5976. Chatterton Square (8)

Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024
Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024

I don’t get to visit this spot all that often, but in fairness neither do many artists, so what gets painted here tends to last a reasonably long time, and although I photographed this beauty by Acer One back in January this year, I think it had been painted some time before that.

Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024
Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024

The piece is obviously a protest statement about the war in Gaza and a powerful reminder of just how long innocent Palestinians have been suffering for since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. When I think about what is happening over there, my head bursts, and like so many people I simply want the suffering to stop.

Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024
Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, January 2024

The letters spell out BRISTOL 4 PEACE, speaking loudly and clearly to the people of Bristol. The letters are beautifully designed and cleverly concealed, and the incorporation of the colours of the Palestinian flag speaks for itself, really. A fine piece of commentary art from Acer One.

5975. Star and Garter (8)

Kid Krishna and Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Kid Krishna and Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Those boys have been smashing it lately, and by those boys I mean Kid Krishna and Marckinetic. It doesn’t seem to matter what spot I go to, with the exception of Dean Lane, I can usually expect to find something from this pair. And this one in the green adjacent to the Star and Garter in Montpelier/St Paul’s is an absolute beauty.

Kid Krishna, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Kid Krishna, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Kid Krishna is a prolific artist once he is on a roll, but can be prone to stopping altogether for a while… it can very much be fits and starts from him. This one is a cornucopia piece, so full of wonderful colours and movement, it almost feels like the whole thing is swirling around in front of your eyes. This takes abstract writing to another level and verges on the trippy. The focal point of this organic ball of colour is perfectly offset by the atmospheric cosmic style background. This is truly wonderful work from Kid Krishna.

Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Next to Kid Krishna is something a little more formulaic, but only by comparison, by Marckinetic that highlights his unusual approach to writing the letters FFS (I think). The characteristic long straight letters are interlocked and slightly juxtaposed with the circular element at the end. His cosmic fills are sensational and like Kid Krishna’s piece the letters contrast perfectly with the background. Long may this purple patch continue.

5974. St Werburghs tunnel (419)

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2024

Logoe has been visiting Bristol again recently, and that generally means that he painted several pieces over a weekend. Unfortunately this time I goofed up some of my photographs and on returning to the pieces they had already gone. Not to worry though, he is so prolific and this is the first of a few posts from his trip earlier in the month

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2024

This is a particularly fine example of his work; beautiful, clean script writing, spelling out LOGOE in turquoise, set on a grey-green background. He has painted a subtle patterned green drop shadow, that complements rather than dominates the writing. No contemporary Logoe piece is complete without a string of oval spots running through the middle of the writing. All great stuff.

5973. Cumberland Basin

Nips, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Nips, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

Although she has only relatively recently come under my radar, Nips is a definite favourite whose work I always feel pleased to see. I often wonder whether I would be able to identify writers’ work if they didn’t use their customary letters, and the truth is I don’t know, some have a style that is easier to recognise than others. I would like to think that I would always recognise a Nips piece even if other letters were used.

Nips, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Nips, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

Nips’ graffiti writing here has used a wonderful palette of colours that work incredibly well together and, as ever, her fill patterns and ideas are superb. The character ‘dot’ on top of her ‘i’ is one of the identifying features of her work. This is a great piece that stands out well from the noise of the messy background wall.

5972. M32 Cycle path (261)

Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol April 2024
Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol April 2024

By the time this post is published I will be half way through a team away day in Derbyshire, planting trees. I have to leave right now so that I am not late for my lift.

Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol April 2024
Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol April 2024

This is another magnificent piece by Bean whose Easter break return to Bristol has been both productive and seen some real improvements in his work. I love the character’s hair in this piece. Norma’s service resumes tomorrow I hope.

5971. Dean Lane skate park (709)

Zake and Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Zake and Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

I don’t do this too often, but I forgot about today’s posts until just now (8.42am). I have a lot on my mind. I am in Buxton in Derbyshire with work. Today’s posts are going to be super-short.

Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

A brilliant pairing of Face 1st and Zake from the PWA crew. Zake smashes it with this gorgeous cartoon portrait full of texture and depth.

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

The writing from Face 1st is a little unusual but nonetheless captivating. Spelling out FACE and no smiling girls this time.

5970. Brunel Way (269)

Todoaciem, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2024
Todoaciem, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2024

We are blessed in Bristol with having not one, but three calligraffiti artists, each bringing their own take on the style. The three are Stivs, Wxttsart and Todoaciem. There may be others, but if so, they are a little under my radar. This outstanding piece under Brunel Way was painted beneath Brunel Way, next to a piece painted by compatriot Pura Decadencia (to come).

Todoaciem, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2024
Todoaciem, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2024

The letters spell CIEM, as you might expect, but what is really special here is the additional decorative scrolls on the edges of the script, creating a wonderful flourish. The colours blue and gold give it a regal look that works surprisingly well on the backdrop of black and pink spots. This is a top piece of calligraffiti from a confident and technically very skilled artist.

5969. M32 Cycle path (260)

Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

This is a special piece for me, because I was present while Tao Create was painting it (for a short while, at least) and met her for the first time. I have been wanting to meet her for a while to be able to tell her how much I admire her work and how much she has improved in recent months. I think that meeting the artists is the bit I love most about photographing their art, as it gives you glimpses of insight into their personality and sometimes their inspirations and ideas.

Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

This piece was painted to promote a Femme Fatale event on 6 April. Now, I am a little bit old and never been all that well-connected with the music scene since the 1980s, so I had to find out a little bit about what this was all about. This is what I came up with:

Femme Fatale Heartek MicroCabaRave

An event held at 395 on Saturday 6th April. Doors are at 17:00 with entertainment starting at 18:00. The event finishes at 01:00. The event has been tagged in the techno, jungle, dub, reggae and industrial categories.

I don’t much like posting promotional pieces, because I am a bit funny about that, it feels akin to advertising, but of course I make exceptions.

Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Tao Create, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

Tao Create’s portrait is copied from an image, not of anyone in particular, to represent the Femme Fatale idea. Given that Tao Create hasn’t painted all that many pieces in the photorealistic style, this is absolutely remarkable. I very much hope to see more of her work during 2024 and beyond, she is a real talent.

5968. Peel Street Green (29)

Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024
Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024

Cort tends to keep a very low profile, and I think he likes to keep it that way. On the few occasions that I have met him, he has been a man of few words, letting his artwork do the talking. Although he is not as productive these days as he has been in years gone by, the quality of the work has made up for the infrequency.

Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024
Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024

This piece in Peel Street Green is a belter, and he has replaced his usual CORT letters with the word DRUNK. I wonder if that references the state he was in when painting it, or whether there is another story behind the letters. The piece is nice and sharp with good colours and some nice letter fills. There is both fun and movement in the whole thing that gives it some vibrancy, and it certainly stands out in this long gallery wall.

5967. M32 roundabout J3 (567)

Raid, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Raid, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

It has been a genuine pleasure discovering a wide variety of Raid pieces over the last couple of years, and what I have noticed that as well as experimenting with his letter shapes, he has also been improving his fills immeasurably.

Raid, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Raid, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

It would appear that Raid painted this one in the rain, and wasn’t overjoyed about it. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to have affected the piece in the slightest. The fill is exquisite and imaginative, and it would appear that Raid has hit upon a winning formula. Everything about this piece is good, and the finishing is perfect, right down to the fine orange border. Bravo Raid!