Month: March 2018

1335. M32 Spot (15)

Laic217 is, as regular readers will know, one of my absolute favourite Bristol artists, and his work has been going from strength to strength over the last few years. One of the things that has really improved is how he creates textures on the clothes of his characters.

Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

In this piece the skeleton looks like he is wearing a fleece hoodie, with gentle folds and creases. The colour is outstanding, and lifts the whole thing…it’s in your face.

Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

Skeletons clutching spray cans is a speciality of Laic217 and although he does a lot of them, they are all quite different and it is difficult to tire of them. I think it is the combinations of colours that sets this piece apart from others.

Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

I first saw this piece piece in Instagram but couldn’t work out where it was. The cycle track that runs alongside the M32 has been closed off while construction work is going on, and this particular spot has become a bit of a cul-de-sac, which I only occasionally visit. I had to ask another photographer where it was…something I don’t like doing too much…it is a pride thing.

 

 

1334. Dean Lane skate park (112)

I said in a recent post that Biers has been busy recently, and this is a second piece of his from Dean Lane in a very short space of time, and he has done at least one more somewhere else since

Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018

I am not sure who the character in this piece is, ought I to know? Biers has gone for a large one here, taking up much of the long wall at Dean Lane, of course it is gone now, but I was pleased to be able to catch it. In my view this is one of the best pieces I have seen from Biers, the colours and contrasts are good and he has lovely clean lines around the piece.

Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018

I think one of the things I really like about his work is the style of his lettering, there is something unique about it, the B and the S being particularly special. I can’t really pretend to know too much about such things, but I know that I like this work. Now who is that gorilla-like character.

Doing a little bit of a Google search has led me to the character probably being from the Nintendo Wii game ‘Punch-out’. Not one I ever played. Glad I sorted that out because it was beginning to bug me. No Frills.

1333. The Bearpit (119)

There is quite a story behind this Mr Draws piece at The Bearpit and it offers a little insight into the goings on between artists. This particular spot is a favourite for Mr Draws and he sprays here often. The stripy piece below was another fun piece from this happy-go-lucky artist.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

A day or two later the piece was sprayed over, but with nothing in particular, by an artist who had previously sprayed a piece here (another artist who I admire). I have to say though that this is poor form; to deface another artist’s work is disrespectful and not really in the spirit of the street art scene…it is the sort of thing that taggers do.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

Anyhow, Mr Draws cleverly incorporated the ‘new background’ into another piece by reinstating the original black outline and included a peace symbol for good measure. Unfortunately, a day or two later the piece was once again defaced.

I will not judge what lies behind this difference of opinion between the two artists, but I am sure there are better ways to deal with it. For me, I got two Mr Draws pieces for the price of one, so it’s not all bad.

1332. M32 Spot (14)

What a nice surprise this was. I had been told there were some new pieces down by the M32, but nobody had said there was a new SkyHigh piece and that it was really good. I have featured SkyHigh a few times in this blog, posting pieces in Bristol and in London, but I think that this is my favourite so far.

SkyHigh, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
SkyHigh, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

He spacialises in combining different designed letter block fonts spelling out the word SKYHIGH, and as a whole it becomes an interesting form of wildstyle writing. It is not so much cryptic as it is creative and technically attractive.i love this piece and I think the colour scheme works perfectly in this site. Top marks.

Melt

.

As fast as it came

Emma’s legacy retreats

normal life resumes.

.

by Scooj

1331. New Stadium Road (4)

I don’t visit this spot very often as it is slightly out of the way and I need to find time to get there, park up etc in my very busy family schedule. Often I find that going to the recycling centre (tip) is a good excuse for taking a bit of time out, but on this occasion my wife had to do some shopping locally and offered to drop me off…never one to pass up an opportunity I accepted the offer.

Kleiner Shames, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018
Kleiner Shames, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018

Lucky that I took a look, because I found this rather nice pairing of Whyasyit and Kleiner Shames who used to spray a lot together until KS moved to London a little over a year ago. Both artists have such unique styles which once you get your eye in are easy to identify.

Kleiner Shames, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018
Kleiner Shames, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018

I like it when two or more artists use common colours and background and do their thing. Kleiner shames always write FOIS, and for a long time I thought it was the artist’s name…early posts refer to him as Fois. His lines ans designs have what I would call an ’80s deco feel about them (I know what I mean by this, but you might not).

Whysayit, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018
Whysayit, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018

Whysayit seems to be forever busy on the streets writing YSAE with similar ‘handwriting’ but always with creative and imaginative backgrounds and fills. Two great writers who work well together.

1330. M32 Spot (13)

I took a rather more extensive walk than I usually do around the M32 Spot recently, and found some walls and artwork I have not been aware of before, which goes to show that it is always worth looking round that next corner or through that next underpass.

Kin Dose, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Kin Dose, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

This is a lovely stencil piece from Kin Dose, whose work occasionally appears on the  streets of  Bristol and never fails to grab your attention. His owl is on one of the columns under the M32, and probably goes unnoticed by many who are marching head down crossing from one side of the motorway to the other.

Kin Dose, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Kin Dose, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

Other amazing work by Kin Dose includes a scary clown and cat, both of which were painted at the Carriageworks in Stokes Croft.

Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Dose?, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2016
Dose?, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2016

Winter in Spring

 

Wind-sculpted snow drifts

soften a harsh urban hill;

children on sledges.

 

by Scooj

1329. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (34)

It has been a while but it is always worth waiting for any works by Tom Miller. Tom is a hugely talented fine artist who creates wonderful and sometimes slightly disturbing surreal pieces, often involving distorted body parts.

Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018
Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018

This piece is located in one of Miller’s favourite spots and catches the eye of passing pedestrians and motorists, more than other work here. His artwork is very different and really stands out – we are lucky to see gallery quality paintings on the street.

Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018
Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018

There is a lot of symbolism in this piece…a hand instead of a face clutching a heart from which an arm is extending clutching another heart. So many ideas and bits of detail to marvel at, and all set on a background of light shades, shapes and colours. I love this piece and admire the artist hugely.

Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018
Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, February 2018

Sadly, nothing lasts forever, and the piece only lasted about a week before it was sprayed over by what looks like a thelocknessmonster piece. I know which I’d rather have hanging up at home.

1328. Dean Lane skate park (111)

Laic217 is most definitely back on the street again after something of a quiet time recently. This writing and character piece, typical of the artist, contains a skeleton in a beautiful quilted jacket, which has been sprayed expertly, to give shadows and texture.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018

The greeny blues contrast nicely with the pink background and the whole piece has something of a familiar feel to it. Of course, no Laic217 piece would be complete without a smiley or a bucket hat, and this one has both.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018

I don’t know why he has been fairly quiet recently, maybe he has work commitments, but it is great to see him back out again, and there are a couple more works from him to follow soon.