Need to book eye test;
wish they’d call it a check up
I don’t like failing.
by Scooj
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.
892. Moon Street (32)
Once more we see a pairing of Laic217 and Cort on this hoarding panel in Moon Street. Unfortunately I arrived to photograph it just a little too late, and the Cort half has been dogged with a throw up. This is an all too familiar sight in the Stokes Croft area and can at times be really frustrating, and indeed has driven some artists away from the area, which is a real pity.
The Laic217 half of this collaboration features a rather menacing skull wearing a red bucket had with horns sticking through the top. the word ‘inferno’ stitched into the brim of the hat suggests that this may indeed be Satan.
Another nice piece from these artists and another weekly (at least) dose of Laic217.
I have just noticed that the shadow on the pavement in the bottom picture looks a little like it could be the shadow cast by Satan.
891. North Street Hoardings (8)
I think that Sirens must have been squatting uncomfortably on the ground for a while during the creation of this calming piece in North Street. It is tucked in amongst scaffolding and a small alcove, often used by graffiti artists and taggers. The space smells…well what should I say? a bit like a WC, and I guess that plenty of pub goers relieve themselves here after an evening out.
How fabulous then to see this uplifting piece so typical of Sirens. Silhouetted houses and rooftops with a magnificent setting sun; an inspirational piece so full of hope. I know that Sirens likes to surprise people with his choice of location and he has excelled with this one. I imagine many will walk past it none the wiser, but those who look around will see it and benefit from the joy it brings. Nice one Sirens!
890. Bedminster
On one of my lunchtime jaunts I got lucky enough to meet Andy Council working on a piece that didn’t incorporate animals, which judging from our conversation, I think is something of a ‘day off’ for him.
He was working on quite an awkward low stretch of wall on a ramp, but has managed to craft an impressive cityscape in his most distinctive style.
The location is a spot new to me, and there is a host of other treasures there from local graffiti artists. I’ll come on to these over the coming weeks.
What I particularly like about this work is the vibrant colours and use of the space. It shows how a bit of time spent in the hands of a skilled artist can improve the local environment of what was previously a dull grey utilitarian tiled pathway. Nice to meet Andy for the first time too.
889. Lower Approach Road (4)
This is a magnificent piece down on the black hoardings beside Temple Meads station by Lokey. His work is really beautiful and the 3D writing that he creates is so very easy on the eye.
A different take on wildstyle writing, Lokey never fails to impress. In this particular piece his colour selections work really well with the black background, and the way he has shaded the letters with graded greens adds another level of texture to the piece.
As with so many writers, he has included a little character to the right of the writing. The character is a beautifully sprayed robot whose edges are highlighted by the ‘glow’ coming from the letters. Masterful work.
Taking a close up look at his lettering gives a real appreciation of the technical skills needed to create the 3D effect. A lovely piece.
Still raging
The angry young man
is healthy and vibrant in
this old man’s body.
by Scooj
Sandwiches
Summer in full swing;
office workers lunch in parks
and pigeons look on.
by Scooj
888. Upfest 2016 (155)
So I decided to round off this batch of last year’s Upfest posts with a very Bristol piece. This wonderful side of a bus was sprayed by the ASK crew, which comprises a great many of the Bristol graffiti/street artists I have covered in Natural Adventures passim. It would be fitting to end the 2016 posts with this, but I still have plenty more. I have decided to intersperse them with future posts, but obviously I’ll be concentrating on Upfest 2017 over the coming weeks.
Please don’t ask me to identify all the members of ASK, it could take me a while. The ASK (After School Klub) crew tend to dominate the street art scene in Bristol, but there is always plenty of space for others, and I don’t think they are too precious. Great colourful bus, but pretty dismal pictures. Nice eye – probably by Voyder.
887. Upfest 2016 (154)
This is an extraordinary piece by Random, called ‘Prisoner 46664’ and is a portrait of Nelson Mandela. Random, originally from Liverpool, lives in North Wales and works with stencils, sculpture and wheatpastes, which scores lots of points with me.
The work is an ingenious stencil with letters cut into it, placed over a red background. The letters are like a wordle of key associations with Nelson Mandela, such as ‘Freedom’ and ‘political’ and ‘rebel’ and ‘statesman’.
A magnificent piece from Random.
Fountain pen
As the cool ink flows
memories flood back of old
carved wooden school desks.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 