.
Experts one and all
unhelpful advice offered
keep biting that lip
.
by Scooj
Month: August 2022
4634. Cheltenham Paint Festival 2022 (2)
The genius behind the Cheltenham Paint Festival is Dice 67, and as organiser, he is well within his rights to reserve a premium wall for his own artwork, and I wouldn’t think that anyone would object to that in any way at all.
Here, Dice 67 has created a magnificent homage to Killing Joke (the band) which when I first saw it, I thought was was a Harry Potter piece featurng Professor Severus Snape, but the likeness wasn’t there. This is an absolute masterpiece, and demonstrates Dice 67’s development as a street artist, which is quite remarkable.
4633. Cheltenham Paint Festival 2022 (1)
I sit here writing this morning’s posts listening to the chirp of cicadas, overlooking a small pool which I will be enjoying in a few minutes, with the mountains of Croatia at my back.
I didn’t think I was going to make it to the Cheltenham Paint Festival this year, as my wife was away and I was on dog duty. The solution to the problem was to bring the dog, and I have to say he was unbelievably well behaved the entire time we were there.
The day itself was only a partial success though. Within fifteen minutes of arriving, I managed to drop and break my camera beyond repair, so I had to use my ageing iPhone to take the rest of the pictures, with a fast diminishing battery life. To say I was a bit grumpy was an understatement. That wasn’t the end of the tale of woe though. Last week I received a parking fine for not paying the correct amount in the Cheltenham car park. Grrrr. I put in only one hour by mistake and was there for at least four. So these photographs come to you at great personal cost and not a little irritation.
This piece was the first I saw and is by the magnificent Sophie Long. A pair of hammerhead sharks, in great swimming positions, painted in greyscale and blending in perfectly with the grey buffed boards. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this piece is the absence of her signature drips. Perhaps she was trying something new, or perhaps I never got to see the finished piece. I feel that it stands up perfectly well without them.
Zadar
.
Fortified city
of Venetian influence
and Roman power
.
by Scooj
4632. Brunel Way (167)
It is great to see another Smak piece, here under Brunel Way, this one complete with a rather fun character. I have a feeling that the character is a rather well know one, used in graffiti, which probably comes originally from comic books, as so many graffiti characters tend to.
As you would expect from Smak, both the character and the letters are outstandingly well painted and look great on the prepped red wall.
Weirdly, I had a dream last night about a massive street art festival (walls only), and I had been invited to participate, and Ryder, or was it Smak, was helping me to select a wall and offering advice for how I should go about it. This was brilliant, until it occurred to me that I had left all my paints at home and would have to go and get them. A this point my sub-conscious kicked in and explained to me that I couldn’t possibly go home, because I was on holiday. Alas, my chance to paint a large wall disappeared. Strange things dreams.
4631. M32 Spot (142)
Another short one this morning, on account of my vacation. This is a lovely piece from Marckinetic, whose rather unusual style is distinct and recognisable. I like his incorporation of cosmic fills and backgrounds, a technique he obviously seems to enjoy.
The turnover on this wall tends to be rather slow, so most things that go up here will most likely be around for at least a month or two. It lends itself to long low pieces, which would suit Marckinetic down to the ground. Another nice piece from this relatively new to Bristol artist.
Nin
.
Ancient island town
coined Croatia’s Bethlehem
salt pans surround it
.
by Scooj
4630. M32 roundabout J3 (423)
There was a time when I endeavoured to publish every piece that I found by Mr Draws, however, with the emergence of so many artists in recent years, it has become almost impossible to show that loyalty to some of my favourites of days gone by. Mr Draws still paints them, but I only post maybe one I three, which is a real pity.
This one on the M32 roundabout is a real beauty in chrome, with a straightforward design concept… chrome letters, blue caps with drips, a pink ‘electric’ ribbon and a few cracks in the letters for interest. The whole thing is nice to look at and great to see from ‘old faithful’.
4629. Sparke Evans Park (51)
I feel it is only fair to myself that I explain that this week’s posts are likely to be rather short, because I am on holiday. As I write, I am accompanied by the sound of church bells ringing, which seems to happen at 9am every morning. Who needs an alarm clock?
This is a another fabulous Funnybones piece by Haka, after the genius of the Ahlbergs, author and illustrator of some wonderful children’s books. I believe this is the third Funnybones piece in this spot. I posted the second, and I have a feeling that I have photographed the first, but have yet to publish it. It is all great fun, and long may the tradition last.
Ant lion
.
Beautiful, graceful
adult form belies larval
ruthless cruelty
.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 