Month: April 2021

3634. Cumberland Basin

It would appear that this wall, after a considerable period of neglect is becoming a little popular. A week or two back there was a nice new collaboration from Mudra and Nugmoose. This has now been replaced with this more than half-decent piece from Pl8o.

Pl8o, Cumberland Bain, Bristol, April 2021
Pl8o, Cumberland Bain, Bristol, April 2021

I am very pleased to see that Pl8o seems to be active again after quite a long absence – he is another artist who has gone to ground for much of the lock down period. This is a delightful deep-shadowed piece of graffiti writing spelling out the artist’s moniker yellow to orange to black fades. His letters lend themselves very nicely to writing and there is something very easy on the eye about them. Great to see Pl8o back hitting walls again.

3633. North Street Standard

I genuinely miss my occasional conversations with Andrew Burns Colwill. I haven’t seen the artist for well over a year now, possibly two, and that is far too long. During that time I haven’t seen too much of his street work either, so it was with great joy that I found this recent piece by him on the wall of the North Street Standard.

Andrew Burns Colwill, North Street Standard, Bristol, April 2021
Andrew Burns Colwill, North Street Standard, Bristol, April 2021

One of the things that chimes for me with all of ABC’s work is the environmental theme at its heart, and this piece is more overt than some of his work, with a direct call to action emblazoned on the left hand side.

Andrew Burns Colwill, North Street Standard, Bristol, April 2021
Andrew Burns Colwill, North Street Standard, Bristol, April 2021

The Earth sitting at the top end of an hourglass is a fabulous visual metaphor for the urgency of the predicament we find ourselves in. As the Earth drips down into the lower half of the hour glass, a face is seen in the centre, as if the soul of the planet was being drained out.

This is a fabulous piece of fine art from one of my favourite people in Bristol.

We all must do what we can, and we can do what we must.

Three words

.

Do you remember?

Conversation opener

to warm our cold hearts

.

by Scooj

3632. M32 roundabout J3 (310)

Claro_que_sssnoh (grief… his name is difficult to type) and his Spanish fellows have been busy of late, actually it seems that most artists have, and my archive for March and April are swelling with unpublished pieces that will probably keep me busy well into retirement.

Claro_que_sssnoh, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Claro_que_sssnoh, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

This is a lovely colourful HONS by this busy member of the HMR crew. His pieces are usually quite busy, with a lot going on in the letter and colour transitions, and his style is fairly distinctive, combining lots of curves with angular and regular straight lines. Always fun to see.

3631. St George skate park (13)

Sled One is a great champion for the ASK crew, and will often paint these animated letters in his inimitable style that creates so much movement and character. This is one of two such recent pieces.

Sled One, St George, Bristol, April 2021
Sled One, St George, Bristol, April 2021

The skate park at St George doesn’t have the best graffiti walls, most of the site is rolling mounds and shallow bowls, but this ramp and one at the other end offer graffiti artists some decent opportunities. This vibrant ASK would most likely have been freestyled and I imagine fairly quickly, such is the skill and talent of Sled One. More like this coming soon.

Clay

.

Claggy when too wet

sets to concrete in the dry

blooming Bristol clay.

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by Scooj

Digging my allotment is a trial. The soil is clay based and no matter how much organic matter I chuck in, the clay seems to rise to the surface. When it is wet it is impossible to dig, everything sticks to everything. When it is dry, it becomes so hard that pushing a spade into it causes a jarring sensation and breaking the lumps is serious hard labour. Perhaps I should move.

3630. Cumberland Basin

Watching the progress of Big Hev is proving to be an uplifting experience. Her naive style is gradually becoming more sophisticated, and she is building on her themes. However, I think that she is very much at the start of her journey (one that I sincerely hope she pursues) and is learning from piece to piece.

Big Hev, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Big Hev, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021

Big Hev seems to like this spot, and why not, it is secluded and away from public gaze. Her customary portrait has fused a little with some abstract ideas and swirls and some hearts. I would consider this to be a practice piece, but all part of the formation of new and beautiful ideas.

3629. North Street Standard

I was passing by the North Street Standard about a week ago and there was a young lady sweeping the newly designed outside drinking area. I took the opportunity to ask her who had painted the shutters. She disappeared for what seemed a lifetime and eventually emerged to inform me that it was painted by Nick Harvey (Kin Dose). I thanked her kindly. What she hadn’t told me was that The Hass had a hand in the work too.

Kin Dose and the Hass, North Street, Bristol, April 2021
Kin Dose and the Hass, North Street, Bristol, April 2021

These shutters were probably in need of a makeover and with lockdown restrictions easing, what a great time to do it. The neon pink single-line drawings of people enjoying the bar is both striking and inspired and sets a tone for the establishment.

Kin Dose and the Hass, North Street, Bristol, April 2021
Kin Dose and the Hass, North Street, Bristol, April 2021

I would never have guessed the artists if I hadn’t been told, which is often the case with commissions, due to their bespoke nature. A fine street piece by these two miracle-workers.

3628. M32 Spot (112)

Simply stunning! This is a magnificent piece of graffiti writing from Dott Rotten, notable as much for its fabulous and striking colours as it is for the fabulous design and technical excellence.

Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, April 2021
Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, April 2021

I had a great chat with Dott Rotten last week, not far from here, and he told me that it hasn’t always been easy and that at one point he had considered giving up on graffiti writing altogether. Thank goodness he thought better of it as he is turning out some of the best work in Bristol at the moment. This is an instant classic in my eyes and yet another fine piece of work on this subterranean wall.

Old faithful

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Rhododendron bush

although leggy and ancient

puts on a great show

.

by Scooj

I inherited this rhododendron from the previous owner some 28 years ago and it looked tired and leggy even then. It is in the wrong soil and really shouldn’t even be alive, but every year the flowers just seem to get better. This year is the best show ever.