1672. Cortona, Tuscany, Italy

It is an extraordinary thing to travel to a foreign land and enjoy all that feels exotic and different, to bathe in a culture and history so different from your own. More extraordinary still is to stumble upon the familiar in such a context, but that is exactly what I did on a recent visit to Cortona in Tuscany.

qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018
qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018

Of course, while walking through the streets of the town I needed no encouragement to take a peek down the side streets to see what surprises might lurk. I have to say that wheatpastes by qWeRT were not exactly what I had in mind, but that is precisely what I found.

qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018
qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018

Altogether I think I discovered five pasteups by this ‘Natural Adventures’ regular, each in a different stage of decay. I would guess that these had been up for a few years, and I find it all rather touching that the civic authorities haver chosen not to take them down.

qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018
qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018

What also interests me is that there are copies of the same wheatpastes, but they appear each to have been hand painted separately rather than printed. I admire qWeRT’s choice of destination for these wheatpastes and am thrilled to have inadvertantly found them.

qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018
qWeRT, Cortona, Italy, August 2018

It also looks like qWeRT has dropped the Y from the signature since pasting these up.

Ruben

 

An evening walk

with the dog I didn’t want;

got under my skin?

 

by Scooj

 

1671. Moon Street (52)

This is a recent ‘quick one’ from Kid Crayon…utterly fantastic. It is also just a quick one from me too.

Kid Crayon, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2018
Kid Crayon, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2018

Sepr

A collection of street art from the brilliant Sepr

Instagram: @sepr

All photographs taken by Scooj

Sepr, Upfest 24, The Nursery, Bristol, May 2024
Sepr, Upfest 24, The Nursery, Bristol, May 2024
Sepr and 3Dom, Turbo Island, Bristol, May 2024
Sepr and 3Dom, Turbo Island, Bristol, May 2024
Sepr, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2024
Sepr, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2024
Sepr and Boaster, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Sepr and Boaster, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Sepr, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Sepr, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Sepr, Coach and Horses, Bristol, February 2023
Sepr, Coach and Horses, Bristol, February 2023
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022
Sepr, Upfest 22, Bristol, June 2022
Sepr, Upfest 22, Bristol, June 2022
Sepr and Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristtol, April 2022
Sepr and Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristtol, April 2022
Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2022
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2022
Sepr, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021
Sepr, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021
Logoe and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Logoe and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Sepr, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Sepr, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Sepr an Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021
Sepr an Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021
Sepr, St Paul's, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, St Paul’s, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, St Paul's, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, St Paul’s, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, St Paul's, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, St Paul’s, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Billy and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Billy and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, Lucky Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, Lucky Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Sepr, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Sepr, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Epok and Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Epok and Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Brigstocke Road, Bristol, December 2020
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020
Sepr and Inkie, Princes Place, Bristol, October 2020
Sepr and Inkie, Princes Place, Bristol, October 2020
Sepr, Princes Place, Bristol, October 2020
Sepr, Princes Place, Bristol, October 2020
Sepr, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
Sepr, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, July 2020
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, July 2020
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, July 2020
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, July 2020
Sepr and Feek, New Gatton Street, Bristol, June 2020
Sepr and Feek, New Gatton Street, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Star and Garter, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Star and Garter, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2020
3Dom and Sepr, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2020
Sepr, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2020
Sepr, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2020
Sepr, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, September
Sepr, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, September
Sepr, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Sepr, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Sepr, North Street, Bristol, May 2019
Sepr, North Street, Bristol, May 2019
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
Sepr, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Sepr, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Sepr, Armada Place, Bristol, January 2019
Sepr, Armada Place, Bristol, January 2019
Sepr, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2018
Sepr, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2018
3Dom, Feek and Sepr, Fern Street, Bristol, June 2018
3Dom, Feek and Sepr, Fern Street, Bristol, June 2018
Sepr, Golden Lion, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr, Golden Lion, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes' Place, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, December 2017
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, December 2017
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, December 2017
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, December 2017
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, Stokes Croft, Bristol, August 2015
Sepr, Stokes Croft, Bristol, August 2015
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
Sepr, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, December 2016
Sepr, Cowmead Walk, Bristol, December 2016
FLX, 3Dom, Epok, Soker, Sepr, Horley Road, Bristol, October 2016
FLX, 3Dom, Epok, Soker, Sepr, Horley Road, Bristol, October 2016
Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, Nelson Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Nelson Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Old Bread Street, Bristol, June 2016
Sepr, Old Bread Street, Bristol, June 2016
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, April 2016
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, April 2016
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, April 2016
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, April 2016
Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Grosvenor Road, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Grosvenor Road, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, January 2016
Sepr, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, January 2016
Jon5, Silent Hobo, Sepr, Deamze and Dotcom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
Jon5, Silent Hobo, Sepr, Deamze and Dotcom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
Sepr, North Street, Bristol, July 2015
Sepr, North Street, Bristol, July 2015
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol August 2015
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol August 2015
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol August 2015
Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol August 2015
Sepr, Albert Park Place, Bristol, August 2015
Sepr, Albert Park Place, Bristol, August 2015
Sepr & Piro, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015
Sepr, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015

1670. Dean Lane skate park (152)

It is always a pity when a nice piece gets dogged, especially when it has only been up for a day or two. This particular collaboration between NEVERGIVEUP and Soge was a perfect piece for the curved wall in Dean Lane skate park. It also marked a return of the monster by NGU, something I’ve not seen for a few months.

NEVERGIVEUP and Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
NEVERGIVEUP and Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

I had seen the Soge writing on Instagram, and it all really looked rather nice, but I guess some inferior talent had to go and goof it up. I’m all for the turnover of work, especially on ‘legal’ walls, but it is boring to see half-baked throw-ups going up over decent work. Still, we all know the (no) rules and just get on with it.

 

1669. Upfest 2018 (20)

I was looking for the Andrew Burns Colwill piece (to follow soon) which I knew was a little off the beaten track for Upfest 2018 and spotted this brilliant little stencil by John D’oh on the wall of The Black Cat pub on the corner of West Street and Westbourne Grove.

John D'oh, Upfest, Bristol, August 2018
John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, August 2018

When I see small ‘hidden’ gems like this, I wonder how many Upfest visitors might have missed it in their quest for the ‘marquee’ artists – I don’t suppose it matters really, but as a street art hunter, I like to work hard for my trophies, it is what I do. This is a really accomplished little stencil and one that really chimes for me – a great little find – Thank you John D’oh.

1668. Upfest 2018 (19)

I realise that this piece was not an official Upfest piece, but I don’t really care about that, because it is by one of Bristol’s finest artists, Tom Miller, and was painted in Dean Lane during the Festival – it counts in my book.

Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

I managed to hook up with Tom Miller a couple of times over the festival, indeed we cowered from a heavy rainshower together on the Saturday morning under one of the skate park ramps.

Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Yet again, Tom Miller has absolutely ‘nailed it’ as he seems to do with every piece he creates. I only wish that my photography was up to the standard that he sets with his murals.

Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Tom Miller, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

It is often difficult to fathom out what exactly is going on in Miller’s pieces and indeed, I think it is often open to interpretation – maybe only the artist really knows what this piece is about, but it incorporates all of his surrealist elements and the bright colours he uses. What is incredible about Tom Miller is that he seems to be just as adept with spray cans on walls as he is with paint brushes in the studio, and the end results are always unmistakably Miller pieces. Bravo two times over – I love this piece.

Home

 

I love holidays,

time away from it all, but

there’s no place like home.

 

by Scooj

1667. Upfest 2018 (18)

Cheo is a Bristol (and beyond) street art legend, and his involvement in Upfest is always eagerly anticipated. In the last few years Cheo has been quite dominant at the festival, so this year’s rather modest participation came as a bit of a surprise, his piece however reached all the high standards you expect to see from him.

Cheo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Cheo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Are we supposed to guess at who is hidden under the paper bag? My immediate assumption, given the Simpsons theme of the festival is that it is the mischievious Bart, but I may be wide of the mark and there may be another story going on here.

Cheo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Cheo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Somehow Upfest simply wouldn’t feel like Upfest without some contribution from Cheo, and it is great to see his work on a wall that he obviously enjoys, as he has had several pieces on this wall outside the Bristol Standard, in the past. Great stuff.