5709. Various

Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023

When you see the word ‘various’ for the location in the title of this blog post, you can be pretty certain that it will be a post of Klashwhensober’s work. I feel that the only way I can do him justice is to do a round up of his left-overs each month, such is his high productivity rate. Here are some pieces from November.

Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023

All the pieces spell out SOBER, but you can see simply from first inspection that some are more thought out than others and that the execution can be a little variable, probably reflecting Klashwhensober’s attitude and approach with each piece. Klashwhensober’s general development is steady, but it is not linear… meandering improvement might be a better description.

Klashwhensober, Hepburn Road, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, Hepburn Road, Bristol, November 2023

This blue piece is nice enough to look at, and it is clear that it was painted quickly. The paint is thinly spread, which might indicate that it is a bit of a ‘dregs’ piece.

Klashwhensober, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023

Rounding off the quartet of pieces from November is this chrome piece, which is arguably the best of the bunch, painted down in Leonard Lane.  There is more of a sharp feel to this one, with some nice little details and ‘dents’ in the lettering. Have no fear, there is still plenty more to come from Klashwhensober.

5708. Old Park Road, Exeter

Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023

One of the last things I would have expected to see in my two-hour wander around Exeter back in October was a collaboration between Mister Samo and Paul Monsters, and yet here it was… a glorious piece of colour, design and creativity.

Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023

I have a feeling that the piece might be called ‘you are loved’, and there is a great deal of warmth and positivity about the piece, and the styles of the two artists although quite different complement each other perfectly.

Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023

I suspect that the two artists know each other through the Upfest festival in Bristol, at which both have painted in previous years, and Paul Monsters works in the Upfest shop and is heavily involved in the logistics of the paint festival. As ever, Paul Monsters’ geometric designs create depth and hard edges, against which the character forms by Mister Samo stand out.

Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023

I love Mister Samo’s work, which is highly designed but at the same time simple and clean. The characters in Mister Samo’s work look like sophisticated doodles, and even though simple, convey a lot of emotion and charm. A real treat and fabulous collaboration from these two excellent artists.

Culture shift

.

Gifts by mail order

uncomfortable new norm

planning a real shop

.

by Scooj

5707. Exeter

None Here, Exeter, October 2023
None Here, Exeter, October 2023

One of the difficulties of posting pieces from towns and cities that aren’t Bristol is that I don’t know where the photographs are taken, and so the titles become rather generic, for example in this one I have simply given it the label Exeter. I have done a little detective work, and the pub sign just behind the bush says ‘The Nest’ so, using Google maps, I know that this piece is on New N Road.

None Here, Exeter, October 2023
None Here, Exeter, October 2023

The rather endearing collection of birds is by resident artist None Here, whose work can be found all over the city. Although the artwork is a little naive, it is most captivating, and great to know that somebody is out there decorating spots that would otherwise be dull and lifeless. Although the birds are generally non-descript, I think I can see a gull and a heron. More to come from my trip to Exeter back in October.

5706. Dean Lane skate park (670)

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

Dibz and Fade have been a tour de force this year and I have featured a lot of their work on Natural Adventures along the way. I think that this collaborative piece might be the last this side of Christmas, and it is yet another cracker from the duo, a Christmas cracker if you like.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

Adopting their usual format for long walls of a piece of graffiti writing from each artist, positioned either side of a central feature piece by either of them or a ‘guest’ artist like Jody or Sikoh. To the left, Fade has written a lovely sharp FADER FUA in pink and green letters, either side of which are cartoon characters, although I have utterly failed to identify what film/series they come from.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

On the right, Dibz has written his name in glorious gold with a sumptuous purple drop shadow and pink border, all as crisp as you’d expect from him. The character in this piece is, I think, Count Duckula, and some green gloop oozes from the piece in an evil way on the sides.

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

The feature in the middle portrays a full moon with the letters FUA KREW, which is their From Up Above crew name. I don’t know which artist painted the letters, but they are 100 percent on point, in quite a challenging arrangement. Some great work from two of the tidiest artists around.

5705. Cumberland Basin

Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023
Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023

My train journey to London continues and the service is heaving. Christmas shopping and football matches have swelled the normal Sunday passenger numbers, but somehow I have managed to keep my unreserved seat beyond Chippenham, so I think I am safe. The above might not make much sense if it is not read in sequence from the previous two posts (5703 and 5704).

Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023
Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023

This is the second piece by Sait Bare that I have posted on Natural Adventures, although I think it was painted before the first. I am still acquainting myself with his work, and as he doesn’t appear to paint very regularly, I am still forming my thoughts about his style and execution. This is a fine piece of writing/character combination work, and the border lines and details are very nice and sharp.  The letter fills too are really nicely done with some great fades and ‘gaseous’ patterning. The character is quite straightforward with a quirky appearance. All good, and I look forward to seeing more from Sait Bare in the New Year.

5704. Dean Lane skate park (669)

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

I think I might have survived a rather tense potential seat eviction from the train I am taking to London, and will continue to write as if my life depended on it. Somehow this rather nice Laic217 piece slipped through my net, but regular reviews of my archive folders tend to pick up any stragglers.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Laic217 has painted one of his rather grotesque distorted faces, rather than a skeleton in this instance, although the character is gaunt and skeletal. One is drawn to the rather ugly mouth and floating cigarette/joint, but as usual Laic217 excels with the clothing being warn by his character. If I can, I try to publish everything I photograph by Laic217, which is a rare accolade afforded to any artist within Natural Adventures.

Journey

.

Bristol to Bath Spa

Swindon and Didcot Parkway

London Paddington

.

by Scooj

* I know. A rather lazy haiku today.

5703. St Werburghs tunnel (392)

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023

I am currently on my way to London to watch Arsenal play Brighton in the Premier League, my first match of the season. The train is expected to be very full, and I don’t have a reserved seat (even though I ordered on when I bought the tickets). I expect to be evicted at any moment, so will keep this short.

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023

Mr Crawls seems to be having the time of his life, whether it is on his own or painting with Mote. This is a fine variation on his bird theme on the farm end of the tunnel, and shows off the inner workings of one of his birds. More of these to come.

5702. Manchester, Northern Quarter

Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023
Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023

One of my favourite pieces from recent Upfest festivals was the magnificent piece in North Street by Liam Bononi, so it was just perfect to come across this outstanding piece by the artist in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023
Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023

There is so much to admire in his work, from the composition through to the incredible execution. There is so much fine detail in the subject’s face and hands, with every wrinkle and fold of skin beautifully painted. His work tends to play with the viewer, with the photorealistic image being fragmented or distorted in some way, with hands clutching the face, perhaps indicating some kind of anguish that is not present in the face itself. Truly wonderful street art, and free for all to see.