Month: August 2015

14. Leonard Lane (1)

I have found a very rich seam of fabulous wildlife street art in a tiny little lane in the centre of Bristol. I stumbled upon this by accident, and only now on searching the interweb, have found out that it is a very recent initiative organised by Human Nature.

This will be the first of several posts from Leonard Lane.

One of the most striking images in the lane is a beautiful stencil of a dodo by Stewy, another Bristol street artist, who works in Bristol, London, Brighton and Manchester amongst other cities.

Stewy, Dodo, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
Stewy, Dodo, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

There are strong influences from Banksy in his work, and I particularly like the choice of site for the work. there is another of his stencils in the lane which I will come back to in another post.

This is a perfect storm for me… a street full of wildlife street art.

8/10

Fox

 

Wiley visitor,

a young fox surveys its patch;

cat is not amused.

 

by Scooj

Love song

 

Miss Joan Hunter Dunn

I love you more than J.B.

could have imagined.

 

by Scooj

 

With thanks to, and total admiration for John Betjeman and A Subalterns Love Song

13. Hotwell Road, Esso garage

I took a stroll yesterday along the Hotwell Road and found these two murals. I hadn’t seen the fish at first, you can see it is just to the top right of the film mural.

Unknown artist, Hotwell Road, Bristol, August 2015
Unknown artist, Hotwell Road, Bristol, August 2015

I don’t know the artists of either of these. I think the fish has been there a while, but the rather more colourful film mural is dated 2015, and signed AC with a little ammonite icon. If you know the artists please post a reply.

Andy Council, Hotwell Road, Bristol, August 2015
Andy Council, Hotwell Road, Bristol, August 2015

UPDATE – it should have been obvious to me, but I have learned a great deal since this early post. The AC stands for Andy Council, who is one of the better known muralists in Bristol – his works can be found all over the city.

I love the fish. It feels like there should be more, but that appears to be it.

I like being surprised by finding more than you are looking for.

 

Being

 

My mind’s eye wanders

from mortal bondage and pain

to heavenly bliss.

 

by Scooj

12. North Street, heating and plumbing

This self-portrait? by Brave One AKA Scotty-B is another Upfest 2015 artwork (I think).

I have not seen any of his work before, but I guess this is the joy of Upfest, which brings so many artists to one place, and allows us to enjoy their work, often for the first time.

Brave One, North Street, Bristol, July 2015
Brave One, North Street, Bristol, July 2015

Brave One is a UK based graffiti artist who has been spraying since the late ’80s. He runs a creative business that offers spray can art/graffiti art. He does private or public commissions and also runs teaching workshops and events.

I rather like this, but especially like the setting.

7/10

 

Heron

Hunched and replete

while Old Father Thames glides by;

enough fish today.

 

by Scooj

Matilda

Early start today;

up to London for a show,

a holiday treat.

 

by Scooj

11. Small Street

In a small alley close to the NW end of Small Street is an intriguing wheatpaste by Kid Crayon. I am noticing more and more of his street art in Bristol, and rather enjoy his approach. I don’t know what it is called, but ‘blue face’ might have to do for now.

Kid Crayon, Small Street, Bristol, August 2015
Kid Crayon, Small Street, Bristol, August 2015

Kid Crayon describes himself as an illustrator or animator, but works mostly as a street artist. He considers the aesthetics, subject matter and location of a particular work, and indeed his locations tend to be low key and slightly off the beaten track.

Most of KC’s work is wheatpastes, which until I went to Paris this Spring, I had little time for, but am becoming rather fond of. I will post more. One has already been the subject of a haiku I wrote a few weeks back (20. Wheatpaste).

Kid Crayon, Small Street, Bristol, August 2015
Kid Crayon, Small Street, Bristol, August 2015

KC tends to sign his works with his initials reversed and the K mirrored.

Mischief

It is easier,

and often so much more fun,

to obscure the rules.

 

by Scooj