Month: February 2020

2770. St Werburghs tunnel (146)

Mr Klue is going through a productive and creative patch at the moment, and it is a real pleasure to see his work springing up all over the place. This large piece in the tunnel at St Werburghs is a bit of a feast for the eyes.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

Unfortunately, the light in the tunnel has goofed up the colours a bit and a car was parked in a place where I couldn’t swing to the right to get more natural light on the image. Why do people park in the tunnel? Sadly I can’t go back to get more pictures, because it has already gone. Turnover in the tunnel is so high at the moment, probably because we have had so much rain.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

The piece itself is classic Mr Klue fare with the added bonus of a character and his top hat, most likely influenced by Carroll’s mad hatter. Mr Klue has used this imagery several times in his murals and it adds another layer of mystery to his abstract work. A grand piece.

2769. St Werburghs tunnel (145)

Well, he’s on fire really isn’t he? Each time I do my rounds of well known street art spots there seems to be a Smak piece lurking there somewhere. This relatively recent one is bang in the middle of St Werburghs tunnel. I am quite pleased that the photograph has come out reasonably well considering the dire light conditions there.

Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

This has all the elements of a typically technically brilliant Smak piece. Sensational design and lines, clean and tidy, wonderful 3D and fill work. I’m not sure he ever has a ‘bad hair day’ and if he does, I’ve yet to see it.

 

 

Void

 

In my head, nothing

overpowering dullness

total vacuum

 

by Scooj

 

The only good thing about this dreadful haiku is that I found out that vacuum has three sylables.

 

2768. Dean Lane skate park (284)

This beauty is the second recent collaboration from Dasco and Oseque. I know that Dasco is Bristol-based, but haven’t seen any of Oseque’s work before now, and have kind of assumed that he is not from these parts. I have done a little checking on the Interweb, and as far as I can make out, Dasco is from the Canary Islands and Oseque (José Castillo) is from Granada, but also seems to have a connection with Bristol. Either way, I hope we get to see more from this pairing.

Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

The piece itself is a beautifully merged collaboration with the character portrait rising out of the letters. The colours are quite dulled and although really impressive as it is, give the whole thing a low-key feel. Oseque has a way of making his portraits look like they are drawn into a sketchbook rather than sprayed on a wall. Really nice work.

2767. Dean Lane skate park (283)

Here he is again, this time half way up a fire escape on the recently disused building at Dean Lane. I speak of yet another rabbit from Nevergiveup (@followmyrabbits), this particular one is painted as a balloon drifting up into the sky.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

I think that the artist’s name is a self-fulfilling prophesy. I just wonder if he will ever tire of painting these things. When he first came to Bristol, he used to paint monsters but he seems to have given up on them now. Naturally, many more to come from my archives.

(Bio)Diversity

 

Dominance softened

when pockets of difference

break monotony

 

by Scooj

 

At first glance this picture appears to show only mussels, but take a longer closer look. There are at least six different species in the picture and they break up the regular pattern and dominance of the mussels to create a less threatening and stark ecology. A metaphor perhaps?

2766. Dean Lane skate park (282)

Modest and understated, Pekoe just goes about her business from time to time. No fanfare, no fuss and she turns out pieces like this beauty behind the railings on the swimming pool wall at Dean Lane.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

This is the second piece by Pekoe that I am aware of this year, the other was down by the M32. Typically, Pekoe has painted a portrait, this one in three quarter view, with characteristic big hair decrated with rain drops, stars and an unhappy ‘smiley’. Many of her pieces are tinged with sadness which I hope is not indicative of her own state. It is always a pleasure to find her work.

2765. M32 Spot (58)

Finding a piece like this magnificent collaboration from PWA artists Soap and Face 1st gives me such tremendous pleasure and confirms for me that the time I spend finding, photographing and writing about street art is time very well spent. These two are capable of creating some magical images and there is a real sense of fun and mischief about these ones.

Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

First up is a sword–swallowing act from Soap in which his mouth character lends itself to a different take on visualising this dangerous act. There are many things to admire here, such as the garland of flowers and the carefully thought out use of blue tones, I particularly like the swirl patterns in the shading.

Joining the two elements of the collaboration is a lovely splat pattern, but it is difficult to be sure which of these two painted it.

Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

On the right is one of my favourite Face 1st pieces ever, and that is a very high bar. There is something so joyful about these two giggling girls mischievously spraying each other with paint and there is a balance to it reminiscent of yin and yang. What Face 1st lacks in sharp, crisp lines he more than makes up for in heart and soul. His work speaks to me.

Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

On the one-way top end of Stapleton Road, it would be nice to think that drivers would glance to their right and admire this free art to cheer up their lives, but I bet most wouldn’t even notice it.

2764. Upfest 2018 (175)

One of the most stunning collaborations of Upfest 2018 was this magnificent piece by Nuno Viegas and Tymon De Laat on the side of the Coopers Arms, where the polar bear piece by Andrew Burns Colwill was painted the year before.

Nuno Viegas and Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018
Nuno Viegas and Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018

This piece was painted in two halves separated by a horizontal strip, a feature of the wall which was put to good use by the artists. The bottom half which features the gloved hand of the character tossing a spray can fat cap is by Nuno Viegas. The detail in the latex glove with paint on it is simply breathtaking.

Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The top half of the collaboration is by Tymon De Laat and presents us with one of his superb trademark portraits, where the face is divided up into different shaded areas in a symmetrical pattern almost as if the subject is wearing face paint. This is such a strong design idea and makes his work istantly recognisable.

Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018
Tymon De Laat, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018

This was truly one of the best pieces of the whole festival, and if you don’t believe me go down and take a look while you still have a chance and check out the detail.

2763. Upfest 2018 (174)

Dibz is a Bristol graffiti writer whose work is always first class and beautifully tight. It is unusual to see his writing outside the confines of Dean Lane skate park, but at Upfest 2018 he ventured a little further afield and sprayed the side of the mock railway carriage with one of his beguiling pieces.

Dibz, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Dibz, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Dibz tends to keep quite a low profile with his work, which is often unannounced, and hey presto he works his magic. This upfest piece, by his high standards, I would say is not his best work and I suspect it might have been somewhat comprimised by the changeable weather experienced during the festival. It is however a great piece.