Month: December 2016

539. The Bearpit (30)

The Bearpit is a great place for graffiti/street artists to do quick pieces. A place where graffiti is tolerated, perhaps even encouraged, and with plenty of nooks and crannies to leave mark.

RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016
RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016

This is a piece by RIP that I photographed back in August 2016. I am not sure who the subject of the stencil is, so I must confess that it is slightly lost on me, but it is another fine piece from this urban guerilla whose regular visits to Bristol are always welcome.

I am informed by Duncan that it is Kurt Cobain – thank you.

538. Raleigh Road Vector (3)

This is another nice piece from wildstyle specialist Soker. It was in the Vector car park back in July, just before being overpainted during Upfest. The car park is a special place for Bristol street artists as it has five walls available in a gated space, so the works are rarely tagged. It also allows for gatherings and collaborations.

Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, July 2016
Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, July 2016
This is on the side wall of the car park, and is slightly more difficult to photograph from the gates. The piece is a great example of Soker’s work. He tends not to disguise his letters as much as some and makes great colour and tone selections. A good piece.

537. Dean Lane skate park (30)

This is a piece from back in July, and one that was probably overlooked by many. It is by the fabulous Angus and was sprayed at about the same time as his ‘Purple Rain’ tribute to Prince. It would seem that Angus was experimenting with 3D circles/spheres at the time, and I think they work rather well.

Angus, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Angus, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
The writing in the centre of this piece on a skate ramp spells out the four elements – earth, air, fire and water. This is a nice simple, but technically well executed piece by one of Bristol’s regulars. It is always a pleasure to find an Angus piece.

536. Upfest 2016 (75)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL!

I haven’t seen much micro stencilling since I started writing about street art and graffiti art, so it was a real discovery to see this incredible stencil by Eins92. I’m sure it was no reflection on the artist, but there was no biography in the Upfest programme, so I have had to dig a little deeper to find out anything about him.

Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Eins92 is a German street artist who has recently spent some time in the UK going to various urban art festivals and leaving behind his little treasures. There is a really good interview with him in this Global Street Art feature. I can’t believe I didn’t photograph another of his stencils on the other side of the bus.

Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This work is so intricate, and the stencils he cuts are so incredibly tiny. This is really skilled work and he produced it perfectly.

 

 

535. Upfest 2016 (74)

A little while back I posted an amazing wall painting by Andrew Burns Colwill from Upfest 2015. It was the goldfish leaping out of a bowl piece in the Tobacco Factory car park. Well, Andrew was back again this year, and this time I managed to get some pictures of him at work.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
This work looks to be a little more cryptic, it appears to be full of symbolism and I am not too sure what it all means. The balloons have faces on them and a sea of paperwork is disappearing down a plughole…or something.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Whilst I am not as keen on this as the goldfish, I am drawn to it every time I walk past it. I guess I will have to try and find out more about it.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I have recently become aware of another of his works very near my work, on the side of a container near the back of Bristol aquarium. I will try and get a photograph soon. It has been there for a while…I just never ventured to take a look. Unusual for me.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Why the long face?

 

That Friday feeling

but now it’s time to cheer up

Christmas Eve beckons.

 

by Scooj

534. Upfest 2016 (73)

An interesting commentary piece at this year’s Upfest by MAS972, and artist based in Tel Aviv. I don’t know if it reflects his experiences in the UK, but we certainly are a nation awash with CCTV cameras.

MAS972, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
MAS972, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Another visiting artist I know little about, but you can see more of his work at this London street art design website.  think the text is a reference to the slogan from Candid Camera, which was ‘smile, you’re on TV’, if I remember correctly.

533. Upfest 2016 (72)

This energetic and rather curious looking tiger is by the artist Lewis Campbell who paints under the name of Lost Monkey. Lewis Campbell, who comes from London is an illustrator story board artist who turns his hand to street murals and larger canvasses from time to time.

Lost Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Lost Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This work has loads of energy and an element of menace about it, but also seems to have something of the child about it. The name ‘Lost Monkey’ is (according to his website) a symbol of the potential ideas and imaginings that fill an artist’s head – just bubbling under the radar of the subconscious. As he is a native Londoner, I’m not sure we’ll be seeing a lot of Lost Monkey in Bristol – maybe at Upfest 2017.

Lost Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Lost Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

532. Upfest 2016 (71)

This was a lively piece created for Upfest by the curiously named Francois GotBuffed, who is based in Belfast. He works mostly with stickers and paste ups, creating playful cartoon characters.

Francois GotBuffed, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Francois GotBuffed, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I don’t have much more information on this artist/sticker maker, but you can see his Facebook page here.

Contrived

 

Think I’ll sleep on it

and consider my view that

nothing else mattress.

 

by Scooj