I like artists whose style is so unique, and their theme unwavering, that I derive a warm, comforting feeling when I see their work. Creamylines is the epitome of this. You know that you are going to get a landscape or scene with a rising or setting sun in the style of a stained-glass window, scattered with little treats and surprises along the way.
Creamylines, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2025
Creamylines has presented this landscape in a portrait format to fit onto the concrete column. The colour palette has stuck to blues, yellows, greens and purples and has quite a different appearance to some of his other pieces that include reds and oranges… more sombre, perhaps. Lots of hidden faces in this one and plenty of birds. There is a little clue to his approach to his art is at the bottom: ‘drawing everythings’.
I don’t know if I am imagining things, but Mesk appears to have upped his game significantly in recent months, with each piece being classier than the last. Maybe he has always been this amazing and I just haven’t latched on to it, but I have now, and this one in Frome Side is a belter.
Mesk, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
His letters are bounded with a strong yellow border which contains coloured fills running in horizontal strips in warm tones running from light to dark to light, creating an almost kaleidoscopic effect. Adding to the overall blast of visual excitement, Mesk has painted a vibrant blue stripy drop shadow, that creates a ‘blockiness’ to the whole piece. Very nice work indeed.
Although I came across this garage shutter piece by Daz Cat when I went to photograph pieces from the Bristol Mural Collective paint jam in Lucky Lane, I have a feeling that it may have been painted some time earlier, but I am not really sure. Well, there you have it… I just checked his Instagram account, and it was indeed painted at the paint jam.
Daz Cat, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
The unusual piece features a blue-faced cat-girl clutching a gold medal, having come first in the rat race. I expect that the smartly dressed appearance is a reference to that, and the rats relate to a more literal interpretation of the phrase. A fun piece from Daz Cat on a tricky surface.
Doors 327 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part VII)
This week’s selection of door photographs continues on from last week’s solo doorscursion which I managed to squeeze in on one of the mornings of our trip, accompanied on the way by a little light rain.
One of the things that is notable about doors in Marrakesh is that it would seem that the occupants are extremely proud of their doors and door surroundings. Even though the streets are a little untidy with exposed wires and power lines, everywhere and an abundance of dust and rubble, much of it probably after effects of the destructive earthquake in September 2023, great care is taken to present a good-looking entrance to homes and businesses. Enjoy the doors:
Gateway to the traditional arts area, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Keyhole gateway, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Trash, cat, door, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Door within an industrial gate, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Stunning green panelled door and wall decorations to match, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Fine studded door, with red surround, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Studded patterned door and beautiful decorative tiles, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Studded metal door within a door (for little people), Derb Bougaldone, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Old brick gateway, Derb Bougaldone, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Classic wooden door with large bolt and keyhole doorway, Rue Douar Graoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
As a note to myself, I will probably do a post of the Marrakesh cats (and a door or two) and some other street scenes at some point, to give more of a taste of the place. I hope you have 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 weekly Thursday Doors post.
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2025
It is, I think, entirely coincidental that Sled One painted this lucky cat (maneki-neko), around the same time that two of them appeared during a paint jam in Lucky Lane. This piece encapsulates Sled One’s skill at creating depth in his pieces through the subtle application of shading and light throughout the piece.
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2025
The gold disc contains Sled One’s signature, but there are tell-tale signs of his paw print here, in particular, for example, the floating eyebrows. There is mischief and movement in this cat, and Sled One doesn’t simply create a character, he animates it with emotions and attitudes. Outstanding work.
Totosoapcity is one of those graffiti writers whose letter shapes remain broadly constant and whose magic happens with his colour selections and patterns. The letters ARSA or ARZA have a symmetry about them, which really establishes Totosoapcity’s ‘brand’ or presence.
Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
The letters are given depth with the 3D drop shadow in red and white stripes, and further uplifted by the four ‘starbursts’ whose contribution should never be underestimated. The colour scheme has a bit of a confection feel to it, maybe trifle or rhubarb and custard chews. An all-round nice piece from Totosoapcity.
Amy McHugh first came onto my radar at the last Bristol Mural Collective paint jam on the Greenbank hoardings with a peace for Palestine mural. This time she has gone bigger with a nature theme and some comforting words for ‘Rob’.
Amy McHugh, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
The words are written in a lovely illustrative font, and I guess were painted with a brush. They say: ‘I’m sorry it’s so tough – it’s ok not to feel ok – one thing for sure is change – I’m sending love today – for Rob and all who struggle’. Kind words accompanied by kind birds and animals. The naive style is enchanting and would work well as illustrations in a picture book.
The return of Zinso to the streets of Bristol has been something of a revelation this summer, and his characters from a few years ago betrayed his talent as a graffiti writer. His style and use of bright colours has made a significant contribution to the scene this year and continues to do so.
Zinso, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2025
This piece, in St Werburghs tunnel, is like sunshine in the sky with clouds. Whether that was a conscious colour palette decision or not I don’t know, but it works really well for me, especially in the gloom of the tunnel. The solid fills are nicely blended in horizontal stripes and there are some nice reversed-out patterns too, but generally it is not over-fussy. A blue shadow around the piece complements the letters and generally reflects the crisp and tidy feel to the whole piece. Nice work from Zinso.
Natural adventures 