Author: scooj

I am Stephen. I live in Bristol, UK. I decided to shorten my profile...to this: Wildlife, haiku, travel, streetart, psychogeography and my family. Not necessarily in that order.

5923. Nottingham

Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024
Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024

I have made two visits to Nottingham in the last six months or so, but only found this shutter piece opposite the station, by Kid 30 on the second trip. On the first visit, the shutter had been up. Sometimes visiting city centres on Sundays or light mornings/evenings is the only way to see shutter pieces – I caught this one early in the morning before the shop had opened.

Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024
Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024

In this mash-up piece, Kid 30 has combined the cartoon characters of Cat in the Hat, Homer Simpson (I think), The Pink Panther and Top Cat, seamlessly stitched together in an entertaining way. I am a big fan of Kid 30’s work and would love to see him paint at Upfest again, and perhaps get a chance to meet him and talk about his work.

Care home

.

Afternoon visit

circular conversations

blue rinse and repeat

.

by Scooj

5922. Nottingham

Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024
Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024

This is a quick jaunt back to Nottingham and my most recent visit, when I managed to get out and find a few more pieces, including this beauty from Kid 30, who appears to ‘own’ the city, his work being dotted all around the city.

Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024
Kid30, Nottingham, March 2024

The large mural (painted in June 2022) covers the entire end of row wall and features a rather attractive skyscape, and a mash up of Dennis the Menace, and Kid 30’s alter ego ‘Smallkid’. There is something about the size of the piece and its relative simplicity that adds gravitas to the piece. I love it when street artists who paint loads of illegal pieces get to do a legal wall like this as it somehow legitimises their work, and compromises the authorities. My subversive streak emerging there. More from Kid 30 tomorrow.

5921. Sparke Evans Park (91)

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024

This beauty from Wispa is another fine piece from an RBF paint jam in Sparke Evans Park at the end of February. Unfortunately, there are several unpublished pieces from this wall and I simply don’t know where I’m going to find the time to post them. I felt that this one from Wispa was worth prioritising.

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024

As ever, Wispa’s writing is exceptional, and she embraced the paint jam theme by incorporation this magnificent Pokémon character, Vaporeon. I love the way that Wispa drifts in and out of Bristol tantalising us with her exceptional talent, and keeping us interested. Although her pieces are occasional, they are always welcome.

5920. River Avon (59)

This piece really made me laugh, taking the brilliant partnership between Mr Crawls and Mote into new territory in this rendition of a couple of fish monsters. Their work is always fun and usually tinged with a touch of humour that brings a smile to your face.

Mr Crawls, River Avon, Bristol, February 2024
Mr Crawls, River Avon, Bristol, February 2024

This is one of those collaborative pieces from the pair, where their influence on one another makes it quite difficult to know who painted which character. There are some tell-tale signs that give each of the artists away, and the yellow anglerfish is by Mr Crawls, and an absolute beauty.

Mote, River Avon, Bristol, February 2024
Mote, River Avon, Bristol, February 2024

The fish monster is by Mote, and consistent with so many of his characters in his vast portfolio. The fill patterning, and little hashtag symbol on the edge of the monster’s mouth give him away. This is a wonderful collaboration from the pair, which took me quite a while to hunt down. Well worth being persistent in my search.

5919. Elton Street (29)

Beth Kirby, Elton Street, Bristol, February 2024
Beth Kirby, Elton Street, Bristol, February 2024

Only a few days ago I was saying what a rarity it is to see nudes depicted in street art in Bristol, so it is something of a special piece indeed that manages to survive the noise. This is a stunning piece by Beth Kirby on the side of the Lost Horizons Arts Centre.

Beth Kirby, Elton Street, Bristol, February 2024
Beth Kirby, Elton Street, Bristol, February 2024

The piece is painted ladder height above the pavement, and so tagging or censorship of the piece would take a determined individual indeed. I am not sure what materials have been used to paint the piece, but it has a sketchbook line drawing feel to it. Beautiful stuff, and a wonderful tribute piece. You can read more about Beth Kirby on her wonderful website.

Redemption

.

It is a long road

those who ruined a nation

we may not forgive

.

by Scooj

5918. St Werburghs tunnel (415)

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2024
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2024

The turnout for Ryder’s paint jam in the tunnel at the end of February was impressive, so much so, that I am way behind with posting many of the pieces, and some will inevitably get left behind in my archive. I felt it important to post this beauty from Stivs though, as it is a really great piece of calligraffiti writing.

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2024
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2024

This piece reverts to Stivs’ former letters which spell ‘KRAP’ or some variant of it. What is nice about this piece is that he has matched the colours with the Inkie piece from the same paint jam, which I posted a little while back. Set on a starry background, this is yet another classy piece from Stivs.

5917. M32 roundabout J3 (561)

Sub and Bloem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2024
Sub and Bloem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2024

It took me a little while to work out, but should have been obvious from the start that Sub and Bloem usually paint together, and this collaborative space on the roundabout was adjacent to another that they were painting as I photographed this one. It is great to see two young artists out there pushing boundaries and practicing their skills.

Sub and Bloem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2024
Sub and Bloem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2024

To the left, Sub has painted another of his distinctive pieces with very large letters, lifted with a thick drop shadow and accompanied by some wispy smoke, in the Mr Klue style. On the right, Bloem has painted a hand, as she likes to do, holding a pair of her trademark cherry devils (with smiley faces). Although the two pieces are discrete, they share a cloudy background, and there is a suggestion that the hand emanates from Sub’s ‘B’. Always good to find their work.

Roots

.

Family trees found

in a box inherited

on my father’s side

.

by Scooj