Month: September 2017

1027. Leonard Lane (12)

OK, so I know I have already posted this cheeky little rat before, but that was in North Street and this one is in my favourite Leonard Lane. I really am a bit dense sometimes…it has taken me until now to get the joke. The reference in the piece to Banksy relates to his signature rat that he used in many of his early works, and there is me thinking this was a squirrel. Thick, that’s me.

Chinagirl Tile, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2017
Chinagirl Tile, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2017

Chinagirl Tile really seems to get around Bristol when she comes for Upfest, which in my view is a pretty good thing. This rat is down the dingiest lane, the perfect spot for it, and will not have been seen or noticed by too many people. Still more to come from this brilliant ceramic specialist.

 

 

Bin day

 

The young boy looked out

and offered a bashful wave

to the old bin man.

 

by Scooj

1026. North Street (A38) (2)

I don’t know how many days these pieces had been up before I noticed them, but they are another gift to the city of Bristol from a visiting artist who was here for Upfest. Dabuten Tronko is from Tarragona in Spain, which I found out from his ‘couchsurfing’ profile. The Interweb is an incredible thing!

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

These pieces can be found either side of the main road on the vertical walls of the 5102 building overlooking The Bearpit. They are something of a before and after reflection and need to be seen in conjunction to hold any real meaning.

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

The boats on the left hand side of the road (heading North) are intact and jolly, while in stark contrast, those opposite are smashed up or deconstructed. I’m not sure what it all means, but I like the concept going on here.

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

The colour scheme is quite subtle and sort of blends in with the background blue. The boats somehow feel like they have always been there or were always meant to be there. I’ll bet I’m not the first person to have missed them first time round.

1025. M32 roundabout J3 (47)

A street artist I have long admired is Facef1st, about whom I still know practically nothing. He keeps a low profile and that’s that. I guess it is because he mostly does his work on illegal walls and hoardings (although such things are tolerated much more in Bristol than in other cities).

FaceF1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017
FaceF1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017

In recent months he has taken to using muted colours that are much more subtle than some of the work you see around the place. This particular work is also rather larger than most of his pieces. It is difficult to judge from this picture, but the wall is probably about 12ft high.

FaceF1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017
FaceF1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017

The wildstyle writing of this piece is much more disguised, but you can make out the word FACE if you look hard. As always, the simplicity of the face itself is part of what makes these pieces so effective. I still enjoy finding his work dotted about the place, and have quite a few in my archive yet to be published.

First years

 

Intoxicated

with life and a new purpose

young students gather

fresh-faced and full of promise

as I was once long ago.

 

by Scooj

 

1024. Dean Lane skate park (78)

This is the second piece that Xenz has sprayed in Dean Lane since Upfest (that I know of), and it is great to see his work here in Bristol. For a time he lived in Bristol and was active alongside Banksy and Inkie. According to his website, he now lives and works in London, so it is extra nice to see his work in Dean Lane…maybe he has moved back.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

These beautiful birds perching on telegraph lines are something of a trademark  in many of his works, wildstyle writing or murals. They are full of charm and character, even though they are put together quite simply.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

 

1023. M32 Spot (9)

On one of the duller walls in Stapleton Road at the M32 skate spot, a whole bunch of new pieces have appeared, of which this is one, which have really  brightened up the place. This ‘love bomb’ is by SPZero76 and features the dog, so often included in his works.

SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017

SPZero76’s works are always clean and tidy, often with quite a lot going on and plenty of detail to look at. He often includes his ‘stamps’ too, such as the little spray splat with ‘I love Bristol’ or the little SP with a heart. There is never any doubt about who his works are by.

SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017

In my limited conversations with SPZero76, I think the one overwhelming thing I take away is his extreme enthusiasm and love for what he does – it comes across in all of his work. I was pleased to find this, because I hadn’t really twigged it was there and it is always nice to make discoveries.

Hard times

 

By the cathedral

a man and his dog asleep;

nowhere else to go.

 

by Scooj

1022. Upfest 2017 (55)

I am always chuffed when I see pieces by Bristol artists at Upfest. The street/graffiti art scene here is so strong and it is great for the city to showcase its own artists to visitors from Bristol itself and from further afield.

Sled One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sled One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Sled One, I have said countless times on Natural Adventures, is one of my favourite street artists and was very busy at Upfest, producing two pieces in South Street Park. I caught up with him for a while and asked him how it was that he doesn’t do so much street work these days. It turns out, and I think I knew this anyway, that he is now working with the Paintsmiths and doing a lot of commissioned work. This he says adds pressure on his free time. He also said it was a different way of doing things and that working to a brief can be quite stressful.

This wonderful piece is creative and utterly bonkers. I do like reptiles in street art, somehow they work so very well. The expression on the chameleon’s face is well observed, and the eye is excellent. Hope to see more of his stuff before too long. Perhaps those nice people at The Paintsmiths could give him some time off.

1021. Upfest 2017 (54)

One of the most distinctive collaborations of Upfest 2017 was this piece by Tymon Ferenc de Laat (who really needs a shorter tag) and Nuno Viegas. The piece was sprayed in the garden of The Spotted Cow pub and has subsequently been sold.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

It has a high-quality finish to it and works really well as a collaboration with the particular style of each artist – the portrait by Tymon and the paper dart by Nuno – retained in the piece.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I particularly like the amazing attention to detail in the paper dart, with the shadows cast, and the bright line along the leading edge of the wing as if it were catching the light. Very clever and skilful work.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I’m not sure how often these artists collaborate, but for Upfest it worked a real treat.