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.

1590. Moon Street (48)

I realise that some of you might think that I am overdoing it a bit with the Oner thing – this is my fifth post from this writer since mid-May – but I think that both his artistry and productivity deserve it.

Oner, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018
Oner, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018

At first glance the piece may look a bit messy, but there is lots that is good about it. His lines are clean and he has cut in the edges of his letters really skillfully so that each is distinct from the next. His shading regime has been reversed on the ‘e’ with the dark pink at the top and the light pink underneath. He has added in some nice drip decoration and if you look closely you can see some subtle bubbles on his dark pink. I think I could learn a lot from this writer.

1589. River Avon

Another unmistakable feline portrait by Daz Cat, this one is on the path on the south side of the River Avon near Cumberland Basin. I don’t think that this is his best work, but even a quick one like this requires a lot of skill. I can say this with some authority, having hadf my first two hours with a spraycan earlier on today (as I write this post (about three days ago)).

Daz Cat, River Avon, Bristol, June 2018
Daz Cat, River Avon, Bristol, June 2018

I can’t quite figure out what the thing growing out of his face just above the mouth is, but it looks like a mouse tail to me. This is a great wall in a fine location, but not one that gets a lot of attention (I think). I’ll have to drop by soon for another look.

1588. Melville Terrace (2)

A yellow man in swimming trunks and a rubber duck’s head. This could only be the work of one man, and just in case you were in any doubt, he has rather helpfully signed the piece over the top. It is of course Face the Strange.

Face the Strange, Melville Terrace, Bristol, June 2018
Face the Strange, Melville Terrace, Bristol, June 2018

I’m not entirely sure when he pasted thie piece up, it looks quite old, but I don’t recall seeing it at Upfest 2017, so maybe he visited Bristol after that and put it up, or maybe I just hadn’t registered it before. It is a fine wheatpaste and appeals to my surreal tastes.

1587. St Werburghs tunnel (27)

A whole bunch of artists from PWA and some others had a bit of a paint jam in St Werburghs tunnel a couple of weekends ago. This amazing piece of writing is from an artist I featured  for the first time only a few weeks ago, jon Sikoh.

Sikoh, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Sikoh, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018

I think this is a stunning piece of 3D writing, thin and angular, with beautiful and subtle shadings. The decorations surrounding the piece help to fill in the surrounding sea of blue. Sikoh is a very tallented artist and I look forward to seeing more from him.

Hot tea

 

Is it only me

or does a nice cup of tea

in 30 degrees

 

bring on a perspiration

and instant restoration?

 

by Scooj

1586. Raleigh Road, Tobacco Factory (12)

At the far end of the Tobacco Factory staff car park is this modest and ephemeral piece by Annika Pixie. It was painted during an annual weekend paint jam organised by Stephen Quick.

Annika Pixie, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2018
Annika Pixie, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2018

This wispish and haunting portrait is very much in the style that is associated with Annika. There are two things I particularly like about thuis piece…the veil-like see through curtain that sits between the subject and the viewer, and the nicely arranged stencils that surround the whole piece.

1585. Dean Lane skate park (141)

Once you recognise an artist’s work and know who they are, it feels like you suddenly see their stuff everywhere. Certainly that is the case with Slip Pickings. I think I have seen his work for several years, but never posted any of it until recently. This particular piece I think is a real gem.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018

The forgiving shape of his letters combined with the blue cloud background and green bubble design and graded filler makes for a piece that is very easy on the eye. Even if you are not a fan of writing, it is easy to appreciate how nicely done this piece is. More to come, new and old from this No Frills artist.

Strike one off the bucket list

 

With spraycan in hand

two hours of heavenly joy;

ah! the smell of paint.

 

by Scooj

 

  • At last I got my hands dirty today, or at least I didn’t because I had to wear horrible rubber gloves. Ths is my very first time holding a spraycn after being given some basic instruction by the lovely Loch Ness. It did not turn out quite how I wanted, but it has left me with an unquenchable thirst for more. Finding the time, the wall and affording the paint are going to be my next challanges. I have lots of ideas in my head, and everyone says it is all about practice. A red letter day.
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018

1584. The Bearpit (151)

I am taking a bit of a punt here, because I want to start posting pieces by this artist (of which I have many) and guessing that from the signature their name is BTW…of course initials on street art can mean a plethora of things, including a crew name or respected fellow artist or tribute, for example. So for now and until I know better I will refer to the artist as BTW.

BTW? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2018
BTW? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2018

This is one of the larger pieces that I have seen from the artist and is consistent with the predominantly monotone style, although there is a dash of pink in this one. The character in the Nike hat is a half person which has been chomped below the waiste and I’m not too sure what the other little characters are, but it is a fun piece. I rather like this cartoon style and look forward to posting a few more pieces by BTW.