Elvs

3321. Dean Lane skate park (366)

Technically first-class and exactly what you’d expect to see from Elvs, this is a lovely recent one in Dean Lane skate park. Although Elvs lives in Wales, he makes the trip over to Bristol on a remarkably regular basis and that can only be good for Bristolians.

I was going to write that this is classic Elvs, but I guess that pretty much every piece he paints is classic Elvs. That doesn’t mean to say he is a one-trick pony, far from it, but he does have a style and method that he tends to stick to. Horizontal fills in warm colours are broken up by fine detail lines in black at the top and white at the bottom. The 3D shadows are also horizontally split with black at the top and blue underneath. Same basic framework with innovative detail. Nice work from Elvs.

3287. St Werburghs tunnel (202)

I pitched up in the tunnel just as Elvs and a couple of friends were just leaving. Unfortunaetly I wasn’t able to say hello as they jumped into their car and disappeared. Fortunately they had left behind some lovely pieces, including this one by Elvs himself.

Elvs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020

It feels like Elvs has been fairly quiet through the latter part of summer and the walls of Bristol have been all the duller for his absence (or at least they might have been were it not for the abundance of talent in the city, but I think you know where I’m coming from). This is a typical piece of Elvs writing in his unique style with three horizontal fills and a 3D shading with a vanishing point in the centre of the work. Welcome back.

3060. M32 roundabout J3 (231)

Ooh, it is always great to come across new work from Elvs and I am particularly enjoying his accompanying characters at the moment, which complement his superb writing really well. This is a nice spot on the M32 roundabout that Elvs favours from time to time. Yesterday this exact same wall was being painted by Inkie, Soker, Tizer, Minto, Rusk and Stivs… some of the greatest writers you’ll get to see in a single gathering. More on that paint jam to come soon.

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

It goes without saying that the beautiful script writing and shading are of such a high standard. Elvs has really nailed his technique for this style of lettering.

The character, Marvin the Martian, seems to be a favourite with street artists. Dasco has just done one in Spain and there are a couple of other examples below:

Deamze, Hill Street, Bristol, October 2018

3006. St Werburghs tunnel (171)

This is one of those few occasions where a photograph actually does do justice to the artwork. I was in St Werburghs tunnel yesterday and revisited this piece (it is still there), but was struck by how the colours were dulled by the lack of good lighting. Somehow the photographs I took have auto-compensated for the poor light conditions and the piece looks amazing. It is of course by Elvs.

The letter shapes and style are familiar, as are the exquisitely masterful graded fills, but what I really like about this piece is something rarely seen. Elvs has added a 3D shadow that fades from purple on the lower edges to pink on the upper ones. Another highly accomplished piece.

2974. M32 Cycle path (61)

Sometimes artists break the mould and when they do, they can surprise us, andn that is exactly what Elvs has sone with this tight piece of writing on the M32 cycle path. Regular readers of Natural Adventures will note that this is far removed from what we might expect from the artist and is so refreshing to see. To give you some idea of what I mean, take a quick look at this gallery and you will understand what I am saying.

The five colour fill is very nicely done and the 3D shading consistent. Quite why he has changed his letters I don’t know, but it is quite commmopn for graffiti writers to do this. A nice little surprise that I wasn’t looking for.

2951. Dean Lane skate park (312)

Although I somehow inexplicably managed to omit this outstanding piece by Elvs first time round, I think it might well be my favourite of his. Painted in Dean Lane in May 2017, the form and colours come together in something close to perfection.

In the nicely balanced piece, the artist has used three shades of pink and three shades of blue to give the blended effect of moving from light to dark to light horizontally. Added to that, he has split the piece into vertical thirds swapping the the colours to create a harlequin effect. Clean lines, beautiful fills, incredible details. Tight.

2890. St Werburghs tunnel (167)

The biggest mystery to me during this rather self-indulgent trip into my street art archives imposed by the coronavirus pandmic lock down is that I find it quite hard to understand why so many great pieces got left behind on the ‘cutting room floor’, like this beauty from Elvs.

Painted back in March 2017 this wonderful piece of wildstyle writing incorporates an addition of a skull and intriguingly some Japanese-looking script in yellow and pink running through the ELVS lettering. I know that several pieces by Elvs incorporate some Japanese lettering, but I don’t know why… I’ll have to ask him next time I see him (which could be some considerable time). A classy piece from this exceptional artist.

A gallery of incredible graffiti writing from DBK artist Elvs

All pictures by Scooj

Elvs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

Elvs, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

Elvs, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, March 2018

Elvs, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2017

Elvs, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2016

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017

2827. St Werburghs tunnel (160)

Elvs has spend a lot of productive time in St Werburghs tunnel this winter and created a crop of stunning pieces. I’m not sure about the significance of the bunch of grapes, but the leaves are more like those of an olive tree rather than a grape vine (#onlysaying).

Set on a yellow background, and sticking to his tried and tested formula of letter font and shapes, Elvs has a horizontal grading through the piece from pink to dark pink to brown. He has cleverly incorporated black 3D shading on the top half of the piece and yellow outlines at the bottom. This is another fine piece, but I have to say that I don’t think the yellow background does the whole thing any favours.

2782. St Werburghs tunnel (150)

This magnificent Elvs piece near the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel didn’t last too long, but then again, nothing seems to last too long in there at the moment… probably something to do with the incessant wet weather we’ve been having since December.

As always, Elvs presents us with a meticulously finished piece so distinctive in its style. The horizontal graduation of the fills is exceptional as always and the 3D shading with a central disappearing point is nicely done. Another keeper from the DBK artist.

	scooj on 3446. M32 Cycle path (103…
	scooj on Sub-zero
	paulh121 on 3446. M32 Cycle path (103…
	William on Sub-zero
	scooj on The white stuff

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