Month: October 2021

3988. M32 Cycle path (144)

It was a case of third time lucky with these pictures… my previous efforts were taken in bright sunlight and a shadow was cast across the middle of the piece, so while the colours were perhaps a little more vibrant the photographs were shit (pardon me). (my spell checker has just highlighted a profanity, ha ha).

Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021
Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021

Taboo is a real favourite of mine and his wacky of-beat pieces are a fantastic challenge to all that is conventional in street art. Taboo’s writing is eratic and unpredictable and usually in a monotone, somewhat akin to the writing of Alos and other similar writers, but then, alongside this unconventional writing, Boom! Taboo gives us a perfect rendition of Mini Mouse.

Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021
Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021

This juxtaposition is what gives his work its unique and memorable identity, something we can all identify with while at the same time be puzzled by. I have made it no secret that I am a big fan of his work and get a buzz whenever I see his stuff.

3987. L Dub (31)

I am very fond of 2Keen’s work. His old school cartoon characters are rather special, and there are few artists in Bristol who can create them as well as this artist. Even as a single monochrome sketch, the quality and class shine through.

2Keen, L Dub, Bristol, September 2021
2Keen, L Dub, Bristol, September 2021

This piece was painted as part of DJ Perks’ 50th birthday celebrations, and I tell you what, that is an honour indeed. The toothy (of course) character is smoking (a very common theme in graffiti art) and listening to music. This is a fine tribute to fellow artist DJ Perks, and something to cherish.

Flava136

A gallery of outstanding work from this Gloucester graffiti artist

All photographs by Scooj

Flava136, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2021
Flava136, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2021

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021

Flava136, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Flava136, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

Flava136, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2021
Flava136, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2021

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

Flava136, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
Flava136, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020

Flava136, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020
Flava136, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019

Flava136, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Flava136, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Kash and Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019
Kash and Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019

3986. Purdown HAA Battery (35)

In the background of this photograph, you can see the iconic telecoms tower that anyone who leaves Bristol along the M32 will be familiar with. And, in this hallowed spot, Smut has given us another beautifully crafted piece of graffiti writing in his very distinctive style.

Smut, Purdown Battery, Bristol, September 2021
Smut, Purdown Battery, Bristol, September 2021

These pieces by Smut are so easy to look at and enjoy. The simple curves are superbly clean, and he has really treated us with a beautiful wavy line intersecting the word horizontally and some great colour fades along the way. The little pink dots round the piece off nicely. I have to say I am loving Smut’s work and hope to see a whole load more.

3985. Victoria Street, Burnham-on-Sea

A couple of weeks ago, I took a day off and decided to take a trip up to Weston-super-Mare to photograph some epic new pieces by Irony and Dan Kitchener. On the way home I decided to call in at Burnham-on-Sea, because I had seen a few pieces on Instagram and anyhow, I had never been there before. I am so glad that I did, not least because I got to see this magnificent piece from Andrew Burns Colwill.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-sea, September 2021
Andrew Burns Colwill, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-sea, September 2021

ABC is without doubt one of the best fine artists in Bristol, and he carries his canvass work seamlessly across to large walls without appearing to break step, and the end result is pieces like this one.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-sea, September 2021
Andrew Burns Colwill, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-sea, September 2021

Now, I haven’t done any research, and perhaps I should have done, because I have no idea what this is all about. I mean I get the donkey bit, with the association with a holiday beach, but the toilet completely baffles me, and could have a plethora of meanings. Perhaps in this instance it would be better not to swell on the meaning and instead to focus on the quality and skill of an artist at his absolute best. It is worth a trip to this sleepy seaside town for this piece alone.

Julia

.

Sweetest Julia

childhood friend’s little sister

I think I loved you

.

by Scooj

* Julia was younger than our gang of friends and like all little sisters she was left out and dismissed as being surplus to our boyish requirements such as playing cowboys and Indians.

Cheese-cutter

.

Nestled side by side

cocooned in spikey armour

prepared for battle

.

by Scooj

  • Although no longer permitted in the schoolyard, the game of conkers was one of those things that we simply grew up with. The excitement of collecting shiny new conkers and breaking them free from their shells was one of autumn’s pure joys. A cheese-cutter was a flattened conker that had shared its outer shell with another and were thought to bestow an advantage by cracking open your opponent’s conker using the sharp flat edge. such happy days. I still find new conkers irresistible and still come home with pocketfuls of them.

3984. Brunel Way (124)

This is happening with a comforting regularity and in my view it is definitely great news… SkyHigh has been visiting Bristol again and left us with this utterly amazing piece that on a near epic scale. The wall on this concrete support is pretty high and this is piece is larger than it looks.

SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021
SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021

Using his block letters that he seems to run off with consummate ease, including a smiley sticker and ‘Hello my name is’ badge, Sky High has written ‘Smile More Often’ which is the name of a London crew and this piece is not dissimilar to one painted by SkyHigh in Leake Street in 2020.

SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021
SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021

There is so much to like in the detail of this piece, but it is also SkyHigh’s finishing that is admirable, he really is a perfectionist, and his work always stands out from the crowd. Keep coming back, Bristol needs you.

3983. Purdown HAA Battery (34)

When they were toddlers, there is no doubt that the favourite toy that got the most play time was the buggy cozy coupé car thing, and this fabulous piece by Daz Cat brought a massive smile to my face, remembering those fun and uncomplicated days.

Daz Cat, Purdown Battery, Bristol, September 2021
Daz Cat, Purdown Battery, Bristol, September 2021

Daz Cat has recently taken his work to a new level, creating more than a simple posed character, but instead a character in a scene that tells a whole story. Sophistication and detail have improved his already excellent work and I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying his expansion. It is always a treat to find his work.

3982. Dean Lane skate park (432)

I have a feeling that this fine little collaboration by Spanish duo Zake and Varo was painted on or around the Dean Lane Hardcore (DLH) event a couple of weeks ago. It is especially noteworthy because although Zake has been painting a lot recently, Varo has been on the rather quiet side for some time.

Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021
Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021

The face is obviously by Zake and yet another fantastic piece in his expanding repertoire. Once again, the piece is given a 3D appearance by some clever colour schemes, shading and highlighting, which is something of a speciality for Zake. The character has a thought bubble with the words ‘SK8 or Die’, which is definitely playing to the right audience in this spot.

Varo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021
Varo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021

Varo’s graffiti writing is altogether something different. He definitely favours these large blocky letters spelling out VARO, and with this artist, less is definitely more. He doesn’t go for intricate, swirly or patterned fills, but just keeps things simple. I love the turquoise middles to his letters that with some clever shading appear to hover above the letters. Good stuff – and as a bonus you get to see my dog’s rear end.