As the leaves die and fall on the hedge that skirts the railings between the skate park and the swimming pool wall in Dean Lane, it becomes easier to see what has been painted on the wall behind, although once revealed, it is difficult to know how long the pieces have been there. I like to think I am reasonably on the ball with this kind of thing, but I really don’t know how old this piece by Trafficity is.
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2023
Trafficity is a rolling constant in the Bristol street art scene. Painting the same ZIOM letters in the same way, with only the colour palette and some small details to distinguish between pieces. I particularly like the colours he has used in this piece, especially as they blend well with the few dangly leaves from the hedge. Always consistent, always classy.
I am in London today running a workshop, so prepared this post in haste (post haste – geddit?) last night, hence the brevity.
These doors are a part II from a visit my family made to Cotehele, a National Trust property just outside Plymouth, back in August last year. This week we go from outside the property to look at some of the interior doors, which represent the most eclectic collection of doors I have found anywhere in one place. There will be more to follow next time.
One of many entrance doors on the building, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Studded door with interesting door fittings (and fire extinguisher), Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Solid old door (and fire extinguisher), Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Internal archway, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Old door to the wine cellar, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Entrance door, hidden tapestry door and exit door, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Three wooden doors, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Door to the ‘smallest room’, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
Archway and doors. Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
If you should ever find yourself in the Plymouth area, then I would thoroughly recommend a trip to this incredible place. More interior doors to come next time, until then, may I wish you a great weekend.
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.
These pictures were taken in the dark (the miracle of modern phone technology!) and probably don’t fully capture the magnificent colours of this graffiti writing/character piece by Kosc in Picton Lane. The piece was painted alongside a Mind 49 frog which recently featured on Natural Adventures.
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2023
The chrome letters are interrupted by a cigarette?-smoking skull appearing in the place of the O of KOSC. As you’d expect, the whole piece is beautifully constructed and executed in one of Kosc’s favourite spots. A classy piece.
I wasn’t too sure whether to include this Klashwhensober Christmas piece, mainly on the grounds that I find it a little disturbing. I have noticed recently that several pieces have taken a slightly darker turn. The SOBER letters are still bright and vibrant, but the characters are a little on the weird side.
Klashwhensober, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2023
In this Christmas piece, I think I would run a mile if I saw this Santa by the fireplace. He looks like he might have had a few too many brandies, and his hand gesture is hardly in the Christmas spirit of things. The letters are good with great colours – I’m just not too sure about the character.
Mr Crawls and Mote, Jubilee Street, Bristol, December 2023
Haha, this is another fabulous collaboration piece from Mr Crawls and Mote whose painting partnership is bearing fruit, and I might venture to suggest that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The piece is painted on the hoarding down by Jubilee Street, which a few years back was a favourite place for artists like Deamze and Soker, until developers started demolishing the hell out of the area – now we are left with hoardings instead.
Mr Crawls and Mote, Jubilee Street, Bristol, December 2023
The different but complementary styles of the two artists and similar subjects and portrait orientations lend themselves to something quite special. On the left Mr Crawls has painted a gull (or is it an eagle?) with horns and on the right Mote has created a wonderful monster bird. Both characters have outsize beaks, but quite different personas. More to come from these two, which is great news.
Rudini Doodini, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
I haven’t posted nearly enough work by Rudini Doodini over the years, mainly because he hasn’t painted very often. He used to paint small characters under the name of Morph, some of which I posted a few years back. This is one of the larger pieces I have seen which was painted alongside Wxttsart and Mind 49.
Rudini Doodini, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
The letters WHO are interspersed with three stylised characters looking like they mean business. There are some great colours in the piece and the composition works very nicely. I hope that this early New Year piece signifies more activity from Rudini Doodini in 2024.
Ooh! The colours of this wonderful piece by Hypo burst out of the wall and immediately infect the viewer with a sense of optimism and wellbeing (results based on a survey of one!). A sensibly neutral buffed wall add to the sense of energy and excitement generated by this cornucopia of colour.
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023
The letters spell out HYPO as you’d probably expect, with a couple of nice graffiti arrows incorporated. I really like the way that Hypo produces something utterly different with each of his pieces, although there is always an underlying style that seems to permeate through. A delightful piece from Hypo.
Dibz, Shade One and Rusk, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2023
This is one of the last pieces I photographed in 2023, and what a belter of a collaboration it is, bringing together the outstanding skills of Dibz, Shade One and Rusk. As always, the light under Brunel Way rarely allows photographs to do the street/grafitti art pieces justice, but I think that it is possible to see what a classy collaboration this one is.
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2023
On the left is some superb writing from Dibz, which is a tribute piece to a supporter of his work, ‘Marie’. What this piece of graffiti writing shows is that you can give Dibz any number or combination of letters, and he will be able to create something beautiful with them. The pink and black drop shadow against the gold letters works so very well.
Shade One, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2023
Shade One’s work is really something special, and this portrait piece of a young person wearing a hoodie and baseball cap set against the moon and silhouetted buildings, is exceptional. The portrait is painted in greyscale, and although there is a lack of colour, it doesn’t matter one jot, because the shade and shadows provide perfect depth and texture. A very fine piece indeed.
Rusk, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2023
On the right, Rusk, who is often found painting alongside Shade One, has created some gorgeous letters spelling RUSK, reflecting the gold and pink colours seen in Dibz’ piece. By using two tones of gold (bronze/brown) transitioning horizontally through the letters, it gives the illusion that the letters are a solid bar being tilted and catching the light in different ways. A tight and classy piece and collaboration.
Natural adventures 