Category: 5. Street Art

4580. St Michael’s Hill (6)

I was tipped-off by John D’oh about this wonderful, small stencil in a little alleyway off St Michael’s Hill, and it is always nice to have that kind of trust and bond with an artist, and sit is something I really appreciate.

John D'oh, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, July 2022
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, July 2022

The subject matter of the stencil is our national treasure, Sir David Attenborough, although he is actually so much more than a national treasure. Sir David Attenborough is an inspiration and hero to an entire generation, and his work, highlighting the wonder of biodiversity is an example and warning to national and world leaders, who should listen to what he has to say. I love the way that Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have joined forces, creating a generational continuity campaigning on behalf of our beautiful planet.

The stencil is notable for being a contemporary image of the great man, showing him as the old man that he is, no sentimentality. Another great piece in which John D’oh has captured one of the most important champions for our planet, with an injection of humour in the words, mimicking a voice-over by the great man himself.

4579. M32 Cycle path (180)

From time to time you find a wall that an artist ‘owns’ and I guess the maxim ‘possession is nine tenths of the law’ kicks in. This wall seems to belong to Claro_que_sssnoh, and in the main other artists leave him to it. When it does get painted by someone else, he eventually reclaims the spot.

Claro_que_sssnoh, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2022
Claro_que_sssnoh, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2022

Claro_que_sssnoh has such a distinctive and attractive style, and with this piece, he has absolutely smashed it in terms of colour palette. His slim joined-up letters, spelling HONS, are filled with some outstanding patterns and designs and the whole piece stands out from the red background. This is a very nice piece from the Spanish artist.

4578. Moon Street (94)

Even though the turnover of street/graffiti art in Moon Street is nothing like it used to be, it is still worth wandering down there from time to time, to pick up beauties like this one from Sled One. I think that the whole Stokes Croft area has become a bit of a graffiti wilderness, while it decides what impact the local gentrification has had on the sub-culture. Of course, many of the artists simply paint elsewhere, and there are many more of them in Bristol than there were only two or three years ago.

Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2022
Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2022

Sled One, however, has returned to Moon Street and painted a classic piece of writing, so typical of this talented artist. The letters spell out SLED, and the numeral ‘1’ completes his name. the design is balanced and well-proportioned and the fill colours contrast neatly with the black and gold patterned background.  I imagine that Sled One probably knocked this one off in an hour or two, but he has managed to keep it utterly onm-point. Great work.

4577. River Avon (31)

Haka has been absolutely smashing it with his Janet and Allan Ahlberg children’s book characters, and here, alongside the river, he has painted a wonderful image of Burglar Bill.

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

I don’t believe that I have read this particular book, but I know my nieces were particularly fond of the Ahlberg books, and I have seen the cover before. Haka’s loving and faithful reproduction of the character is magnificent and captures the Ahlberg style perfectly. No need to sign the piece, knowing that Haka has painted other Ahlberg characters in the area.

4576. Cumberland Basin

Anyone who reads this blog will know that Mr Underbite, who only emerged on the Bristol scene earlier this year, has become a firm favourite of mine. The character is nicely thought out and now the artist is playing with this concept in this fun piece in Cumberland Basin.

Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2022
Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2022

Mr Underbite has created a mash-up of his character (of the same name), with the SpongeBob SquarePants character Patrick Star, which is probably not a combination that would naturally spring to mind. The outcome is mildly grotesque, but both elements easily identifiable. I look forward to plenty more of these mash-ups, if indeed it is a direction that Mr Underbite chooses to go in.

4575. M32 roundabout J3 (414)

About eighteen months ago there was absolutely no stopping Lee Roy, and it was easy to find new pieces by him on a regular basis, then out of the blue nothing for quite a long while. Lee Roy,I am pleased to report, has resumed his prolific form in recent weeks and this is one of several new pieces by the artist.

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022
Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022

His familiar letters are given some extra special treatment in this piece, with a rather snazzy background of pink and purple bricks on a blue background. The letters too have some reference to brickwork as well as some other fine drippy and dotty fills. This is a lovely piece from Lee Roy, and I will try to dig out some more recent ones from the artist.

4574. Greenbank (48)

It is so good to see a new Laic217 piece, and this one is a throwback to his melting face period from a few years ago. I guess with the heatwave we are currently enduring this melting face is really rather apt.

Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2022
Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2022

The main difference between this and his similar pieces of old is that his skills and touch have improved measurably. Although this piece is rather grotesque, it is also fascinating, and difficult not to look at and study. I particularly like the curve of the cap peak, it is just so well observed. Melty face, melty day.

4573. Dean Lane skate park (510)

In my view, street art and graffiti writing always look nicer on a buffed wall, although I’m sure that some purists would probably disagree with that. In this instance I think it holds true, and Mudra’s graffiti writing is presented beautifully.

Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022

Mudra has found a new level recently, and is constantly developing his letters, incorporating characters and looking at new shapes and designs. His work is along the lines of other artists whose letters each have a separate look and feel, the master of which is SkyHigh. I am definitely enjoying observing Mudra’s work develop.

4572. Upfest 2022 (30)

At Upfest you get to see work from so many artists that you have never encountered before, and in some cases may never encounter again. Always, though, there will be some pieces that stand out or stick in the memory, for whatever reason, and this curious piece by Rinascimento Punk is one of those.

Rinascimento punk, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Rinascimento punk, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The character in the piece is all a little surreal, with unfamiliar limbs attached (or in the case of the hand, unattached) to a torso and face. The hand is holding a planet (Saturn?) and I am guessing the head is in a space helmet, because the piece is entitled ‘Woman in Space’. This is an intriguing piece with loads of texture in the artwork. Great stuff.

4571. Upfest 2022 (29)

You couldn’t want to meet two nicer, albeit slightly bonkers, artists than Jimmer Willmott and Guts, who don’t paint the streets all that often, but when they do really bring things to life with their imaginative work.

Jimmer Willmott and Guts, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Jimmer Willmott and Guts, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

It was genuinely a real pleasure to catch up with them just as they were finishing off the piece, and we chatted for a while, and they asked me to take the obligatory ‘artist selfies’ in front of the finished work, which was great fun. Unfortunately, the pictures were on their phone and not mine. On the left of the piece is a rather curious, and slightly disturbing character, looking a bit like Mr Potato Head given some Picasso treatment.

Jimmer Willmott and Guts, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Jimmer Willmott and Guts, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

To the right is a busy gathering of monsters and things, with a bit of slime thrown in, so typical of the bright and ‘happening’ pieces that Guts paints. I am not even going to try and interpret the piece, to do so would be foolish. The collaborative effort as a whole is so full of energy, joy and creativity, and it is such a pleasure to see more of their street work.