Angus Art Bristol

After Tim Jentsch saw Angus’ tile piece at Upfest 2017 as well as several cool little installations around Bristol’s Bedminster area it was time to speak to the artist himself and find out more about what makes him tick.-Introduce yourself to us!

My name is Angus and I’m from Bristol UK.

– Where does your tag name come from?

I’ve used the name Angus since I was a child. It was my username for Super Mario Kart 😉

-How do you define yourself? Artist? Street artist? Anything else?

I would define myself as a disappointed optimist but an artist nonetheless. Not all of my work can be found on the street or in galleries. I use all different types of mediums, styles and techniques.

– How did it all start for you, and what is it nowadays?

It all started for me back at Upfest 2013. I went to the festival on my own as none of my mates back then was interested in Street Art/ Graffiti. At Upfest I ran into an artist called Bill and he fronted a group of artists called ‘The Secret Society of Super Villain Artists’ (SSOSVA). I showed him a piece of my art and as a result he put me in my first group show up in Liverpool. I’ve never looked back.

– What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

I make a massive cup of coffee and try and thank as many fans/ followers who’ve shared or posted my artworks as possible. I then chase up any leads on upcoming shows or on where i could paint walls. I’m always looking for projects to take part in.

-Street art is mostly a visually stimulating form of art. To add one more sense to it, what music would you pick to accompany your art work?

That is a good question. I listen to Planet Rock and Kisstory when I’m in the studio depending on my mood.

-In all forms of art, inspiration is crucial. What is it that inspires you?

Living in Bristol, the streets are ever changing and there’s a show on almost every week. This environment has had a massive impact on my thought process. Then there’s current affairs, politics and other artists producing pieces on a daily bases. There’s no shortage of inspiration .

-What is the hardest part while working on a piece of art?

Getting from a concept to the final execution is the hardest part. My initial idea can change whilst I’m in the making of a new piece. A fresh set of eyes helps. I learn from the mistakes I make whilst creating a piece from scratch. Mistakes are honest and happen.

-Do you have an artist(s) you admire and what for?

Yeah there are two artists actually that stand out for me at the moment – SP Zero and Irony. Both seem to be ticking all boxes for me and are very talented. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both of them and whats great is they are nice guys too and took their time to interact with me and anyone else that was interested.

-Which cities are the most inspiring for you?

Ahhhh there’s a few. Paris and LA are fascinating places that come recommend by other artist I know. I would love to paint/ install pieces in both.

-What other passions do you have apart from art?

Art is my main hobby and takes up a lot of my time. You get out of it what you put in to it so it’s worth the sacrifice. Apart from that I like spending time with my family and friends and whatever chaos that brings 😉

-Do you have a wild project that you dream of achieving some day?

I’m working on something right now. Its still in the early stages so I can’t give to much away. Keep checking my feed

-Tell us about your art, does it include symbolisms, messages or repeated patterns?

My art is very sporadic and I never repeat the same piece twice. You’ve got to keep evolving otherwise it just becomes stale after a while. If your feet can touch the ground your not trying hard enough. I use cheeky text along with well known characters, products and brands along with current affairs.

– How long does a piece of art of yours usually survive for?

It all depends on the location of the piece, I’ve had a piece last a couple of hours and I’ve had a piece last two and a half years. You cant expect to paint on the street and nothing happens to it. Thats the nature of the game. Sometimes it can be a form of evolution of a piece especially when people add to it. Streetart isn’t sacred or forever.

-What do people first think of, or feel, when they see one of your works on the street?

I try and go for the shock factor when I produce certain pieces and use taboo subjects such as terrorism or religion. Generally things I feel don’t get spoke about or approached that much in the art world but are constantly on the news and in our day to day lives. If not that I try and create pieces that are nostalgic or funny.

-Do you have a secret you would like to share with us? 🙂

Haha secrets are secrets for a reason 😉

-What are your creative plans for the future?

I’m experimenting with different products and techniques and am planning on going bigger and better with everything I do. There are a couple of collaborations in the pipeline. I’m also excited about the process of making dates match.

– Is there a specific thought or message you would like to pass to our audience out there?

Just a massive thank you for taking the time to read this interview. I’m hoping to create new pieces with different twists soon. Oh and I wont photoshop famous dead people 🙂 Apart from that thank you very much and watch this space.