you to get a really steady hand. Try doing a super clean line with spray paint like espo (a man who has one of the cleanest hands ever seen in philly) and you're going to end up looking like a chump. And the phrases are amazing, ever stop to think that you're just boring?
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.
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.
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.
Shocked to see Espo, stock cap master, being the focus of this video. Old hero. Makes me feel good.
What I like about the signs is the authenticity of being painted, yet the lines and letters are so clean looking
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.
@ 7:20 ...The way he said "Within the shadowlands of Graffitti" ...lol
very poetic
i am so in love with this artist's vision. loooove steve powers.
When this dude was up he probably got up more than anyone of us will ever he was and still is beast at letters
legendary painter.
"I'm up waiting for you." is a great piece.
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
Hey Vice you should do more of these, they are fucking awesome.
visiting NYC in november, def gonna check this out.
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.
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
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.
This was great. Steve Powers seems like an awesome person. Would love to see some more of his stuff.
ESPO! when i saw this in my feed I had to stop what i was doing to watch this, great artist
I work on Hoyt Street and have always love that installation! Great piece.
Very inspiring!
I really enjoyed this video, more like this would be great!
This is ESPO? Holy shit! Memories!
Super interesting hearing his thoughts on art in general
i love sign making, everything that is brush, paint & surface.
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.
Where the hell do you even begin on a project this huge? Excellent outcome...
You know he's a creative person because he has "outrageous" hair.
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.
I love SP's work, so funky, so revolutionary, yet so simple.....
renaissance guerrilla
Indeed...😁
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'll take some yellow ones as well! It's AWSOME that Macy's let him paint that much space. I like his craft.
Bro that guy David I think he was in the getting up graff documentary I think such a good Doc
i think there is an art and skill in producing good typography. It is so much harder than it looks.
@3:00 CHINO! Respect to any graff writer who immediately recignized his face.
Thanks. You made me rethink.
I Like his kid:
"Pretty awesome"
"I know!"
Like a baws :P
This video was so damn COOL !
Thank you!
SBF
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.
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.
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.
He put some words on a shitty old building, whoop de fucking do.
Where the fuck can I get the tune from the end?? Anyone???
awww he still gets excited by things that go BANG bless him....
Thanks for saying so, some people just dont appreciate a thing, most of my peers just have no thought to things like signs.
I don't even know what you're talking about dude. Now matter how you express it legally or illegally, it's still art. That's what you are failing to understand.
very good work! please come to France!
I spotted a spelling mistake at 4:26 "entrepeuneur" instead of "entrepreneur" [R] Other than that, I find this art form necessary.
OKAY GUYS, WHO GLUED PUBES ON HIS HEAD...I DONT THINK HE KNOWS!!
This is great
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.
1:62 he looks like the "aliens" guy
I see the style and I see the hair.. It will always be ESPO because of the two.
Neat. I’ve seen the Syracuse ny signs
Love it 😀
And any artist know that drawing or painting letters is one of the hardest things to do.
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
i painted billboards for 18 years. i know a little about it.
What song was it at the end
Graffiti is rude and destructive, art is giving.
Song at the end anyone?
This guy really has nothing to say. He's just putting up large font text for the sake of doing so.
Good stuff!
Would love a follow-up to see what bro's been up to.
i prefer to see different taggers tagging their names everywhere
press alt + F4 for it to become really impressive
"I see working for a toon has rubbed off on you. Remember me, Eddie? When I killed your brother, I talked... just... like... THIS!"
these auto-ads are starting to make me HATE UA-cam.
yeah, thats it what he said.AGREE.
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
What kind of glasses is he wearing?
Well said my friend!
Check out the other Steven Powers who shares a Gallery with Wyland in Hawaii
Further more a sign painter has to have a perfectly balanced hand. Like a surgeon. There is one try to get it right otherwise the entire job gets fucked up and you've lost money. If you had any idea or clue what art was you'd know that there is beauty in simplicity. I could go search out the most advanced realism artist, the most amazing stylized artist, the most wild comic book artist, and they are all going to say the same thing. Lettering is fucking hard. You missing the entire point.
This is a few awkward pauses away from being a Christopher Guest film.
crazzzzy looking guy..
Man, sign painting is taking off with the hipster explosion.
Nice work, ESPO. I mean Steve
I thinked pretty long what are you sayin in that comment because my bad english, but when I got it, I totally agree
He reminds me of Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Lol
He's so high! xD
Reminds me quite alot graf artist Aboves works...
Cool!
Christ it's like someone took top trending Twitter tweets and plastered them all over Brooklyn.
Pretty awesome.
Why diden't the just use the guy on the bike? 3:08
dude looks like he's from eraserhead. DA FUCK!
haha i get it "big picture"
Not talking genius.
I just think the whole vinyl or paint thing is stupid. Especially if you are a hand drawing designer and graphic artist. It's absolutely necessary in the real world to take advantage of digital printing, vinyl, and graphics. It's when they are both mixed that they look awesome.
This guy looks like Kramer!!
Chino cameo !
It isn't quite Bristol England
Nobody covers the devastation war causes. Vice usually does damn good inside coverage, that's probably all this guy want's when he says war docs, not art.
letters are art. whether its a skilled trade/craft makes no difference. it is an art just like painting a car is art. if you dont know espos history and where he comes from this video isnt for you. the cool guys know whats up
cosmo kramer hair ftw
haha they spelt "entrepreneur" wrong at 4:23
Or...there is very little other source of info that seems reliable that brings footage and awareness to what is going on in the world, however this stuff is good too.
It's not easy at all, who ever says this is easy is a liar. This is a craft that takes years to get a hold of, the reason why hes so great at it is because graffiti teaches you to get a really steady hand. Try doing a super clean line with spray paint like espo (a man who has one of the cleanest hands ever seen in philly) and you're going to end up looking like a chump. And the phrases are amazing, ever stop to think that you're just boring?