4764. Brunel Way (175)

Kool Hand and Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2022
Kool Hand and Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2022

It was when I found and photographed this lovely little collaboration between Kool Hand and Daz Cat, that I noticed a lot of water cascading down some steps directly behind me – it turns out there had been a massive water main burst and the underpasses under Brunel Way were being flooded. You can see the scale of the flooding in this short clip on my Twitter feed. By the time I got back to my parked car it was 6 inches underwater. Had I parked where I normally do (there were no spaces), the car would have been under about 2 feet of water, so I thanked my lucky stars.

Kool Hand and Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2022
Kool Hand and Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2022

The collaboration, was I suspect from the writing, a late afternoon or evening session, ‘the graveyard shift’. To the left is a baseball capped orangutan from Kool Hand, which is pretty much his trademark mega tag. To the right is a squirrel by Daz Cat, and I have to say that I am really enjoying his experimentation with so many different animals at the moment. This is a fine collaboration

4763. Frome side (16)

The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022

Over the weekend, I had an hour or two to kill while the dog was at the groomers, and took the opportunity to drop down under the M32 to a spot along the River Frome, where I can’t take the dog, because it could be a little dangerous

The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022

My reward included this wonderful little column piece from Inca the Mole. It is always a great pleasure to find the Mole’s pieces, and this one was quite hidden away. The mole is decorated with little peace symbols and some simple stars add a little interest to the background. A simple idea nicely executed.

4762. M32 Cycle path (188)

Todoaciem, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2022
Todoaciem, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2022

There are two outstanding Calligraffiti writers in Bristol at the moment, an they are Stivs and Todoaciem. The latter has been rather quiet of late, so it was great to see this new piece by him on the M32 Cycle path.

Todoaciem, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2022
Todoaciem, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2022

As is customary, Todoaciem spells out in the beautifully crafted and regular letters the word CIEM. The script is outstanding and the colour transitions in the fill very nicely done. We are blessed to have such high quality calligraffiti here in Bristol.

4761. Dean Lane skate park (533)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

It is incredible to think how far and fast Werm has come from when I first met him back in 2020, when he was writing under the name Eman. He has definitely switched from character pieces to focussing on his writing, so it was great to see this piece where he has combined both.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

The character is, I think, an alien from the Simpsons – I know I have seen it before… I have just Googled it, and I am correct, and it is called Kang or Kodos. The letters, spelling out Werm, are intricate and beautifully filled with superb horizontal fill transitions. This is Werm raising his game once again. Great stuff.

4760. St Werburghs tunnel (313)

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022

Another Logoe piece from his recent blitz of Bristol, this time at the entrance to the St Werburghs tunnel. I don’t know how long Logoe was in Bristol on his latest visit, but he managed to paint at least five or six pieces, and must have been churning them out at a staggering rate.

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022

One of the clever things about Logoe’s work is his colour schemes, where his selections are carefully thought out. Here he gives us a palette of yellows, greens and turquoise which work beautifully together. There are still more pieces to come from this trip.

4759. Cumberland Basin

Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

I go away for a few days and whaddayaknow, a whole bunch of walls have been refreshed, including the long wall at Cumberland Basin. There are several beauties that have gone up there, and this fine piece by Saor is right up there.

Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

The thing I most like about Saor’s work is that every piece he paints is immaculately turned out. The lines are sharp, the fills solid and the designs imaginative. As his work develops, there are definitely some similarities with the Bristol writer Epok, whose letter designs contain combinations of curves and geometry in harmonious balance. This is a lovely piece from Saor.

4758. Upfest 2022 (55)

Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

I don’t recall ever going to this car park and finding it without a car parked in front of this long wall. Having said that, it is not a car park that I often frequent, and maybe I have simply been unlucky on each visit.

Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The long mural is by Vanessa Scott, who painted a memorable piece for Upfest in 2021 as part of the 75 walls in 75 days event, and it was great to be able to welcome her back this year with this calming water lilies piece.

Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Vanessa Scott, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The abstract design is perfect for this wall and rather grey car park environment, bringing a spot of colour and uplifting beauty to the streets. Vanessa Scott comes from Manchester and is a prolific muralist, whose work we don’t get to see too often here in the south.

4757. Upfest 2022 (54)

Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

This wall is a powerful and significant wall, reasonably new to Upfest, that although is impressive, is really difficult to photograph. Because it is high up, the bright sky behind it tends to lead to underexposure of the artwork, so I have to do a little bit of post-production work just to make these pictures reasonable.

Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The mural is by Snub23, a regular at Upfest, and one who pretty much always gets to paint one of the premium walls. Snub23’s work these days usually features comic book-style characters, caught in a narrative and almost as if they were ripped out of the pages and stuck up on the wall. What is the rest of the story behind this magnificent piece?

Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Snub 23, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

Technically, this piece is beautifully painted, with fabulous detail in the character’s mask and in the material around his neck. The background is a perfect, patterned backdrop for the scene, providing an almost pixelated or white noise environment, which is very effective. This is a great Upfest piece from Snub23.

4756. Upfest 2022 (53)

Sphiza, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sphiza, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

There are some paintings at Upfest that you fall in love with at first sight and this magnificent mural by Sphiza is exactly that. From the moment I first saw it, I knew it was something rather special.

Sphiza, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sphiza, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

In this piece, which makes extraordinary use of colours to create shadings and texture (a bit like a stencil might), Sphiza conveys an important ‘peace’ message via a portrait of a youngster drawing a peace symbol on a sheet of paper. I don’t know very much about Sphiza, and haven’t seen any of her work before, but am especially interested because she is from Porto in Portugal, and regulars will know how much I love the city.

Haka

A gallery of writing and character pieces by Bristol’s magnificent Haka.

Instagram: @hakagraffiti

Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

Haka, M32 roundbout, Bristol, January 2023
Haka, M32 roundbout, Bristol, January 2023

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2023
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2023

Haka, St George, Bristol, January 2023
Haka, St George, Bristol, January 2023

Haka, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2023
Haka, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2023

Haka, St George, Bristol, December 2022
Haka, St George, Bristol, December 2022

Haka, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2022
Haka, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2022

Haka, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022
Haka, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

Haka and cats and that, Horfield skate park, Bristol, October 2022
Haka and cats and that, Horfield skate park, Bristol, October 2022

Haka, St George, Bristol, September 2022
Haka, St George, Bristol, September 2022

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2022
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2022

Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022
Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022

Haka, River Avon, Bristol, July 2022
Haka, River Avon, Bristol, July 2022

Haka, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Haka, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022

Haka, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
Haka, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022

Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, March 2022
Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, March 2022

Haka, Spark Evans Park, Bristol, February 2022
Haka, Spark Evans Park, Bristol, February 2022

Haka, Thomas Street, Bristol, April 2016
Haka, Thomas Street, Bristol, April 2016

Haka, Thomas Street, Bristol, April 2016
Haka, Thomas Street, Bristol, April 2016

Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2022
Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2022

Haka, Feeder Road, Bristol, December 2021
Haka, Feeder Road, Bristol, December 2021

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2021
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2021

Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2021
Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2021

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2021
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2021

Haka, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020
Haka, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020

Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2020
Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2020

Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019
Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019

Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2019
Haka, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2019

Haka, Star and Garter, Bristol, July 2019
Haka, Star and Garter, Bristol, July 2019

Haka, River Frome, Bristol, June 2019
Haka, River Frome, Bristol, June 2019

Haka, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019
Haka, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019

Haka, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019
Haka, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019

Haka, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019
Haka, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019

Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

Paris, Haka and Mustard Tiger, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017
Paris, Haka and Mustard Tiger, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017