1781. Thomas Street (2)

On the same recently erected hoarding in Thomas Street where Sled One sprayed his banana piece, is this wonderful organic piece of wildstyle writing from Ments. Normally Ments writes his name, but this piece is so cryptic that although I suspect it says his name I can’t quite make it out, other than an S at the end.

Ments, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018
Ments, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018

I have always liked the work of Ments because it is so different from pretty much all the rest of the writers in Bristol, usually adopting this mystical, swirly, other-worldly style. His colours often incorporate these purples and oranges. The note ‘Save Hamilton House’ refers to a campaign to protect a building just across the other side of the main road which is at risk of demolition and redevelopment. There are many local studios for artists and the like in Hamilton House and redevelopment would break up this very tight community in Stokes Croft.

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1780. Thomas Street (1)

They really don’t come any better than Sled One. His bizarre creations have a dream-like cartoon style to them, but it is the immaculate execution of his work that is most notable. His lines and shading as well as extraordinary textures, for example the banana in this piece, seem to flow effortlessly from his spray can. It would be impressive enough if this piece were created with paint brushes…it is a small miracle with spray cans.

Sled One, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018
Sled One, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018

The element of humour also must not be overlooked and although a little gory, the concept of a banana slipping over on a human is a funny one. The little finger skateboard is a little nod to Sled One’s other passion which is skateboarding, and his Facebook stream has several videos of his skills for all to see. The piece is exquisite.

The permission to paint the hoardings was arranged by Where the Wall who offer street art tours around Bristol.

1779. St Werburghs tunnel (43)

I really hope you don’t get bored with seeing pieces by Face 1st. If you do, then just skip over this one and the next one in about four posts time and so on. You see, I like his work a lot and he manages to hit the streets a lot, which means his work will feature here a lot.

Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

This is an absolute blinder from Face 1st in St Werburghs tunnel and I had to do quite a lot of colour management on my photo editor to bring out the true colours that were swamped with orange light in my originals. Because of this manipulation these pictures can never be a true representation of the piece, so things like this really need to be seen in the flesh. Two faces and lots of adornment…each of the tear-drop things decorated differently, but each given that 3D feel. Lovely piece.

1778. The Bearpit (163)

Things have really slowed down at The Bearpit recently and most of the walls are becoming congested with fly posters and tagging. It has got a whole lot worse and more trashy since Bristol City Council came down hard on the street art scene and buffed all the walls – unintended consequences and all that…

DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018
DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018

In among all the sleezyness is this really classy piece recently sprayed by DNT. It is a floral tribute piece to a friend of his, Derek Williams, who passed away, I guess recently. In a touching Instagram post he says that Derek was one of the first people he met when he arrived in Bristol in 1990 and treated him normally. There is a big back-story there of which we only get a glimpse.

DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018
DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018

As tributes go, this is a really heartfelt and carefully crafted piece and from the Autumn colours to the whole tone of the piece you can see it is a labour of love. Lovely tribute.

1777. M32 roundabout J3 (98)

I am used to seeing NEVERGIVEUP’s urban (and occasionally rural) bunnies and his monsters. Less often seen are his wildstyle writings such as this one which he did together with Soge whose piece is just to the right.

NEVERGIVEUP, M32, Bristol, September 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, M32, Bristol, September 2018

The writing says EBOK, and although I don’t know what it means, I seem to recall it isn’t very savoury. It seems to me that spray painting comes so easily to this artist and that every time I have met him he has been very relaxed and calm. Hugely talented and a lot of fun too, he has just started up an Instagram account called ‘followmyrabbits’ in which he is posting rabbits he has left lying around all over the place…and not just in Bristol.