Outer directed

 

Gold automobile

vulgar expression of wealth

love me love my car.

 

by Scooj

 

1307. Shoreditch, London (1)

I went to stay with my sister in London for a night a little while ago, and before getting on the train at Paddington to come home to Bristol, I took a bit of a diversion to Shoreditch. It was on this street art hunting expedition that I dropped and broke my camera, which was incredibly annoying. All good now though as I was covered on our insurance policy and I have a new, slightly better, camera.

Thierry Noir, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Thierry Noir, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

One of the first pieces I saw (before broken camera) was this wonderful musical character by Thierry Noir. I love the apparent simplicity of his work and the bold colours he uses which add character to the locations he paints. I always think there are elements of a fusion of Picasso and Matisse in his work, but that might just be me. I do like this piece a lot…pity about the car parked right in front of it though!

1306. Upper York Street (10)

Well, well, well. This is a sensational piece of writing by Epok which was sprayed at the same time as the Sepr pianist. Two great artists painting together but not a collaboration. The modern phrase that comes to mind when I look at this is ‘he’s smashed it’.

Epok, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018
Epok, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018

With some references to the modernist movement, this piece is technically brilliant, bringing together elements of writing, shading, colour selection and mood that have created a master work.

Epok, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018
Epok, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018

Anyone with aspirations of becoming a writer should take a long hard look at this piece. It would be worthy of hanging in any gallery. Perhaps you have noticed that I like it…a lot.

Bark and bite

.

Puppy has taken

a liking to silver birch

white shreds everywhere.

.

by Scooj

1305. St Werburghs tunnel (17)

I think I said it quite recently that I don’t often get down to St Werburghs tunnel, which is a pity really because I miss out on a lot of gems like this one from Whysayit. I am beginning to think that he might simply be whysay or YSAE, because his Instagram handle which used to be Whysayit has changed to Whysissy and again to Whydot. However, I am not retrospectively going to correct all my posts. I shall call him Whysayit.

Whysayit, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, January 2018
Whysayit, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, January 2018

Once again we such great quality of ideas and shading from this graffiti artist. When I see great writing, I often wonder whether the artists could do characters or something other than writing. There is something of a split between graff writers and street artists, but some have crossed the divide and others, such as Deamze and Voyder seem to be equally comfortable with both.

For making fires

 

old wooden drawers

branches from the garden

perfect for kindling.

 

by Scooj

 

1304. Stokes Croft

At a bus stop, just opposite Ashley Road, there is a hoarding which has slowly and steadily been claimed by graffiti artists. The building owner has tried to shoo them away, but it is a bit of a relentless tide. The initial graffiti that went up was mostly quick burners and none of it up to much, with the odd exception. Then with accelerated pace, more pieces have been going up recently and this lovely quick one from Jee See appeared a couple of weeks ago.

Jee See, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018
Jee See, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018

Of course, it was over -sprayed a couple of days later, but I was very pleased to capture it. This is a revolutionary motif that Jee See likes to use a lot, and I have to say I really like it. It was a piece like this that first put him on my radar. Power to the people! Briz Graff.

 

New toy

 

The first photograph

snapped on my new camera;

a stained glass window.

 

by Scooj

1303. Upper York Street (9)

This has been a winter where some of the giants of Bristol street art have awoken and decorated our walls with some of the finest works for a while. Sepr is one such giant who seems to be painting most weekends and turning out some really high-quality work.

Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018

What a stunner this is – ‘knock it on the head – before it knocks you on your arse’. I’ve not heard the expression before, but am willing to adopt it on the back of this wonderful Sepr work.

Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018

The common thread running through much of Sepr’s work is music, and musicians and here he has painted a pianist stretched out and toppling off his stool. For me, his works have a very strong retro feel and remind me of 1950’s cartoons – the hairstyle and the trilby are not of this decade.

Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr, Upper York Street, Bristol, February 2018

These cartoons, beautifully drawn are pulled out from the wall by some expert shardos that govo it a bit of a 3D feel. Definitely worth a look.

 

Icy

 

Perilous flagstones

outside Bristol cathedral;

stairway to heaven.

 

by Scooj