Month: April 2023

5150. St Werburghs tunnel (365)

Stiff, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2023
Stiff, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2023

Because Stiff paints only rarely, it is always a pleasant surprise to come across one of his pieces. Stiff is one of two Bristol artists who regularly (almost exclusively) feature alien scenes in their work, the other being Nugmoose. Their styles, however, are quite different, and they are easy to distinguish from one another.

Stiff, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2023
Stiff, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2023

Stiff always paints on a black buffed wall, which instantly marks out the piece as one of his, and also provides a clean canvass on which to work. In this scene, a man is looking at a doppelgänger of himself, which turns out not to be all that it seems. His look of horror is comical, as tentacles reach out to catch him. A lovely story piece by Stiff.

5149. Elton Street (17)

Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023

Here Comes the Sun. Well that’s the ear worm sorted out for today at least, and it is fitting the Bnie has, deliberately or otherwise, gone for a script font and psychedelic background that is similar to that used by the Beatles in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023

The most recent set of pieces in the Elton Street gallery, curated by Bnie, are on show now, and what a fine collection it is. Because the framed boards are set high, they tend not to get tagged, and the pieces remain in mint condition for all to see. This is a really classy piece by Bnie, beautifully designed with great proportions, and perfectly finished, crisp and clean throughout. More to come from this recent paint jam.

Reminiscence I

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, April 2007
St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, April 2007

.

To St Michael’s Mount

on holidays with the kids

to see my father

.

by Scooj

5148. Stokes Croft

Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2023
Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2023

I was walking home from town a week or two back, after a leaving do for a very dear friend and colleague who I have known for about 30 years. I took the opportunity to take a couple of snaps of this wonderful piece by Haka, which I have known about for a while, but just haven’t been able to photograph. For nighttime photographs, I think they have come out pretty well – it is amazing how good mobile phone cameras are these days (sounding like the old man I am).

Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2023
Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2023

The message is a great observation and commentary on the current cost of living crisis, with inflation at over 10% and pay offers typically under 5%, meaning a cut in salaries for most people (a situation I have been living with for more than 10 years, being about 20% worse off in real terms than I was before Tory austerity measures). This Government think it is fine to cut thee taxes of the richest, but restrain pay for everyone else. The sooner they go, the better.

I’m familiar with the character Haka has painted – a right old meanie – but I can’t quite place what cartoon series/book he is from. Fabulous to see a political piece from Haka.

5147. Brunel Way (203)

Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023

Like the Kid Krishna piece alongside it, this Marckinetic piece didn’t last long, which is a pity, but we all know how this works. I was lucky enough to catch up with both of them when they were painting these pieces, and although I spoke with Kid Krishna for some while, Marckinetic was busy getting on with his piece, stopping only to say hello – he was on a mission.

Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023

I am not certain, but I think I can see the letters MARK. There is an overall dreamy drippy feel to this piece with lots of bubbles and drips in the background as well as in the letter fills. There is a big fat white drop shadow around the piece, which doesn’t quite work for me, there isn’t enough contrast between the white and the yellow. A grey might have worked better… listen to me… ‘the critic’.  A lovely piece, in Marckinetic’s distinctive and distinguished style.

5146. M32 Spot (161)

 

Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2023
Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2023

It takes talent to paint on the sides of containers or on shutters, because of the uneven surface, but so many artists seem to master the problem with consummate ease, including Logoe with this piece under the M32. This container has been here for years, but I have absolutely no idea why or what it is for,  it is has provided a canvass for so many artists.

Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2023
Logoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2023

This is another in the series of pieces by Logoe from his most recent blitz, and what a fine piece it is too. Unusually there are no oval dots running horizontally through the piece, and so you get to see the raw script writing without any distractions. All good from Logoe.

5145. M32 roundabout (462)

Merny, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Merny, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

“I’m avin this trolley”. How skilful Merny is as a storyteller… even with her back turned to us you can tell this is an elderly lady making a grab for a trolley outside a supermarket. A lady unshakable in her determination to have what she has set her eyes on – we’ve all encountered this lady at some time in our lives.

Merny, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Merny, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

Merny’s naive style works perfectly for this scenario, and there is an honesty and authenticity in his work, which contributes to the storytelling. As with all his works, Merny has added a series of numbered pointers, suggesting there is a key explaining the elements of the picture, such a clever and compelling mechanism. There is always so much to enjoy about Merny’s work.

5144. Dean Lane skate park (587)

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

It is great to see that Hire is getting out a bit more these days. His stunning pieces have been a constant backdrop in Natural Adventures over the last few years, alongside other favourite artists. His work is always beautifully presented, and he appears to take pride in his work, albeit incredibly modestly.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

This piece spells out BF, which old ‘sieve brain’ here has forgotten despite being told what it stood for, only last week. The letters are crafted in his jagged writing style, tempered with a smoothness that has crept into his work more of late. The red centre and brown shading around the outside complement the work expertly. Imagine what this would look like without the accompaniments. Classy work, and a classy shadowed signature too.

5143. Dean Lane skate park (586)

Blimma Blamma, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023
Blimma Blamma, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023

This is another debut for an artist on Natural Adventures. I have been aware of Blimma Blamma’s unusual characters in Bristol for quite a while now, but only recently found out who they were, thanks to Instagram.

Blimma Blamma, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023
Blimma Blamma, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023

Blimma Blamma has a very distinct style and paints a character unlike anything else you might see about the place. I’m not entirely certain, but the character to me looks like a man inside a bear costume, with his face peering out of the bear’s mouth. Distinctive additions are the pink belly button and nipples, which look like those tiny ‘iced gem’ biscuits you used to get as a kid. Slightly curious and intriguing piece – more to come from the archives soon.

Departed

.

We remember them

they live on in our stories

after we are gone

.

by Scooj