Tag: DBK

2264. M32 roundabout J3 (146)

I don’t know what I expected Elvs to look like before I met him but somehow it wasn’t what I saw. Maybe it was that he was much younger than I thought, but then isn’t everyone these days? I have been an admirer of Elvs’ work for a few years now, so it was great to catch him midway through doing a piece.

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019

His work is so distinctive and intricate and appears to follow a general formula, the repetition of which, by his own admission, becomes recognisable as his work. I guess if you have done enough of these things you begin to master every curve and shadow and he seems to turn out perfect pieces every time. He didn’t seem to mind me chatting for a little while… it must be quite irritating having people asking inane questions, but if he was irritated he didn’t show it. Another great piece of graffiti writing from Elvs.

2038. M32 roundabout J3 (127)

On sitting down to write a post about this Elvs piece from the M32 roundabout I have come to realise that I know virtually nothing about the artist. I know about his work and love the intricate lettering which usually has a vanishing point somewhere behind the piece, but I have never met him nor do I even know where he comes from. This secrecy is quite common amongst some street artists and is completely understandable… however it does lead to an awful lot of waffle filling the column inches.

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

This particular piece includes some pixels which might be a little nod of recognition to Aspire, but then again it might not. It also looks a little bit like there is a tide line on it, where the bottom third looks a little washed out. This effect is heightened with the wet pathway below the piece. Great work from this DBK artist.

1980. Dean Lane skate park (186)

Another overlooked piece from my archives, this time from Elvs in Dean Lane. It is very possible that this remained on file for so long because at the time of seeing it, I didn’t know the artist and so left the picture in a folder. Because the turnover of pieces in Bristol is so high, many that I photograph never see the light of day, but on my occasional trawls through the archives I like to dig some oldies out.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016

Elvs’ skills are obvious for all to see, and the crisp lines on his distinctive writing style are a pleasure to observe, and in this one, the shading within the letters is masterful. A great piece on the bit of wall that is very difficult to photograph…as you can see.

1431. Moon Street (44)

There are a great many graffiti artists in Bristol that I don’t feature in the pages of this blog. Some are not up to scratch, some are extremely elusive and some have a bit of an attitude. However, as their work develops over time, it becomes impossible to not start to write about them. Soak is one such case.

Soak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2018
Soak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2018

I have been aware of Soak’s work for a while and have several of his walls in my archive, but this is one that stands out for me as moving up a level. The fill and patterns are sophisticated and a lot of thought has gone into its production. Soak often inverts his ‘A’ but has used other tricks to reverse or invert letters. There is a Soak graffiti artist from Oxford who was jailed for Tagging and drug dealing, but I am not sure if this is the same one. The styles look a little different, so I am guessing this one is not the same. Soak is a member of the DBK crew.

1357. Dean Lane skate park (112)

I always like finding Elvs pieces, there is something about how intricate and so very clean about them. Fantastic detailing and sharpness that so many pieces I see every day just don’t have. One of the features that helps his work stand out, is that his vanishing point for the shaded edges of the letters is somewhere in the middle of the piece, whereas much of the writing you see has a vanishing point to one side or the other. Small thing I know, but these things help give artists their uniqueness.

Elvs, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, March 2018
Elvs, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, March 2018

As ever his lettering is outstanding and the colours really stand out on the blue background. I get the impression that his work probabkly takes quite some time to do, no sign of a quick throw up mentality here. I have not yet med Elvs, but would sure like to se him at work.