This lovely piece by Nips was slightly hidden from view, behind the hedge and fence on the swimming pool wall in Dean Lane. I think that I have been pretty late to the party when it comes to posting pieces by Nips, but I now have the artist fully in my sights and I’m sure there will be plenty of appearances from now on.
Nips, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2024
The letters, spelling NIPS, painted in a great and eye-catching combination of black and mint green are set on a complementary pink drop shadow. The star of the piece though, for me, is the crazy dog character making up the dot on the letter ‘i’. It is details and additions like this that elevate a good piece to a great one. More to come from Nips before too long.
A week or so ago I decided to visit the Devon Road area of Bristol, which I have neglected for quite a long while but where turnover tends to be rather slow. I was rewarded with this magnificent piece at the end of Devon Road, by Conrico. I might be pushing the boat a little, but I think that this could be the best piece I have seen from Conrico, and that is saying something.
Conrico, Devon Road, Bristol, February 2024
There is a wonderful story of an oriental flavour unfolding. Our central character is a fox wearing a fabulous blue robe, tossing a spray can in his right hand and clutching a roller in his left. Is there something autobiographical going on here? The fox is standing in a scene that could so easily have been inspired by the willow pattern. Each of the elements of this piece , the pond, the building the trees and the cloudy sky, combine to create a truly fantastic whole. Bravo!
Kool Hand, Face 1st, Soap and Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
This collaboration from the Pirate Wall Art (PWA) crew is a little different in one key respect, and it doesn’t take too long to figure out what that is, but to spell it out, Soap and Face First’s writing resembles throw-up style graff quite unlike their usual individual styles.
Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
To the left Kool Hand, an occasional PWA collaborator, has painted a blue leopard wearing a yellow bucket hat, and why not, pointing, I would like to think, in admiration of his friends’ writing. Kool Hand is perhaps an underrated street artist in Bristol, whose work often goes under the radar, particularly on social media.
Face 1st and Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
Unusually for a triptych collaboration, the centrepiece here is writing, and a very fine combination from Face 1st on top and Soap underneath. The writing designs are quite old-school and in themselves nothing to write home about, but the fills elevate this central panel to a different level altogether. The pink fill is decorated with a whole bunch of squiggly designs, but the clever bit is how the fills transition seamlessly between the two pieces of writing. Great stuff.
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
I said in a post a couple of days ago, that Zake has been smashing it for a long time. He is a machine, turning out creative and fun pieces at a rate of at least one a week, This piece on close inspection is a little grotesque, as the main character is putting an arm into a mincing machine. The stuff of horror nightmares. Perhaps it is a representation of Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. Who ever it is, there is a story here. All in all this is a fine February collaboration from the PWA boys.
Laic217 has been smashing it for years now, and I continue to enjoy the ride he is taking us on. His improvement and development continues from piece to piece, always getting better and more interesting to look at.
Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2024
This piece is full of sharp detail, in the flames, and the folds of the fabric but most noticeably in the reflections of the skeleton’s glasses. There is a lot of precision in this piece, and the mask being worn is amazing. An L on the hat for LAIC rounds the piece off nicely. There is always a home for every piece I find by the artist on Natural Adventures.
From the first time I saw his work, I have always liked the originality shown by Creamylines, and finding this piece on one of the columns under Brunel Way recently was a special surprise. There is a basic formula to many of Creamylines’ pieces that includes a sun with rays sitting over a landscape scene divided up by black lines.
Creamylines, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
I am always reminded of stained-glass windows when I see these pieces, for obvious reasons, and there is a calm, tranquil quality to the work – you can almost hear the cries of seagulls in the air. Another aspect of this piece is the suggested faces that emerge through the piece, adding another layer of interest. A great column piece from Creamylines.
Happy leap day to you, the curious vagaries of time eh? Last week I trailed this week as being the last selection of doors from the beautiful hilltop town of Montefalco in Umbria, Italy, well it seems I was getting a little ahead of myself, and after today’s doors there will be one more trip to the town before perhaps sharing some doors closer to home. My apologies for inadvertently misleading you.
This week’s selection of doors were located near or in the church of Saint Agostino, a short distance west of the main square. The church, a modestly presented building, was quite empty of people and clutter except for a couple of caskets containing the dried and preserved remains of disciples of St Chiara of the Cross. These displays are quite common in Italian churches, but always seem to be a little bit at odds with English sensibility. The caskets have hinged doors which is why I have included them. I hope you enjoy these and the other doors in today’s selection:
Door with a bunny-bottom garland, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
A pair of doors and street tap, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Stunning modern door design, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
A fine arched door, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Entrance doors to the church of Saint Agostino, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Casket with hinged door, containing remains of Chiarella and Illuminata, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Casket with hinged door, containing remains, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Wonderful panelled arched door, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Stylish modern door, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
Well-used and weathered doors, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2024
So that’s it for another week, and next time will definitely be the last of the doors from this delightful Umbrian town… I promise.
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.
Kid Crayon, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2024
Kid Crayon holds a special place in the evolution of Natural Adventures, as it was his paste ups that drew me into the exciting and mysterious world of street art in Bristol, with posts such as this first one, my 11th post, or this one of the boy eating cheese. I developed a love for wheatpastes because of Kid Crayon, who eventually turned his attention to painting with spray cans.
Kid Crayon, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2024
Kid Crayon is nowhere near as prolific as he used to be, but this is probably a good sign, because it means that his work as an illustrator and animator is keeping his busy and bringing in an income. In this bright and colourful piece Kid Crayon has written his name in letters with a variety of fills, and the eye is drawn to the character in place of the letter ‘O’. A fun and most excellent piece reminding us all what a fabulously creative artist he is.
Zake is something of a phenomenon. His output rate and the quality of his work are quite exceptional, and he is always coming up with original ideas based around his central character style. Even though I big him up frequently on Natural Adventures, I think his modesty lends itself to him being a bit of an unsung hero. Well, I am singing!
Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2024
This face is perhaps a little smoother than some of his recent intricate works, but still presents his mastery of light and shade to create depth. It is sometimes difficult with his work to remember that it is painted on a flat wall, such is the 3D effect he creates. They just keep on coming, with no sign of letting up. Great work from the PWA man.
It is always great fun to come across the hapless Mr Underbite, looking as confused and ever so slightly miserable as usual. This is not the first time Mr Underbiter has appeared on this particular wall, which seems so very well suited to the proportions of the face.
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
The letters MUB refer to the artist and the character’s name. I suspect that this was a quick one, as the underlying piece (by Ryder, from recollection) is still partially visible, and it is a simple two-tone affair. I very much hope that we het to see plenty more of this fine character work as things warm up in 2024.
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
Just in case you miss the piece, a nearby slap (sticker) reminds us that Mr Underbite comes in many sizes and forms on our streets.
Natural adventures 