On the side of the Lost Horizons Arts Centre there are some framed panels which are curated by the Centre, and I think that Bnie has a lot to do with that curation. Most of the panels were refreshed about three weeks ago, and this one from Merny is particularly fun.
Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023
Merny says “jelly! Get over it!” – you’ve got to laugh, really. The jelly, which is sitting on a pink plate, is brilliantly painted, demonstrating an understanding of colour, shading and portraying translucence that few artists manage. To do it in his naive style is even more remarkable. Break-out labels finish the piece nicely, a piece which I think combines fun, mischief and talent in equal measure. Jelly – get over it!
We live in a crazy world. On the one hand there is everything to be excited about, all the beautiful things that our planet has to offer – nature, culture, science, poetry, art, landscape, architecture, sport, friendship and so on, the list is almost endless, and yet, on the other hand I feel stifled by all the horrors that surround us, from wars to disease to the rise of authoritarianism, the grip of advertising, selfishness, profit and greed, that list too is almost endless. My small gesture of kindness to myself is to keep writing this blog, all elements of it, as an antidote to the evil and to bring a little focus on the good things that I am grateful for.
Laic217 among many, many others brings me pleasure and happiness, both on discovering his work and then on recording and writing about it. This is a particularly good one from him on the cycle path between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads station.
Laic217, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023
The character, wearing a wooly hat and smoking, has a dark and sinister appearance, cleverly created by the absence of any white in the eyes, which is unsettling. The brilliantly painted skull tattoo adds a little threat and menace. No need to sign this one as it is pure Laic217 at his best, and although his choice of subject might not suit everyone, his mastery of technique is a sight to see.
Mr Underbite, River Avon, Bristol, March 2024Mr Underbite and Herman Creates, River Avon, Bristol, March 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
This week I bring you the last few doors, and one or two other interesting features, from our visit to Todi in Umbria last summer. Although we only spent a few hours in the town, we managed to cover a lot of ground and see some wonderful things. The temperature was searingly hot, although only a prelude to the heatwave that was to come the following week, and in true ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ style we arrived just before midday.
Todi is one of several stunning Umbrian hilltop towns, offering everything you’d expect to find in terms of historic environment and culture. The door pictures are only a representative microcosm of the magnificence of the place – I hope you enjoy them.
Fine double doors and hefty stone work, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023What the heck is going on behind these doors? Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Confessional doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Fragment of ancient wall, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Grand carved wooden panelled door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Symmetry of wooden door, plants and steps, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023A classic urban Umbrian view, complete with a door through the arches, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
That’s it for another week – Next time I move on to Perugia and some more Umbrian magic.
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.
Flora&Fauna, Friernhay Street, Exeter, October 2023
I have seen many birds painted on walls over the years, and some species are more popular than others. On a survey of one, the top three birds I have seen are: 3rd – Goldfinch; 2nd – Robin; and 1st by a country mile, Kingfisher. There is something magical about kingfishers and they certainly capture the imagination of street artists.
Flora&Fauna, Friernhay Street, Exeter, October 2023
I had to do a lot of detective work to hunt down the name of the artist who painted this beautiful bird tucked down a side street especially as f&f wasn’t a lot to go on – turns out it is Flora and Fauna, and this is one of two of their pieces I found on my short exploration of the city. The piece is striking and rather beautiful, and painted in a fairly soft style, without too much fine detailing. F&f is certainly an artist I’d like to se more of… a potential candidate for Upfest?
Although Exeter doesn’t have quite the same volume of street/graffiti art on offer as Bristol, nor as many spots/locations, it does have one or two resident artists whose work can be found, if you keep your eyes open. One of these artists is None Here.
None Here, Exeter, October 2023
If you fins a street or area with street art bin Graffiti, it is highly likely to have a piece by None Here somewhere. His work is pretty much always nature-based, often featuring birds. His style is very recognisable, looking like illustrations, and I am not convinced they are painted using spray cans, but more likely paint brushes with sprayed backgrounds. This door is typical of the work I saw on my recent trip. I would say that None Here is the beating heart of the Exeter street art scene.
This piece by RichT completely passed me by. I have no idea whether is is old or new. It is a lesson in looking backwards because I walk past this wall from time to time, but cannot see the face of it when walking from the direction I come from. I think it was the dog that stopped after I had gone past and I caught the piece in my peripheral vision, and of course made a bee line over to it.
RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023
The piece is typically busy and interesting and beautifully presented. The piece is also brilliantly on-topic, with a can of paint character (not a spray can on this occasion) painting a floral design with a paintbrush. The colours are incredibly subtle and the piece has a black and white tinted effect. Some clever work picking out the mortar lines in the brickwork emphasises the sense of place. A great piece, a commission I imagine, and a nice tribute to Elliot.
Desi, Peggy and Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
I don’t know how old this lovely triptych by RBF bedfellows Desi, Peggy and Evey is, but I think it slightly predates the much larger RBF Halloween collaboration just to the left. A rather pleasant appetiser to its immediate neighbour. Desi has adopted her joined up writing for this piece which is neatly and tidily presented.
Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
Desi leads off on the left with another Veil piece using the light blue and yellow colour palette adopted for the collaboration. I have to say that I don’t think the colour combination is an especially good one, looking a little anaemic against the autumn leaf litter in front of it. Desi has some nice horizontal fills and subtle dot details and the 3D drop shadow helps it to pop out from the wall.
Peggy, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
Peggy has made an oblique reference to the colour scheme with the incorporation of a yellow colour in some of her details. The floral display, complete with an eye at the centre of the flower is exactly what you’d expect from Peggy, containing some nice detail in the levels and petals. I don’t know what the letters AIZH stand for, but you can make them out at the base of the piece. Peggy’s work lends itself very well to being the decorative filling between two pieces of graffiti writing.
Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
To the right, the effervescent Evey has knocked it out of the park once again. Her letters are nicely thought out and she has reflected the horizontal fill regime in Desi’s work on the other side, and has come up with some decorations in the letters that make them feel substantial without being too busy. More great work from these three who appear to enjoy painting together.
Natural adventures 