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.

1520. Dean Lane skate park (129)

As so often happens in this game, I go in search of one thing and find something else. I had seen a post on Instagram of a beautiful new collaboration by Face 1st and Tasha Bee in Dean Lane, quite unusual, because it is not a spot that Face 1st regularly paints and their collaborations seem to be a bit of a new thing at the moment. When I got there, it had already been overpainted.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018

The good news is that the piece covering it is by Elvs, whose work is always of a brilliant standard. In this work he has chosen some dark and subtle colours to create his unique writing. You should be able to read the word ‘ELVS’ as well as some additional characters, in what looks like Japanese to me. I’m not sure what it says.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018

The tragedy of Dean Lane (but also the thing that makes it so special) is the transient nature of the work there – blink and you miss it. I was sorry not to see the PWA collaboration, but at least I was rewarded with this superb Elvs burner.

Fly catcher

 

Bounding through long grass

ear tips and tail mark the way

Ruben out hunting.

 

by Scooj

1519. Stokes Croft, Full Moon (2)

Since Aspire left Bristol for London, it is always such a pleasant surprise to see a new piece by him, because it is always just so unexpected. I guess when he was here, I just took it for granted that there would be a regular supply of amazing birds from this extraordinary artist – now, every single one is treasured as a very special and rare gift.

Aspire, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2018
Aspire, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2018

This beautiful kingfisher is on one of the boards outside the Full Moon pub in Stokes Croft, and I think it might have been done as part of a special event held there, although, I have been away a lot recently and missed it. As always, Aspire never disappoints and the slightly blurred appearance of the bird and the background give a feel for natural movement which brings the piece alive. Still loving his trademark pixels. Stunning piece.

1518. M32 Cycle path (16)

This is an interesting burner from Soak in the quiet derelict area sandwiched between the M32 and Stapleton Road. It was part of the cycle route, but it has been closed off while some development works are being carried out.

Soak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Soak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018

Soak’s piece uses a fun theme of exploding his name with fragments falling off in all directions. There is movement in the piece and he seems to have spent a little more tome on this than on some of his other burners. Overall I rather like it.

1517. Moon Street (45)

Well you might be tired of NEVERGIVEUP’s bunnies, but I am not tired of posting them, and there are several more in the pipeline, so watch out. This one is in Moon Street and you might notice it is in good company with an old Laic217 piece on the left and work from Deamze on the right. The one on the left has recently been replaced, but the one on the right has been there for an age and really needs refreshing.

NEVERGIVEUP, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2018

Given that he has done so many rabbits recently, I am left wondering if he will return to his monsters, or whether he’ll come up with something else. Whatever happens, his productivity and enthusiasm seems set to continue.

1516. M32 cycle path (15)

I think that this is my favourite Oner piece to date. He has taken a little more time, which is possible in the backwater of this spot, which receives so little traffic since the cycle path along here was closed about six months ago.

Oner, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Oner, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018

His letters are a little more elaborate and he has included a rather dashing octopus character on the right hand side. I think that a piece like this showcases the capabilities of an artist. It is all fine to spray quick burners, because it is fun, but take a little more time and special work emerges. I love the colours and optimism of this burner.

Catches me out every time

 

A daily hazard

on entering the greenhouse,

gossamer garotte.

 

by Scooj

1515. M32 roundabout J3 (82)

This is what Deamze specialises in, a fantastically intricate piece of writing accompanied by a cartoon character. In this piece, which was painted at the recent ASK crew paint jam, Deamze makes full use of bold primary colours – something not often seen in my experience of graffiti/street art.

 

I think this is a really sharp piece, beautifully executed, as if we should expect anything less. I don’t really know who the character is, he looks familiar but I can’t place him. Google searches failed me on this occasion.

 

This is a bright piece which looks amazing on this section of wall and the pictures with tree cover add that little something special. Fine work.

1514. The Bearpit (148)

What a lovely piece in The Bearpit from Tasha Bee, who not so long ago painted in collaboration with Hazard in St Werburghs tunnel. I know little about her or her work, but she is very much on my radar at the moment. I think she has recently been collaborating with PWA, in particular Face 1st.

Tasha Bee, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Tasha Bee, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

This is a beautiful impish character full of colour and vigour. It is something quite different from the usual fare in The Bearpit and all the better for it. Everything that I have seen from Tasha Bee I like, so I am definitelty going to try and track down more of her work.

Marc Almond

.

A retiring chap

I dance with my pen; others

dance to tainted love.

.

by Scooj