5271. St Agnes

David Puck, St Agnes, Bristol, May 2023
David Puck, St Agnes, Bristol, May 2023

I am inherently lazy, or at least that is a self-perception reinforced by years of my mother and teachers telling me so when I was in my teens. A self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. I took this picture about a week ago, but am not too happy with it because of the dappled shadow cast across it. I am posting it now, however, because it is a great piece from David Puck, and I am not sure that I can be bothered to return to get a clean shot of it. There is also the factor that I rarely walk around this spot, and have other places that I prioritise.

David Puck, St Agnes, Bristol, May 2023
David Puck, St Agnes, Bristol, May 2023

I haven’t posted many pieces by David Puck, but he (they) is a Bristol artist (I think) who has painted wheatpastes in the city and some murals too. While they don’t paint a lot on the streets, their portraits are always rather attractive and engaging, and this one is a beauty. I have a feeling it might have been here for quite a while as it references Astrozeneca, which is sooo last year. A fine piece indeed.

5270. M32 roundabout J3 (477)

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2023
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2023

Since the weather improved, which has been about a four-week spell now, this wall has been hit pretty hard with a high turnover of graffiti art, so you have to be on your toes if you want to see it all. Although I have missed several recent pieces here, I was lucky enough to see this absolute beauty by Hemper.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2023
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2023

This piece of graffiti writing is indescribably good. Incredible colours, an outstanding 3D effect and stunning design combine to make this one of the best pieces I have seen this year. The letters HEMS are blasting out of the wall from a central vanishing point and smacking you around the face, forcing you to pay attention. One of the best from one of the best.

5269. M32 Spot (165)

Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

This recent collaborative wall is one I didn’t see coming, and I think that it demonstrates the camaraderie that exists in the street/graffiti art world, which is often perceived as being aggressive, territorial and threatening, which it can be, but mostly isn’t. The three artists are Werm, Pekoe and Fade, an artist who is new to Natural Adventures, but whose work I expect to be posting a fair amount from now on.

Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the left, the very productive Werm treats us to gold and electric blue graffiti writing, painted in his ever-evolving style. Recently Werm has been writing quite small letters in the centre of the piece and extending the letters outwards with intricate designs. His work is tending towards an overall symmetry, not unlike Elvs’ and Hypo’s work at the moment. A classy piece of writing.

Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

The rose between two thorns (sorry guys) is by Pekoe, whose portrait pieces are part of the binding DNA of contemporary Bristol street art. The girl in the picture appears to be a little haunted and unhappy, often a feature of Pekoe’s work. The big hair is dutifully decorated with yellow blocks of marks and the cheeks decorated with an anarchy symbol and heart. I am tying to work out if the pink in the eyes was added by Pekoe or a tagger – it looks a little out of place to me.

Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the right is a tidy piece by Fade, who tells me he has spent the last 15 years in New York photographing skaters and street scenes – his work is amazing – but has returned to Bristol and picked up a spray can again, to great effect. I expect to see a lot more from Fade as he gets his eye back in and decorates the streets of our city.

An unusual grouping of artists, but nonetheless a fine collaborative wall.

Play

Fox cub, River Frome, Bristol, June 2021
Fox cub, River Frome, Bristol, June 2021

.

Enchanting moment

fox cubs frolic on the bank

innocent playtime

.

by Scooj

  • Yesterday I was lucky enough to watch three, at least, fox cubs playing on the far bank of the urban River Frome. I was captivated by them, having first heard them rustling in the undergrowth. I watched on for about ten minutes, wishing that I could share the moment with other passer’s by, but there were none. I had to leave because the dog, bless him, was getting restless. He couldn’t see the fox cubs because the river is bounded by a 4ft high wall. My photographs were a bit fuzzy because I was on full zoom, this is one of the better ones.

Smurf


.

Smurf lock, Bristol, May 2023
Smurf lock, Bristol, May 2023

.

lost or discarded

where are you all coming from?

should be locked away

.

by Scooj

  • With apologies for any earworms generated.

5268. Purdown (55)

Mr Sleven, Purdown, Bristol, May 2023
Mr Sleven, Purdown, Bristol, May 2023

When I saw this piece appear on Mr Sleven’t Instagram feed, I decided to get up to Purdown at the first possible opportunity before it got tagged or damaged by the small herd of goats that live in the derelict anti-aircraft gun emplacement that protected Bristol during WWII.

Mr Sleven, Purdown, Bristol, May 2023
Mr Sleven, Purdown, Bristol, May 2023

The cartoon doodle style piece is beautifully executed, and the white/grey piece stands out so well of the deep, rich red. There is a crispness and originality that I find really compelling, and if I am honest, I’d love to have something like this hanging on my wall (less the concrete, of course). A lovely piece and great to see after quite a long absence from Mr Sleven.

5267. Dean Lane skate park (602)

Dibz and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

Well, well, well, how nice to see Cheo back again painting on the streets of Bristol. I wonder what has coaxed him out from what feels like a much too long absence, but whatever it is, it is great to see some fresh work from him. This is a superb, how could it be anything else?, collaboration from Dibz and Cheo.

Dibz and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

To fit the collaboration on this wall, Dibz has contracted his style somewhat, and I am not certain his writing says DIBZ, but I can’t quite make out what it does say. Everything about the writing is close to perfect – this guy performs miracles with a spray can. Cheo has painted one of his characters, complete with baseball hat and ski goggles. The t-shirt says Neo Geo, which is lost on me, and of course we have his signature bee – it is great to see Cheo out and about, and I look forward to seeing more from him over the summer.

5266. Weston-super-Mare

Hazard, Weston Wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Hazard, Weston Wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

A little tricky to photograph, but wonderful to behold is this beauty by Hazard which was painted in 2022 for Weston Wallz. The atmospheric portrait piece was painted last year, but I think it was probably after my visit, so this was the first time I got to see it.

Hazard, Weston Wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Hazard, Weston Wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Hazard has adopted her duplicate portrait theme, with a second ‘ghost’ face hidden in the hair, and she has cleverly incorporated the sea and waves into the piece, in keeping with the maritime location. The rich tones used in the piece are very easy on the eye, and there is a serenity and calmness to it. Weston Walz brings so much to the town… imagine how bland and indeed rather depressing this wall would have looked before Hazard painted it. It is no wonder that the citizens of Weston-super-Mare are so proud of their murals.

Lobe

A gallery of stylised portrait pieces by Lobe, an artist who used to live in Bristol where she painted regularly between 2019 and 2020.

Instagram: @lobe_ita

Lobe, Montpelier, Bristol, April 2020
Lobe, Montpelier, Bristol, April 2020

 

Lobe, Armada Place, Bristol, February 2020
Lobe, Armada Place, Bristol, February 2020

 

Lobe, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Lobe, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

 

Lobe, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019
Lobe, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019

 

Lobe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Lobe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

 

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

 

Lobe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019
Lobe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019

 

Lobe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2019
Lobe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2019

 

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2019

 

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

 

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

 

Lobe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019
Lobe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019

 

 

 

5265. Weston-super-Mare

Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

In the last, very sunny weekend of May, Paul H and I took a trip to Weston-super-Mare to have a look at some of the murals from Weston Wallz (a festival organised by Upfest) painted this year and in previous years. It is apparent everywhere in this Victorian seaside town that there is an immense sense of civic pride in the murals, and there is no doubt that they are seen by the local authority and others as part of the rejuvenation of the town and a visitor attraction. The power of street art.

Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

The first piece we saw as we walked from the station towards the sea front was this magnificent, large mural by Aspire, on Station Road. Aspire is no stranger to Natural Adventures, and his bird pieces are always a fine addition to any street art festival. This beautiful great tit piece, painted in 2022 follows a theme that Aspire has been working on for a couple of years, which is to position nature and human impact side by side creating a slightly uncomfortable juxtaposition. Beautiful artwork with the trademark ‘pixelated’ patches, makes this a wonderful introduction to Weston Wallz for anyone arriving on the train.