Month: February 2018

1320. Chalk Farm (4)

This sensational piece, which was part of the Ferdinand estate initiative organised by Global Street art and Camden Council, is by Bristol’s very own Andy Council. So good to see an artist’s work in London that I am very familiar with.

Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017
Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017

This has all the hallmarks of a great AC piece: An animal (in this case a horse with a flowing mane), a fantastic colour palette and the whole being composed of architectural elements and local landmarks.

Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017
Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017

I remember seeing this on social media when he first sprayed it and thinking that I would probably never see it. When I found it, I certainly hadn’t been looking for it. If I had done my homework properly I would have known where to look. Somehow though I prefer to wander around places using my instinct to track down potentioal street art spots. It is like a sixth sense.

Bitter

 

Siberian winds

cut merciless from the East

take no prisoners.

 

by Scooj

Escape

 

Managed to escape

from the clutches of housework;

A well-being walk.

 

by Scooj

1319. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (2)

When I first saw this piece, I thought I had found another Gregos mask, but I was wrong. It is a piece by Urban Solid, a street art duo from Italy. To see more of their work, take a read of this great blog by London Calling.

Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

Unfortunately, I looks like the piece has been damaged, there is meant to be something in the mouth of the face, but it has been snapped off. I am a fan of this kind of 3D installation art that challenges the viewer with humour and sometimes political rhetoric. All part of the broad spectrum.

1318. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (1)

My not-so-recent trip to Camden Town took me back to some places that I had been to on previous visits. This was a particular joy to behold. Always, seeing Dzia pieces is thrilling but to see one so perfectly worked into a wall with an existing piece is just perfect.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

I first saw this wall, with only the Dotmaster piece in September 2016, but the additional character that the Dzia pigeon has given it works so well. I love the clever touch of the pigeon’s heart, as if it is saying I love this piece.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

One just has to marvel at the way the lines and shapes that Dzia draws, which on their own don’t make any sense, come together to create such astonishingly lifelike creatures that appear to be animated. Such clever work from this exceptional Belgian artist.

1317. Charlotte Street (2)

The incredible Alex Lucas is pretty well known across Bristol, if not by name then by recognition of her artwork. She seems to have her work all over the place and her commissions definitely brighten up the city.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

From shop fronts to indoor murals, barely a day goes by when Bristolians aren’t touched in some way by her work. This is a case in point, the Bluebird Tea Company half way up Park Street.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

This isn’t some corporate makeover, but rather a beautifully bespoke design for a particular kind of outlet. It is a one-off, and a glance at the detail in the piece demonstrates this.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

Is this street art? some may ask. In my view, absolutely it is. Just because it is paid-for work doesn’t make it any less legitimate. It isn’t edgy or covert, but it is representative of one end of the huge spectrum of public street/graffiti art available to all in Bristol.

1316. New Gatton Road (2)

The tree in front of this magnificent Sepr piece is always going to make photographing it difficult. A winter shot on a clear day is probably the best you are going to get, but ebven then a shadow of the tree is cast across the mural.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

I took several pictures of this piece shortly after it had been started, but they were polluted by the light conditions. I am not entirely sure what this is all about other than it is yet another brilliant monkey in space suit piece. Not far from this spot there is a Zase and Dekor monkey in a space suit, and every Upfest seems to throw up one or two. It is an endearing theme, and one so excellently executed here by Sepr.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

This is a deceptively large piece on a fairly irregular wall, and how well Sepr has used the space to tell a humerous story. The monkey is immediately adjacent to the beautiful turtle by Louis Masai, and there we have street art…two classics, one earnest and worthy, the other full of fun…both supreme.

 

Natural toy

 

Irresistible

a small wind-blown leaf tumbles

across the pavement

drawing the puppy away

from sniffing grubby lampposts.

 

by Scooj

1315. Leonard Lane (15)

Who doesn’t love Salvador Dali and especially a greyscale multi-layer stencil tucked away in a dark alleyway by John D’oh? OK, so a kind of rhetorical question designed to answer itself. This is a brilliant piece of work. A stencil artist, a surrealist and a cat…it doesn’t get much better.

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017

In my view, John D’oh is a highly talented, prolific and perhaps slightly overlooked artist on the local scene. His pieces, small and large, simple and complex are almost taken for granted, but each is a little gem. It is so utterly worth stopping to look at and admire his work if you get a chance. I doff my cap in his general direction…wherever he is.

1314. M32 roundabout J3 (67)

I am not entirely certain, but I think this piece is by Hemper. For sure the writing spells HEMP, but it is possiblt this is a drug reference and nothing at all to do with Hemper. Whoever it is by, it is a nice bit of chrome writing set on a green and purple wall for a background.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017

Walls seem to feature a lot in street art. I suppose that along with spray cans, walls are one half of the tools of the trade. This is a nice piece that seems to have stood the test of time in a location that normally has a high turnover. Finally, who can’t agree with the statement ‘homes for all’?