6096. Dean Lane skate park (722)

Chill and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2024
Chill and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2024

You don’t often see the PWA crew paint this particular wall in Dean Lane, I guess because there are usually three or more of them painting together, but this time it is only Chill and Zake, so there is room here for both of them. The two portraits, in very different styles, are interacting really well together and integrated using a common background.

Chill and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2024
Chill and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2024

Chill’s portrait is both colourful and full of fine detail, and has that accuracy that is common in artists who are also tattooists. He is also responsible for the wonderful silhouette plants and signature song bird. Zake’s portrait, is a little softer and full of depth, with a slightly odd scene of fish and water flying out of the character’s mouth. While I am not too sure what is going on, it makes for entertaining viewing. The pairing is great to see, and this is certainly a memorable collaboration from them. I’m not too sure it lasted very long though, which is a pity.

Solar

A gallery of fabulous anti-style graffiti writing from Bristol artist Solar.

Crew PLB (Placebo)

All photographs by Scooj

Solar and Nice One, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2024
Solar and Nice One, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2024
Solar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, August 2024
Solar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, August 2024
j9449j and Solar, Montpelier Park, Bristol, June 2024
j9449j and Solar, Montpelier Park, Bristol, June 2024
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2024
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2024
Solar, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Solar, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023
Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023
Solar, Peel Street Green, Bristol, June 2023
Solar, Peel Street Green, Bristol, June 2023
Solar, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2023
Solar, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2023
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2023
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2023
Solar, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2022
Solar, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2022
Solar, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
Solar, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2022
Solar, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2022
Solar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, April 2021
Solar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, April 2021

Common swift moth – 30 Days Wild (13/30)

Common swift moth, Korscheltellus lupulina, Bristol, June 2024
Common swift moth, Korscheltellus lupulina, Bristol, June 2024

.

Nighttime visitor

conspicuous in the day

no attempt to hide

.

by Scooj

  • 30 Days Wild is an initiative organised by the Wildlife Trusts. It is an annual challenge event, for those who choose to participate, to do one ‘wild’ thing a day throughout the month of June. I will try to write a nature haiku every day if I can, as my contribution to this celebration of wildlife and biodiversity. I did this back in 2015 and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

6095. Clare Road

Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024
Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024

Well, this came a little bit out of the blue, and I only recently noticed it while driving along Stapleton Road between the M32 Spot and M32 roundabout. The enormous mural painted in May 2024 by Molly Murals is one of three public art installations aimed at revitalising Stapleton Road in Bristol – I’ve yet to discover the other two (I think). You can read up much more about this piece on her excellent website.

Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024
Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024

The abstract design is bright and vibrant and really large, bringing a sense of community pride to an area that can at times feel a little neglected. There are design elements that share commonalities with other artists in Bristol, such as Zoe Power and to a certain extent, Mr Penfold. Of course, that doesn’t detract from her design, rather it is a compliment.This is great stuff from a busy and successful Bristol muralist.

6094. Frome Side (35)

Bloem, Frome Side, Bristol, June 2024
Bloem, Frome Side, Bristol, June 2024

Hurrah, for Bloem. Her drive and creativity are something to admire, and as she progresses her confidence seems to grow. I had been aware of this portrait piece under the M32 for a while and hoping that it would still be there by the time I got round to visiting the spot, which I can only do without the dog.

Bloem, Frome Side, Bristol, June 2024
Bloem, Frome Side, Bristol, June 2024

The stylised portrait piece sees Bloem significantly extending her boundaries, and while there are many things to improve on, this one reminds me of some of the early work of Hazard, Pekoe and Rhozi (Rozalita), which is encouraging to say the least. The portrait is unusual and rather compelling, and is bookended with a rather nice design on the left and her name on the right. As I have said many times before, I really like her work, and feel excited each time I come across a new one.

6093. Upfest 2024 (20)

Anna Higgie, North Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Anna Higgie, North Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

There are some pieces that don’t require lengthy explanations or commentary because their beauty speaks for themselves and this gorgeous mural by Anna Higgie painted for Upfest 2024 is one of those.

Anna Higgie, North Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Anna Higgie, North Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

Anna Higgie is an illustrator, originally from Australia, but now based in Bristol and who works out of a studio in Stokes Croft. I have posted a couple of her pieces on Natural Adventures before, but I think her street work is occasional and that she focuses on her illustrations. This bright and striking floral piece is so good, and if I am honest, deserves a rather nicer wall than this one, but perhaps the beauty of the piece is enhanced by the slightly grubby surroundings. This piece could hang happily in a gallery or home (with a wall big enough)… for example my home! As ever at Upfest it is always gratifying to see a good mix of local, national and international artists represented.

Thursday doors – 13 June 2024 – Street art doors

Doors 268 – Street art and graffiti doors of Bristol (and Weston-super-Mare)

I have been away from Bristol a bit this week, and not had any time to prepare my final part of Cheltenham doors, which I will share in my next Thursday doors post. When this happens, I tend to recycle some existing photographs that I have taken for my graffiti and street art blog posts. gather them together and post them as a doors collection. It is a pragmatic solution to a diminishing time resource window (any more corporate speak welcome at this point).

These doors (and I use the term as loosely as possible) were originally posted in March, April and May 2023, but may have been photographed before that. I hope you enjoy them. Normal service should resume next time.

Alex Lucas, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2023
Alex Lucas, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2023

Conrico, Boswell Street, Bristol, April 2023
Conrico, Boswell Street, Bristol, April 2023

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

I cheated a little with this one, but there is a door behind the wall.

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Is a hatch a door?

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Aspire, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Do car doors count?

That’s it for this week.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

Maidenhair spleenwort – 30 Days Wild (12/30)

Maidenhair spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes, River Frome, Bristol, June 2024
Maidenhair spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes, River Frome, Bristol, June 2024

.

Hey, what’s in a name…?

sweetest fronds reach out and spread

absorbing sunlight

.

by Scooj

  • 30 Days Wild is an initiative organised by the Wildlife Trusts. It is an annual challenge event, for those who choose to participate, to do one ‘wild’ thing a day throughout the month of June. I will try to write a nature haiku every day if I can, as my contribution to this celebration of wildlife and biodiversity. I did this back in 2015 and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

6092. Upfest 2024 (19)

Karl Read, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Karl Read, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

Karl Read is something of a regular at Upfest, which is a great thing, and with each passing festival his work gets better and better. Painted over a stunning piece by Irony (one of my favourite of all time) cannot have been easy, but what Karl Read has replaced it with is worthy of this spot.

Karl Read, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Karl Read, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

Karl Read uses large stencils for his work, and certainly in the past I have seen him struggle in windy conditions, but he has absolutely nailed his technique in this piece. The contrast between the black and white figures and the colourful peace sign made out of ‘Lego’ building blocks is a clever mechanism to bring focus to different parts of the work. The message is a poignant one in a troubled landscape of conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. This is a stunning stencil from a great artist.

Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21
Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21

6091. Upfest 2024 (18)

Goin, Spotted Cow, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Goin, Spotted Cow, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

Goin is a brilliant stencil artist, who has visited Bristol a number of times, usually in association with Upfest. I met him one time when he was doing a little ‘extra’ piece on a non-legal wall, and he was reluctant to give anything away. I knew who he was because I recognised his style, but didn’t let on. This is a wonderful piece painted on the side of the Spotted Cow pub in North Street.

Goin, Spotted Cow, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Goin, Spotted Cow, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

There is a simplicity to Goin’s work that makes it more meaningful in a way than some of the extraordinary multi-layered stencil pieces crafted by master technicians. The skill here is in telling a story, and the title of the piece ‘stop bullying’ provides enough to see what is going on. A young forlorn schoolgirl with a bag slung over her shoulder, all in greyscale, is equipped with a large red boxing glove, perhaps to protect herself. There is so much to take away from this piece and the imagery sticks in the mind. One of Upfest most consistent visiting artists.