These gates opposite the Hen and Chicken have played host to so many outstanding pieces for Upfest, and this time it is the turn of GretL, for at least the second time at the festival.
It seems that hummingbirds are a very popular theme with street artists, and there is definitely something about creating a moment in time in their frenetic and rapid wing beat. These stylised birds are truly beautiful and set against a sumptuous arrangement of leaves. A gorgeous piece.
Consistency is the name of the game from Todoaciem, whose ‘CIEM’ calligraffiti writing rarely misses the mark. The colours of this piece are in line with the colours selected by his fellow artists at a paint jam in Sparke Evans Park earlier in May.
It is remarkable to think that all of this intricate and beautifully executed work is painted using a spray can. I just don’t know how these guys do it. They are magicians. I am having to rush my posts a little this morning as my daughter and I are jumping on a Porto tram shortly to get to the coast.
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Hot feet from walking
rested and revived before
an evening stroll
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by Scooj
It is always most gratifying to watch an artist get into their stride and a rhythm. Ceus first announced his arrival in Bristol in October 2021 and since then has been getting into a reasonably regular rhythm, and his original writing style has been a breath of fresh air. Ceus doesn’t shy away from colour, and his pieces are full of vibrance and life.
Although a little awkward to photograph, the piece itself is well painted, and there is little doubt about who painted it.
That’s it for now, we have Porto to explore. Judging from our brief stroll last night it looks like a city steeped in culture, with plenty of street art and doors to keep me very happy for a long time.
I went in search of a Mudra piece and instead found this cat painted over the top of it, and my disappointment and pleasure were present in equal measure. It would have been nice to see the Mudra piece in all its glory, but it is a jungle out there. It would also be nice to have some clue about the artist who painted the cat… answers on a postcard.
I rarely post pieces from unknown artists, but I couldn’t resist this one. The artist has captured the cat’s expression really well, and the use of colours and overlapping lines works really well. This looks like a practice piece by an artist who knows what they are doing. A great find.
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Hills and tiled facades
greet the weary travellers
eager for morning
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by Scooj
Anyone expecting to see Upfest pictures from last weekend are going to have to be a little patient. It will take me a while to select the right pictures to share and I have about a 10-day pipeline of images already uploaded. Perhaps there will be something in a fortnight or so. Later this week I will have some more Upfest walls for you so at least I am not being entirely negligent.
I am a little distracted today as I leave for Portugal this afternoon on a mini-break with my daughter, who really deserves it. She has had a very tough couple of years and I hope this trip will raise her spirits. Speaking of the Iberian peninsula, here are a couple of pieces by Spanish artist Zake (see what I did there?).
Zake has been smashing it all year and is paining as frequently as I can remember, and these pieces are from his ‘safe space’ M32 Spot, where I first encountered his work a few years back. The pillar piece is where he had a presence for a long time, and a quick glance at his gallery will give you a sense of how much he likes this spot.
Both pieces display Zake’s mastery of light and shade in bringing out features in his cartoon faces. He has a gift for using colour and shadings to create depth to his pieces. Zake painted a fun piece for Upfest which I will post soon, all being well.
Right, that’s your lot today, I have some packing to do. I understand there is quite a lot of street art in Porto… what a coincidence!
Because I don’t drop down into Frome Side all that often, access is difficult with the dog, most of the pieces are new (to me), and I get to photograph a lot of work. On my most recent trip, I was pleased to find two pieces by Morag, an artist whose work I really rather like.
With each new piece I find by Morag, there seems to be an elevated level of sophistication. More detail, more of an expression in the face, accessories like the hat seen in these pieces. It is a journey I am thoroughly enjoying and I look forward to seeing more around Bristol.
Both pieces share the characteristic style, but have quite different expressions, and the colour palettes are different too. Morag has joined a merry band of artists that like to do faces, including Slakarts, Zake and Asre – good company indeed.
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Old insulation
thickened with dust and debris
filthy furnace loft
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by Scooj
A little while back I was contacted by Paul H, who told me to get myself down to City Road, where there was a RAW paint jam going on. I happened to be passing that way, returning home from another spot, and was very pleased that I did, as there was a bit of a street party atmosphere going on.
Food, music and a host of street artists. There was nothing not to like. The colour scheme adopted by all the artists had a kind of summer holiday theme, with lots of pink sunset stuff going on. This piece by Jaksta was one of the highlights, especially as I haven’t seen any of his work for quite a long time. Some of you might recognise the subject of the piece as Snoopdogg, and I find it amazing that Jaksta can create these slightly grotesque carton portraits with spray cans. A rare talent that he executes so well.
Natural adventures 