Category: 5. Street Art

5548. St Werburghs tunnel (388)

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023

One of the truly enjoyable facets of 2023, has been the appearance of Mr Crawls and his wacky bird portraits. Even better has been the way he has started to switch it up a little bit, with variations on a theme. For a little while at the start, there was a risk that he might get categorised as a one-trick pony, but recent evidence completely indicates otherwise.

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023

This piece at the farm end of the tunnel presents his gull character with horns and spikes emerging from the top of its head. Perhaps most notably, the empty eye sockets define this piece and contribute to the overall intrigue it offers. A little bit chilling and odd, the piece definitely catches the eye, and isn’t quite as endearing as some of his other pieces. This is a good thing, as Mr Crawls develops and grows.

5547. Purdown (62)

Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

Mr Klue is definitely one of those ‘peak and trough’ artists. During his productive spells, you can barely visit certain spots without seeing a new piece from the artist, and earlier this year he dominated the walls in St Werburghs tunnel. At other times Mr Klue goes very quiet for extended periods, so it was a genuine pleasure to find this small piece by him up at Purdown.

Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

The piece carries a common motif that Mr Klue paints, of a headless character wearing a large top hat with a ticket in the band. The hat belongs to Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter. Although only a quick one, it is great to see Mr Klue out and about. Perhaps this is the start of a new productive period.

CD.TC

A gallery of fabulous toothy characters by CD.TC

Instagram: @cd.tc

All photographs by Scooj

CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
CDTC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2022
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2022
CDTC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, Daz Cat and Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, Daz Cat and Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2020
CD.TC, Purdown, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, Purdown, Bristol, July 2020
CD., St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019
CD., St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019

5546. Eugene Street

Merny, Eugene Street, Bristol, September 2023
Merny, Eugene Street, Bristol, September 2023


It doesn’t really matter how many times you walk or drive around the city, there are always surprises lurking around the corner in unexplored pockets. I have skirted around Eugene Street many times before, but simply never noticed this little spot at the top end, where this piece by Merny is one of two or three by various artists occupying a short stretch of wall.

Merny, Eugene Street, Bristol, September 2023
Merny, Eugene Street, Bristol, September 2023

Merny has dated the piece, showing me up a little… it has only taken me two years to find it! He has painted a man clutching his phone with the words ‘it’s free to be nice – it’s nice to be free’. In writing this, Merny has knowingly or otherwise adopted a linguistic mechanism called a Chiasmus, which is one of my favourite constructions and wordplays. I have written about this before in Natural Adventures because it arises from time to time. An example I made up (as a potential for marketing The Times newspaper) was: ‘There’s no time like the present and no present like The Times’. Geddit?

There is extra fun when Merny’s philosophy is accompanied by his fabulous naive style. I have always admired and probably will always admire his work.

5545. M32 roundabout J3 (514)

 

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

I have spent the morning thus far cleaning up the moderate mess left behind after Miss Scooj’s 19th birthday party – a few friends over before clubbing. As any parent will be heard to say many times in their lives ‘where did all the time go?’. Feeling very old today.

Helping to keep me as young as I can be is the love I have for street/graffiti art, and far from being a bind, writing this blog keeps me inspired, invigorated and happy.

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

Benjimagnetic is keeping his work ticking over with the occasional piece here and there and this recent one on the M32 roundabout is a fairly calm and modest piece. Sometimes his work is busy and frenetic, but he has gone back to basics with this one. The letters spell out BEN, although perhaps somewhat disguised, with green fills and a skilfully worked yellow border/drop shadow. The vertical lines in purple and pinks add interest, without which the piece might be unexceptional. A lovely sober piece from Benjimagnetic.

5544. Dean Lane skate park (645)

Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Kosc seems to have slowed the pace right down recently, which probably reflects a busy time in his real life away from painting walls. It is great to see that there isn’t even the slightest drop in quality on his return, although in fairness, once an artist has reached a certain level, there is rarely a drop in quality unless constrained by time or paint.

Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

The letters KOSC have an industrial, metallic sheet look, common to the artist’s pieces over the last couple of years, with occasional ‘rivets’ holding the sheet in place. Kosc has chosen some nice fills for the letters, some of which have spilled beyond the confines of the letters, giving the writing a slightly ethereal feel. Classy writing.

5543. Brunel Way (236)

Dibz and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Dibz and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

It seems that every time I go down to Brunel Way, I will find Dibz and Fade happily redecorating the long south-facing wall under the main road. They were at it again this week with yet another imaginative co-production. This particular piece was painted a couple of weeks ago, and I caught up with them as they were nearing completion. Both artists, and Fade in particular (who has definitely bonded with my dog) are so generous with their time and happy for a chat.

Dibz and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Dibz and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

I am pretty certain that the Yosemite Sam character was painted by Fade (he was putting on finishing touches). More obviously, the piece on the left is by Dibz and the one on the right by Fade.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

When you look at the work of the two artists side-by-side, I feel that Dibz’ pieces are always a little more intricate and sharper, while Fade’s pieces have a slightly softer and gentle appearance. To me, it is baffling how each artist is able to create a style and tone that is replicable from piece to piece – these guys are amazing.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

On the right is Fade’s contribution. Fade has really captured the colours of cartoons, and all of his pieces have that exciting glow about them, in this case created by a gorgeous golden 3D drop shadow. Yosemite Sam is a popular character with street artists and in this instance Fade has more than done it justice. Yet more to come from this pair.

5542. Purdown (61)

Hiccup (Bloem), Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Hiccup (Bloem), Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

Certain artists have a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes their work exciting and interesting and compelling for me, and one of them is Hiccup (Bloem). Her work is highly original and eye-catching. She is working hard to improve and tries out new ideas with each piece she paints. If what she has produced so far is anything to go by, she will be a leading light in the city.

Hiccup (Bloem), Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Hiccup (Bloem), Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

The Purdown walls tend to be square and reasonably small, perfect for honing your skills. In this piece Hiccup (Bloem) has painted a torso with interlocked hands bearing shiny bright red nails. Notable is the texture and depth that she has managed to achieve in the garment. Her style is still a little crude, but at the same time quite sophisticated too, as her technique improves, so will her finishing. A final touch… the rings on the fingers spell out ACAB – (All Cops Are Bastards).

5541. Dean Lane skate park (664)

Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

I am posting this piece by Andy Council out of sequence, having posted a piece he painted after this one, a week ago. You didn’t necessarily need to know that, but I feel better for being transparent and accurate.

Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

I am not going to try and guess what kind of bird this is because I will probably get it wrong – I’ll leave you to decide for yourself. Andy Council’s ‘thing’ for gratings (or radiators) has come to the fore in this piece, with the upper part of the birds wings being made up of them. There is a strong mechanical/metallic look to the bird almost as if it is clockwork – you might expect to see a wind up key embedded somewhere. This is a clever way to occupy this low wall and expertly done in my view.

5540. Brunel Way (235)

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

I might have to do a round up of Klashwhensober’s work soon to mop up several unpublished pieces by the artist from the summer. He is so prolific, I would struggle to post each of his pieces separately. This one under Brunel Way is deserving of an individual post though.

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

The colour selection for each of the letters might indicate that this is a dregs piece, using up half-empty cans, something you see quite a lot of. Each letter from the word SOBER has an element of depth, created by shading either side of a ridge line. The ‘O’ in particular has an anamorphic quality to it. This is a nicely worked piece from Klashwhensober. He might have left the spot a little tidier after painting though.