This is the last post in this little digression from the Cheltenham Paint Festival (although I will post some more in the coming weeks) and it falls to the brilliant Bristol artist Sepr to round off his cluster. Some of the best pieces at the CPF are painted on the pavilion in Pittville Park and this is no exception.
Sepr, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
Sepr’s style is so appealing to me, the retrospective style so reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s and illustrations that used to appear in children’s books. The story here is of a man on the telephone listening to a penguin with a guitar and maracas. Go figure… stunningly executed work as always.
Doors 120 – Some Cheltenham doors (posted a day late)
It has been a month since I last posted Thursday doors and like the idiot I am, I missed this Thursday for my comeback, so here is my offering a day (and a month) late.
I took these pictures on a trip to Cheltenham for the annual Paint Festival hosted there a couple of weekends ago. I can’t remember the last time I posted some newly photographed doors rather than the archive graffiti ones I have been posting lately, so I hope you enjoy them.
Awning in need of a minor repair, Cheltenham, September 2020Beautiful birdcage awning, Cheltenham, September 2020OK, so it’s a little out of focus, but this door was just too good to leave out, Cheltenham, September 2020An ornate wrought iron awning, Cheltenham, September 2020The steps are curved and even the red door is curved, Cheltenham, September 2020A gorgeous door somewhat eclipsed by the warning notices to the right, Cheltenham, September 2020
So there we have it, I managed to get myself back into the swing of things, albeit a day late. Expect more archive pictures next week, unless I get myself out for a walk somewhere.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you really ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.
One of the nice things about the Cheltenham Paint Festival is the large number of Bristol-based artists that are asked to paint. Mr Klue is a particular favourite of mine. His modest demeanour betrays his obvious talent and unique abstract style
Mr Klue, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
I am not overjoyed at my hopeless photography. The close-up is a little too close and I have cut off the left hand edge of the piece. This is a colourful piece that probably spells out KLUE, but might not, and presents many of the trademark features we would expect to see in one of his pieces; floating steps, wisps of smoke and coiled cones give the artist away. I am rather taken with the orange ball, a nice feature.
Daub is an artist I have come across a few times at the Cheltenham Paint Festival and at Upfest in Bristol. His ink pen pieces are most distinctive and painstakingly crafted. Last year I stopped for quite a lengthy chat, but this year was a little more difficult to interact due to social distancing.
Daub, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
This mesmerising piece is of an owl, I think, and between the large eyes is a small yellow beak, introducing the only colour to the work. What is not clear from these pictures is the amount of detailed shading that you can see when you get close up. A nice piece from a festival regular.
I have just checked and I never posted his piece from last year… I’ll have to put that right.
Dice67 is the mastermind behind the Cheltenham Paint Festival and this year pulled the rabbit out of the hat to get the festival back on track in super-quick time. He is a truly remarkable man and manages to motivate others in his rather laid back style. Not only does he perform miracles of organisation and persuasion, he is also a highly talented artist and always makes time to paint his own piece during the festival.
Dice 67, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
This piece owes more than a little to the genius of Michelangelo and his fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. A common theme in street art, this is beautifully executed and the handing Of the spray can is a really nice touch. The writing, spelling Dice67, is really nice too, especially with the cracks running through the letters. Bravo Dice67.
The first of this year’s Cheltenham Paint Festival pieces is from the tireless John D’oh with this clever Alice in Wonderland reference. As is often the case with John D’oh’s work, this piece is having a bit of a swipe at McDonalds and other corporate fast food outlets and the impact they have on obesity and poor health.
John D’oh, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
In this scene, a rather plump Alice is being tempted to ‘drink me, eat me, buy one get one free, go large for 30p, free soft drink with every large meal’. Seeing it like this in a Dinseyfication drills home the message rather well. Many more from John D’oh to come from the paint festival.
This is the last of three pieces from last year’s Cheltenham Paint Festival that wasn’t completed during my visit in 2019, but that I had the opportunity to revisit this year. The Star Wars AT-AT is by Pad303 and continues a style that he has been developing over the last three or so years. I’m not quite sure if it qualifies as anamorphic art, but he likes to trick our eyes into believing that the brick wall is coming alive.
Pad303, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2020
Star Wars is a popular theme for street artists and Pad303 has nailed this war machine of the Empire, that I always felt was rather fragile in battle. This is a very clever piece, blending in with the colours of the wall (a wall which I’d like to add is most unsympathetic to being painted) and lifting the image out and giving it an animated quality. Brilliant. I have a few more of these pieces from Pad303 to share, when I have a moment.
Natural adventures 