An outstanding calligrapher who is possibly a little underrepresented in Natural Adventures is Stivs. This beautiful piece of calligraphic writing from not too long ago so perfectly demonstrates his extraordinary ability to paint such beautifully formed letters.
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2021
The whole shape and size of this piece is really most aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye. The writing which spells STIVS is elaborate and complex, but in the hands of the artist is expertly executed. Note to self – time for a Stivs gallery?
Stivs continues to turn out some of the best calligraphy writing in Bristol and this is an absolute beauty under Brunel Way. The photographs simply don’t do this piece justice… in the context of the slightly gloomy spot, the bright blue and purple letters illuminated the space and demanded to be looked at. A real humdinger.
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2021
I am not even going to attempt to tell you what the letters spell out, although I was thinking of having a go, I can tell you however that it is not his customary STIVS. I think the really clever touch lies with the thin bright blue outline on the black background that gives the whole thing a little lift. A nice piece.
There are two excellent calligraphy writers in Bristol who stand out and who throw paint at walls on a fairly regular basis. One of them is Todoaciem and the other Stivs – this is a fine piece from the latter.
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2021
I like the way that Stivs has slotted this piece of writing into a rather slim piece of wall, where the embankment rises up to the main roundabout road. The writing that spells out STIVS y nicely constructed, and as well as the regular and disciplined lines, he has also incorporated some embellishment and drips which always adds kudos to a piece. Nicely sited, beautifully painted, great work from Stivs.
I don’t get there too often, which is a bit of a shame, but there is a nice walk along the River Avon which contrasts two very different scenes; on one side is the muddy river with plenty of bankside vegetation and a variety of bird species an evidence of other wildlife such as otters on the other side is a long gallery of graffiti and street art displayed on the rear walls of buildings on an industrial estate.
Stivs, River Avon, Bristol, November 2020
Along this stretch I found this rather nice calligraphy piece by Stivs, an artist getting quite a lot of exposure on Natural Adventures at the moment. The orange and red colour selection is a winning combination and the script has some rather good harlequin reversals breaking up the lines. A fine piece from Stivs.
In have recently taken a couple of excursions into my archive (I have so much unposted material from earlier this year it is insane) and on one such search I found this lovely piece by Stivs at Dean Lane skatepark on the swimming pool wall.
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 22020
At this particular spot, the high railings make taking front-on photographs rather tricky, but it is possible to get pictures from the side. This lovely piece from Stivs adopts his calligraphy style but in this case with fatter letters that have been filled with horizontal colour stripes and a silhouetted landscape/cityscape running through the middle. A very nice piece.
I simply haven’t posted enough of Stiv’s work, but I guess the same could be said for a majority of Bristol artists. With publishing only two posts each day on Natural Adventures I am never going to be able to cover everything. At the end of each month I would guess that I only post about a third to a half of the pieces I record. Something for me to do in retirement perhaps?
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
I think that thhis tribute piece must be in some way connected to the tribute collaboration with Frank Riot at the other end of the tunnel, because both are dedicated to a friend who died two years ago and was connected to the music industry. The letters are utterly awesome and the movement and vibe dancing off the piece give off a sense of sound and dance. A fine piece with meaning.
I was lucky enough to meet Frank Riot as she was working on this fabulous tribute piece to a friend of hers who had passed away a couple of years ago.
Although he hadn’t started his contribution at that point, the whole thing was actually a collaboration with Stivs albeit not necessarily painted at exactly the same time. Frank Riot is from London but had come to Bristol specially to paint this tribute. I chatted with her for a little while as she was working on the bottom half of the design using a lot of masking tape to get those superb straight lines.
Frank Riot WIP, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see her or Stivs completing the piece, but returned a couple of days later to check it out. It has turned out wonderfully well and the huge contrast between the artist’s styles somehow doesn’t seem to matter too much.
Frank Riot and Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Frank Riot is a designer and that comes across clearly in her work Whereas Stivs is a specialist in beautiful Gothic type script graffiti writing. This wall usually has a high turnover, but I hope this tribute piece receives a little bit of respect for a while, it certainly deserves it.
I have a feeling that this might be the first piece that I have posted by Stivs. This is something of a poor show on my part, because I have plenty of pieces by him in my folders, but just never got round to posting any of them. I am putting this wrong right with this lovely piece of writing under Brunel Way by the riverside.
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Stivs is probably best know for his beautiful gothic script works. These ornate letters spell out BDSC although I’m not too sure what this represents, but will come to know in time I’m sure. The letters are well proportioned and drafted and the colours work well The yellow and white lines help to lift the letters from the wall. Overall a wonderful piece. More to come soon.
