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.

1206. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (29)

This is an extraordinary three piece collaboration by Face F1st and Soap from the PWA crew (Pirate Wall Art). I have featured Face F1st many, many times on this blog, and recently Soap has made a reappearance. Now the two have combined to create these three masterful pieces.

Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017

From left to right, the first has a Face F1st face resting atop a soap pair of mouths, which when viewed differently also make the eyes of a skull face. The top face in this piece is very large and the whole thing is clean and has little in the way of detailed work.

Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017

The middle piece is more colourful and offers more embelishments and detail. This time the Face F1st part sits beneath the Soap.

Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017

The third part of the collaboration is more similar to the middle piece, showing more in the way of detail and decoration. I particularly like the bubbles and patterns in the hair of the Face F1st piece. Another interesting feature is the way that Face F1st has sprayed three circles in the centre of the eyes, those large eyes, which seems to add complexity to the emotion of the face. A lovely collaboration.

1205. Upfest 2017 (115)

I first became aware of PakOne a couple of years back when I found a piece by him that he did for Upfest 2015 in the Steam Crane. Even then I was impressed with the depth he gives to his work through the clever use of shadows and perspective.

PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This year’s piece is an absolute gem and utterly beautiful, made even more so by the scattered street furniture surrounding it. A floating rock with a tree in full pink blossom, isn’t this what dreams are made of?

PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I tried striking up a conversation with the artist, but I think his English is about as good as my French, so we exchanged nods and I went on my way. This is an outstanding Upfest piece.

Thursday doors

Door 12

Door, St Michael on the Mount Without, Bristol
Door, St Michael on the Mount Without, Bristol

The doors of this church have been boarded up since 1999 when it closed. In 2016 a fire caused structural damage to this listed building and I expect that is when this door was fitted.

The building has not had the easiest of times, having been hit by an incendiary bomb in 1941 during the Bristol blitz. There is more interesting information about this church on the short Wikipedia page.

 

by Scooj

 

Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

Snow

 

Table top

covered with new snow

and a leaf

since fallen

reminder of passing time

and lifetime consumed.

 

by Scooj

1204. Upfest 2017 (14)

Surely one of the most endearing and sympathetic partnerships is that between Copyright and Gemma Compton. At this year’s Upfest these two produced this beautiful collaboration in the very busy yard behind the Steam Crane.

Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I met them on the Friday, when they were able to make a really good start before the festival started on the Saturday – I think it ws a wise choice as this pub gets incredibly busy.

Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

In this piece, so typical of their collaborations, Copyright stencilled the female figures and Gemma Compton created the intricate butterfly wings in her favoured blue tones. The piece as a whole fills this slightly awkward space brilliantly and the eye is drawn along from left to right and back, scrutinising the symmetry of the piece.

Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The couple managed to dodge the showers and the crowds to pull off one of the best pieces of the festival and one that screams out Bristol from every inch. Both of these artists produce wonderful artworks for sale, marginally outside my affordability although I might just have to save up – how great it would be to have some of their originals hanging up at home.

Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Gemma Compton and Copyright, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Not only do I like their work, but I like both of the artists. They are always happy to have a chat and don’t appear to mind me bothering them when they are at work. Probably my next interview targets.

1203. Upfest 2017 (113)

I met Mr Sleven for the first time this week. He was spraying something outside the Matchbox Gallery in Stokes Croft. As I approached, I asked him his name. He said why, so I told him that I photograph and write about street art in Bristol. Then I told him not to tell me his name and I guessed. I looked at his work and said that it looked like the work of Mr Sleven, he was suitably impressed that I knew his style. In that moment I realised that I know quite a lot about this stuff, albeit in a rather chaotic and unacademic way.

Mr Sleven, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr Sleven, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Anyway that was a digression. This is his piece from upfest, which actually I don’t think I would have been able to identify were it not for the signature. It is a nicely balanced piece and the work of a real street artist…I know what I mean by that even if you don’t.

Stay wild moon child.

1202. Upfest 2017 (112)

This is the official and rather awesome piece by Helen Bur who also left Bristol a little extra gift at the M32 roundabout. HB appears to be equally at home on a sketch pad, on canvass or on a wall, and her website showcases her work magnificently – I recommend watching the video of her piece in Cardiff.

Helen Bur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Helen Bur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I think Helen Bur’s work is really special and her style lends itself so very well to large walls. It would be great if she came back next year and got one of the larger permanent walls so that we could enjoy it for a year, rather than a few days.

Ruben

 

Life’s about to change

so batton down the hatches;

puppy comes today.

 

by Scooj

Happy Christmas

.

A happy Christmas

to all who celebrate it

and to those who don’t.

.

by Scooj

1201. Upfest 2017 (111)

One of the real pleasures of Upfest is the way in which it brings together artists from all different disciplines and from all over the world giving us the opportunity to witness the huge spectrum of talent. Side by side we have graffiti writers and fine artists and graphic designers and illustrators equally respected and admired.

Cai Burton, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Cai Burton, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This is a beautiful piece from Cai Burton who is an illustrator and designer and is based in Bristol. You can see more about him and his work on his excellent website. Owls seem to work very well in street art – I’m not sure why, but they crop up reasonably frequently. Note to self – do an Owl special. This was a popular piece at the festival.