The Art of Sign Painting with Steve Powers

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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[@exexalien]

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.

[@Jayro440]

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.

[@michaelmendoza5923]

legendary painter.

[@KelmoMusic]

What I like about the signs is the authenticity of being painted, yet the lines and letters are so clean looking

[@tracyjames1580]

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.

[@Samodrei]

"I'm up waiting for you." is a great piece.

[@hkkids57]

Hey Vice you should do more of these, they are fucking awesome.

[@FirstHumanimalien]

Shocked to see Espo, stock cap master, being the focus of this video. Old hero. Makes me feel good.

[@GameICY]

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.

[@cstarcrista5776]

i am so in love with this artist's vision. loooove steve powers.

[@michaelpatrick4796]

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.

[@zenvagabond]

I love SP's work, so funky, so revolutionary, yet so simple.....

[@heathersitz3615]

renaissance guerrilla Indeed...😁

[@soundwavedm]

I work on Hoyt Street and have always love that installation! Great piece.

[@davidthunander]

visiting NYC in november, def gonna check this out.

[@RatkingOddities]

ESPO! when i saw this in my feed I had to stop what i was doing to watch this, great artist

[@pausa831]

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.

[@lollalot]

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.

[@YoungGreenCard]

This is ESPO? Holy shit! Memories!

[@zammmerjammer]

With only very minor changes, this would make a hilarious comedy short.

[@zammmerjammer]

"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

[@mvj1153]

​@@zammmerjammer Lmao

[@jbgood54]

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 !

[@chetrok1]

math son math

[@JP-ek2eu]

There are lots of ways to sketch that out, measuring is one but the easiest is using a projector and outline the projection.

[@LiquidPorcelain]

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.

[@100jesusnieves]

i love sign making, everything that is brush, paint & surface.

[@jeebersjumpincryst]

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

[@chetrok1]

When this dude was up he probably got up more than anyone of us will ever he was and still is beast at letters

[@mattias6186]

Very inspiring!

[@MGiordano]

This was great. Steve Powers seems like an awesome person. Would love to see some more of his stuff.

[@mvj1153]

@ 7:20 ...The way he said "Within the shadowlands of Graffitti" ...lol

[@pinkHIPPOgreenHIPPO]

I'll take some yellow ones as well! It's AWSOME that Macy's let him paint that much space. I like his craft.

[@andrisaleksejevs9180]

@3:00 CHINO! Respect to any graff writer who immediately recignized his face.

[@brandonpadilla1953]

Bro that guy David I think he was in the getting up graff documentary I think such a good Doc

[@joelamore-streetartmuralsi1229]

Super interesting hearing his thoughts on art in general

[@skatatataatje]

I Like his kid: "Pretty awesome" "I know!" Like a baws :P

[@pointlessfailure]

You know he's a creative person because he has "outrageous" hair.

[@howell1488]

awww he still gets excited by things that go BANG bless him....

[@dholbert3266]

Neat. I’ve seen the Syracuse ny signs

[@issaknifeprty]

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.

[@transaltlanticism]

I really enjoyed this video, more like this would be great!

[@AlleyBetwixt]

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.

[@216trixie]

Thanks. You made me rethink.

[@20yearsago88]

Where the hell do you even begin on a project this huge? Excellent outcome...

[@TheSotragic]

i think there is an art and skill in producing good typography. It is so much harder than it looks.

[@TheLove7391]

very poetic

[@PLANBENT2]

Would love a follow-up to see what bro's been up to.

[@Illumirage]

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.

[@tracyjames1580]

Thanks for saying so, some people just dont appreciate a thing, most of my peers just have no thought to things like signs.

[@liontiigerbear]

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.

[@Dr.Colors]

very good work! please come to France!

[@Samoor69]

Reminds me quite alot graf artist Aboves works...

[@kimaboe]

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.

[@sparkybluefox]

This video was so damn COOL ! Thank you! SBF

[@GloriousRed1]

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

[@redneckcaseyjones]

crazzzzy looking guy..

[@kocpeezproductions]

these auto-ads are starting to make me HATE KZbin.

[@216trixie]

Graffiti is rude and destructive, art is giving.

[@thasco]

I see the style and I see the hair.. It will always be ESPO because of the two.

[@janiebarker2687]

Love it 😀

[@tracyjames1580]

yeah, thats it what he said.AGREE.

[@Muxen92]

Cool!

[@michaelpatrick4796]

And any artist know that drawing or painting letters is one of the hardest things to do.

[@TC-lk9xy]

Chino cameo !

[@12GBKT]

1:62 he looks like the "aliens" guy

[@ericpatterson4248]

Did anyone catch that They Live (1988) moment at the lady in red?

[@excusemygangster]

i prefer to see different taggers tagging their names everywhere

[@UncleLouis1]

his hair!!!

[@FasimBarcelona]

Thanks Steve! ^^

[@kcgoldn]

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

[@JimCorrigan777]

"I see working for a toon has rubbed off on you. Remember me, Eddie? When I killed your brother, I talked... just... like... THIS!"

[@TheBws23]

gimme more !

[@iwanfishz9]

Well said my friend!

[@KookieKat69]

He's so high! xD

[@TheFrancisLalanne]

I spotted a spelling mistake at 4:26 "entrepeuneur" instead of "entrepreneur" [R] Other than that, I find this art form necessary.

[@eddiebizi]

haha they spelt "entrepreneur" wrong at 4:23

[@TheFrancisLalanne]

This is great

[@michaelpatrick4796]

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.

[@X8802]

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.

[@ballbagger2006]

Where the fuck can I get the tune from the end?? Anyone???

[@TbirdReal]

Did this guy stick a fork in a light socket before they did this video? xD

[@coldcrush9]

Nice work, ESPO. I mean Steve

[@signbum]

i painted billboards for 18 years. i know a little about it.

[@mizzkronik1]

Song at the end anyone?

[@liontiigerbear]

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?

[@julius5200]

I thinked pretty long what are you sayin in that comment because my bad english, but when I got it, I totally agree

[@xxVampirePenguinxx]

Christ it's like someone took top trending Twitter tweets and plastered them all over Brooklyn.

[@beastiedesigns]

It isn't quite Bristol England

[@MarcadamiaNut]

I don't think it's all that creative. It's only an industrial font, it makes the place look like a giant warehouse.

[@legalizeweed5952]

Yes, you are.

[@Zalman1337]

He put some words on a shitty old building, whoop de fucking do.

[@chaos_omega]

Pretty awesome.

[@ruben987789]

Why diden't the just use the guy on the bike? 3:08

[@Mkultraumatic]

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

[@pincheneo]

i dig it

[@chobysiau87]

Good stuff!

[@barbeatque]

What kind of glasses is he wearing?

[@JimCorrigan777]

He reminds me of Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Lol

[@btracing]

This guy looks like Kramer!!

[@rerebacchus]

awesome

[@OrcOnAFork]

Like totally

[@HazetheJerk]

OKAY GUYS, WHO GLUED PUBES ON HIS HEAD...I DONT THINK HE KNOWS!!

[@birdmanbl]

Check out the other Steven Powers who shares a Gallery with Wyland in Hawaii

[@narihamek1]

What song was it at the end

[@netsildnaputuhs]

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.