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.

1419. Shoreditch, London (5)

The first time I saw work by Unify was when my wife had spotted a piece in Cotham, Bristol next to a Nick Walker ‘Vandal’ piece on the wall of the Highbury Vaults. At that time I had no idea the artist was based in London. How much I wish he would return to Bristol and leave us some of his spectacular stencil pieces.

Unify, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Unify, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

His pieces tend to be quite small, and often in a portrait orientation…maybe it is the way he likes to cut his stencils. I love this teddy with a balloon composed of ‘unify’ tags, something a little sad and also happy occurring. Another thing about tjhis artist is his eye for selectingh great walls. This one is pretty much perfect.

1418. Shoreditch, London (4)

On a trip to Shoreditch a little while back I came across this unusual and very attractive piece by Raphael Gindt, a young artist from Luxembourg. This is the first time I have seen any of his work and I know precious little about him.

Raphael Gindt, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Raphael Gindt, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

I took a look on Instagram, and found his feed where he actually has a video of him painting this piece. What is interesting is that he uses palette knives which he loads up with spray paint and then smears onto the wall, a technique I’ve not seen before.

Raphael Gindt, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Raphael Gindt, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

On his website, Raphael Gindt describes himself as an urban artist, street artist, muralist, surrealist, painter. A quick look at his street work demonstrated the obvious talent he has and the range of his artwork. This particular piece has a soulful quality and is eye-grabbing. I’d like to see more of his work but I’m not sure if Bristol is on his radar.

Sadness

 

It hangs in the air

a constant veil surrounding;

looking for clearings.

 

by Scooj

Starburst

 

Magnolia tree

bursting with delicate blooms

snow white in the spring.

 

by Scooj

1417. The Bearpit (129)

I recently found out, from reading an interview with John D’oh, that he tends to create these single layer political stencils for places like The Bearpit, where their lifespan may at times be only a day or two. His more complex multi-layered work is reserved for walls where longevity is more likely…an utterly understandable position.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

This piece is highly critical of Theresa May and the growing problem of homelessness and rough sleeping that is plaguing towns and cities across the UK. I really like the work he does and the way he uses his art to express political ideas. Much of his artwork tends to encourage ‘embellishment’ from passers by, and this one is no exception. The ‘cock and balls’ motif being put to good use.

Keep it going John D’oh.

1416. St Michael’s Hill (3)

Occasionally I vary my walk to work, and instead of sweeping through Stokes Croft and The Bearpit, where I am guaranteed to find some lovely new stuff, I take the hilly route and drop down St Michael’s Hill. This is not an area known for its street art, so finding this large wall by Cheba is a real find.

Cheba, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, December 2017
Cheba, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, December 2017

What a lovely way to decorate a ‘dead’ wall like this one with one of his cosmos pieces. He really has nailed this technique and is quite the best at it that I have seen. I managed to get a shot of it before completion, and it was some time before I visited it again.

Cheba, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, February 2018
Cheba, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, February 2018

I always like to see his work, it is something fresh and different.

1415. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (36)

I love this piece which has remained intact and unspoiled for such a very long time in Stokes Croft. It is beautifully well proportioned and the shading is first class – it is a crisp and fresh piece of writing that stands out from the mess around it. The artist is Sofly

Sofly, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
Sofly, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017

On trying to find out a bit more about Sofly, I managed to find her website. It turns out Sophy Robson is a nail artist from London who appears to be at the top of her game, and as a sideline she runs graffiti workshops. How brilliant is that? I know she has visited Bristol on a few occasions, and I have another of her pieces from Dean Lane somewhere in my archives. I love this a lot.

Comma (2)

 

A warm Spring morning

punctuated only by

a passing comma.

 

by Scooj

  • adapted from an earlier haiku, prompted by seeing my first garden butterfly of the season. Origination is not coming too easily for me at the moment.

1414. Ashley Road (18)

I like collaborations, I think they shed the street art community in a good and friendly light. This particular one is between Mr Draws, the writing, and NEVERGIVEUP whose bunny is unmistakable.

NEVERGIVEUP and Mr Draws, Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2018
NEVERGIVEUP and Mr Draws, Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2018

After his phase of spraying monsters everywhere it seems that NEVREGIVEUP has resumed with his rather friendly rabbits, there are a lot of them about, which is fitting I suppose.

NEVERGIVEUP and Mr Draws, Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2018
NEVERGIVEUP and Mr Draws, Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2018

The Mr Draws writing is playing with an idea he has used before, which is to spell out ‘draw’ in German (Zieht) and replacing the Z with a 3. I think however, that this word draw means to pull like drawing water from a well, but don’t quote me on it…I know no German at all. A fun collaboration.

Making plans

.

Woodland burial

with willow wicker coffin

return to the earth.

.

by Scooj