I was very taken by Rocket01’s piece at leat year’s Upfest, and equally so by this magnificent overture to wildlife and conservation. I love the green backwash that he uses for his work and the synthesis of nature with technology and futuristic scenarios.
Rocket01, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
There is something solemn and touching in his work let alone the fine artistry in his execution. I missed talking with him this year, I think he just wasn’t there when I was passing each time. Another really strong piece racked up for this year’s festival.
This extraordinary piece by Nomad Clan is just sensational and very probably my favourite from Upfest 2017. I have visited this wall many times, both during its creation and since, but have failed so far to get a clean shot of it withoug something in the way. I will keep trying.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Nomad Clan are a phenomenally talented duo, of CBLOXX and AYLO bosed in Manchester. They tend to work on large murals and have painted some of the largest murals in England.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The subject matter of the piece is captivating, and there is some deliberate reflection between the octopus and the old fisherman. Both are painted with tenderness and delicacy, and they have created a story, a dialogue between these two characters. Very powerful stuff.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I stopped for a chat with the artists on the Friday before Upfest…they had started a bit early, which given the weather over the weekend, was probably a wise decision… and they were happy to take a bit of time out to talk, particularly AYLO who was very smiley and chatty.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I have not seen any of their work in the flesh before, but was really so impressed with this piece. It oozes class and competence and absolutely stands out.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The close ups of the two characters may give you a feel for what I mean, and take a good look at the fishing boat tattoo on the fishenman’s head, brilliant attention to detail.
This is a different kind of piece for upfest, by Bristol-based Italian-English illustrator Lisa Rose. In her website biography, she says the following: Inspired by a million things but especially femme experiences and bodies, sexuality, and empowerment. It says it all really. Her website illustrations are very interesting and worth a look.
Lisa Bell, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
It is an unusual piece for a street art festival and represents the crossover between design/illustration and street work. Her strong lines and solid fill make this piece appear to be almost like a digital creation. This piece with the third eye is similar to one on her website and I would guess it a theme she explores. I didn’t get a chance to see her at the festival, but will look out for her if she is there in 2018.
Maldito Mono is a street artist originally from the Canary Islands but who is now living in London in search of new experiences and to expand his work. His piece for Upfest is a bright and colourful bat with a bucket hat. Of course, the bat is holding a spray can, the tool of the trade.
Maldito Mono, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
What is interesting to me about this piece is the eyes – they are vacant, and at first I wondered if the piece was complete, but the subtle shading in the eyes suggests that they are meant to be like this. I guess bats are blind, so this might be a nod to that. A nice piece.
Well here’s the ton up and it’s still only November…who knows I might actually complete my Upfest 2017 posts before Upfest 2018! This is a beautiful piece by Rory McCann who has used his art to help him overcome his childhood health problems with arthrtis. His passion for drawing in those early years has grown to larger scale murals.
Rory McCann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Much of his work is about the environment and wildlife in the hope that it will help people to connect with nature. So far he has painted more than 80 large murals in schools, hospitals and public spaces, some of which you can see on his website. This Upfest lion is a stunner – those eyes! One of the truly memorable pieces this year – it was a pity it was a bit tucked away in the Ashton Gate stadium entrance as his work surely deserves more exposure.
I am rather fond of this fishing collaboration between Shane Ha and Niall O’Lochlainn, neither of whose work I have come across before (I think). Both are artists and illustrators from Dublin although I’m not sure if they have collaborated before.
Shane Ha and Niall O’Lochlainn, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
In doing just a little Instagram research on this piece I have rather fortuitously come across a couple of extra pieces they left behind in Bristol, so I will be popsting those before too long I hope.
Shane Ha and Niall O’Lochlainn, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I was trying to establish which artist did which character, but I’m not sure I can tell, and this might be one of those examples of a collaboration where they both did bits of both. I’m not sure I will ever know. Nice piece.
Rob Wass took a lot of care and attention in producing this piece, and was out on both days, dodging the showers like everyone else. Some of you may remember his beautiful fox from Upfest 2015 which shares the same distinctive characteristics with this beautiful tree.
Rob Wass, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Simplicity splashed with carefully selected colours leaves us with a very pleasing piece that generates a sense of calm and connection with our environment…I think I am a fan of his work.
My guess is that this is a cheeky little unofficial piece by Whysayit at Upfest this year. To my reasonably trained eye this looks like an opportunistic ‘quick one’ from an artist beter known for his ‘marginally less than legal’ tags and graffiti art all over the City.
Whysayit, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
It is a nice piece executed in his square style, which looks like it was put up in a bit of a hurry. I suspect he saw a free board at the festival and took his chance to make his mark, and why not? Festivals run the risk of being too clinical and up their own backsides with ‘corporate’ pieces – it is only when we have some real local street/graffiti artists that we remind ourselves what this is all about. Thank you YSAE.
Perhaps better known for his smaller pieces, stencils and wheatpastes, this large blue face by Beastie came as a bit of a surprise to me at Upfest, so much so that I didn’t even know it was by him when I photographed it.
Beastie, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
This was a striking piece that stood out and grabbed the attention and would appear to have an environmental theme to it too. It is interesting that this year’s Upfest appeared to have quite a lot of large portraits, many in single shades of one colour – maybe it is a thing or maybe just coincedence.
Beastie, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
Looking forward to seeing what direction Beastie takes with his street art as his work is always interesting.
Agent Provocateur is a bit of a mystery, and like many street artists, doesn’t seem to want to give too much away. This is more than just understandable, it is just how things are in the world of graffiti art. His Upfest profile says:
‘Agent Provocateur […] is […] an […] amazing […] artist *
*edited due to being fake news.’
Agent Provocateur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This piece is a nicely worked stencil with a message of sorts – a pigeon with bombs under its wings. He has uploaded a picture of this onto his website, which offers not a great deal more insight into his world, but has some nice pictures of his artworks.
Natural adventures 