5093. St Werburghs tunnel (359)

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2023
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2023

It was a quiet walk with the dog, there wasn’t much new to look at in the tunnel, except for this lovely piece, that probably says BEN, although I can’t see it myself, by Benjimagnetic. Perhaps I should have asked him, because I bumped into him while he was painting it.

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2023
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2023

I’m not sure what the phrase “There’s gaps in your galaxy” means, but it must have some relevance. The design work in Benjimagnetic’s writing is superb and the layers of patterns and shapes disguise the letters brilliantly. Although this is a small piece, it is a little gem, and still there in the tunnel last time I looked (two days ago).

5092. Greenbank (75)

Olek McBolek, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2023
Olek McBolek, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2023

I love artists who visit Bristol and leave behind something a bit different, and wow, this piece by Olek McBolek is definitely a bit different. What’s not to like about a smoking seal sipping on a cocktail?

Olek McBolek, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2023
Olek McBolek, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2023

The seal is nicely presented with good perspective, and the composition is hilarious (a word I don’t use very often). It is the smoke in the large red space that definitely catches the eye though. I’m not quite sure what it spells, but it looks like there is a P or a D, a U or L or an E and an H or a K. Make of it what you will, or just enjoy a seal having a fag.

Dasco

A gallery of incredible graffiti writing and character work by Dasco, who will be remembered for the outstanding pieces he painted in Bristol before returning to Spain.

All photographs by Scooj

Dasco, River Avon, Bristol, January 2022
Dasco, River Avon, Bristol, January 2022
Dasco, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Dasco, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Dasco, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019
Dasco, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019
Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco and Oseque, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco and Oseque, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Dasco, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Dasco, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Dasco, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Dasco, Deal Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Dasco, Deal Lane, Bristol, August 2019

5091. Sparke Evans Park (65)

Face 1st and Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023
Face 1st and Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023

Not many artists are painting the long wall at Sparke Evans Park these days, since the arrest of an artist about six or seven months ago. Slowly but surely people are drifting back to the wall, but unusually for Bristol, having to keep their eyes peeled and wits about them at all times. This is a great pity, because this would be a perfect candidate for a legal wall. There is no tagging here, and the colourful wall is an added attraction for people who use the park for recreation. It has become a bit of a ‘wall of fame’, well respected and curated in a self-policing manner.

Face 1st, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023
Face 1st, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023

This far end of the wall was recently painted by Face 1st and Soap in one of their PWA pairings. To the left, Face 1st continues to explore different ways in which he can slice a face up. Very rarely for the artist, he has not tried to work in the letters FACE into the piece, rather he is focussed on the task in hand, the slicing.

Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023
Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2023

Soap too continues to explore a theme he has been enjoying recently, spelling out his name with the ICE King for an ‘A’ and a Face 1st face for the ‘A’. Although the colours the artists have chosen are a little muted on a dull day, they are nonetheless attractive and have been beautifully worked into both pieces. Great to see something new on this wall.

5090. M32 roundabout J3 (457)

Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

I have said in recent posts featuring Zake that his work is getting ever more adventurous and zany, well this piece on the M32 roundabout pretty much supports my assertion. This is Zake pushing boundaries and having fun.

Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

This piece was painted as part of a PWA crew paint jam, and combining with the crew has certainly nudged his work along, perhaps being inspired and encouraged by his friends. The face is huge and green and slightly unsettling, due to the absence of pupils. Zake’s mastery of light and shade conveys real depth and creates definition of features. This is an excellent character portrait from Zake – where to next for this artist? Whole bodies? Photorealism?

5089. M32 Spot (159)

Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

I took these pictures a short while ago, but held back on publishing a post because I couldn’t work out who the artist was. It took me a long time to work it out, but I got there in the end. I’m not sure I have seen his work before in Bristol, but it is clear that Saik0134 is a hugely talented artist, and is welcome back anytime.

Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

Painted on one of my favourite walls in Bristol, this portrait/writing combo stands out from the crowd. The bright lettering and striking portrait are real attention-grabbers. Even though the piece is not painted on a buffed wall, it doesn’t seem to matter too much, with the piece occupying nearly all the space. The letters spelling SAIK are nicely done in yellow and orange with light blue drop shadow, but for me it is the portrait that is the trump card.

Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

The eye is drawn immediately to the woman’s glasses, reflecting the light, a clever street art technique, and she is beautifully painted in shades of blue and grey. This is a fabulous portrait piece, and I would love to see more from the artist in Bristol, or anyone else for that matter. This artist is not to be confused with another who used to paint in Bristol called Saik One.

5088. Purdown (54)

Sam Brentall, Purdown, Bristol, March 2023
Sam Brentall, Purdown, Bristol, March 2023

This piece seems to benefit from being framed by the snow and the heavy grey sky. It is by an artist I haven’t come across before, Sam Brentall, and my first impression is a good one.

Sam Brentall, Purdown, Bristol, March 2023
Sam Brentall, Purdown, Bristol, March 2023

The stylised dog heads stacked on top of each other create a strong and colourful pattern, and the whole unusual composition is fun to look at. It looks like the black outlines have been painted using marker pens rather than spray cans, and this seems very much like the work of a studio artist who is exploring possibilities with street art. I sincerely hope to find more street work from Sam Brentall this year.

One wall – many faces (3)

Looking at a single wall and how it changes over time.

3. Long hoarding at the top end of the M32 Spot

Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019
Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019

Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2020
Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2020

Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2020
Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2020

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

T-Rex, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2021
T-Rex, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2021

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2021
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2021

Conrico, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2021
Conrico, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2021

Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, April 2021
Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, April 2021

Pekoe and Bnie, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2021
Pekoe and Bnie, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2021

Hemper, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Hemper, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2021
Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2021

Minto, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022
Minto, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022

Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022
Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022

Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022
Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022

Klashwhensober, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022
Klashwhensober, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022

Mudra and Saor, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022
Mudra and Saor, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022

Dopes, Jaksta and Neddy Ned Ned, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2023
Dopes, Jaksta and Neddy Ned Ned, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2023

Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Saik0134, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

5087. Brunel Way (197)

Pekoe and Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe and Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

Some things work so well together, strawberries and cream, Morecambe and Wise, Pekoe and Bnie. These two from the Resting Bitch Face (RBF) crew seem to have a great rapport, which rubs off when they collaborate.

Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

This pairing was painted alongside Wispa, but I decided to post them separately as these two followed a strict colour scheme. To the left is a really fabulous portrait piece from Pekoe, which includes an upper torso, something of a rarity in her work. The hair is fantastic – I absolutely love this piece.

Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

To the right is some outstanding technicolour writing from Bnie, beautifully designed and executed. The piece is totally on point, and I love the clever touch with the outer border, which is pink and white along thee top, and blue and white underneath. This is a nicely thought out and eye-catching piece.