4223. Sparke Evans Park (29)

In case you hadn’t guessed by now, I am on holiday in France skiing, having an incredible time. I wrote most of this week’s pieces in advance, but this one I am writing in our cosy chalet with a cup of apres ski tea (I kid you not). Why tell you all this? Well the truth is that I am not feeling very inspired to write, mainly on the back of being exhausted. This is a lucky thing, because today’s piece is by Smak, and I don’t need to say too much more than ‘Brilliant, fantastic, wonderful, tight, classy.’

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022

Brilliant, fantastic, wonderful, tight, classy.

4222. Boiling Wells Lane (2)

Here we have yet another spectacular carnival portrait piece from Rozalita in the smaller tunnel just beyond St Werburghs tunnel on Boiling Wells Lane. The character has a stunning and intricate ruff around his neck which looks amazing.

Rozalita (Rosalita), Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Rozalita (Rosalita), Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, January 2022

It was Rozalita herself who told me the whereabouts of this one when I met her a couple of weeks ago, and it was one of two that she painted on that day. One of the features I really like about the portrait piece is the leaves and vines decorating the clown’s blue face.

Rozalita (Rosalita), Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Rozalita (Rosalita), Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, January 2022

There is so much of interest in the piece from the ruff to the face to the hair. Even the  background is rather special. Rozalita is on fire and I am a big fan of her work. More to come soon.

Final descent

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The packing is done

and the minibus awaits

au revoir mountains

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by Scooj

4221. St Werburghs tunnel (275)

Another piece from the archive, and what an absolute belter it is. Taboo is known for his rather irregular writing and cartoon character combinations, so this piece of writing in St Werburghs was a bit of a creative outlier.

Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019

Painted in big block letters, the word taboo, in a mixture of upper and lower case, has a clever twist from the artist, with a character lamp shining across the letters, marking out light and shade. There is so much to love about this forgotten and rather untypical piece.

4220. M32 roundabout J3 (382)

The rewards for digging through archives are fruitful and nourishing, and this wonderful little collaboration from Mr Penfold and Merny (Morny) has managed to remain hidden for way too long. I am so happy to be sharing it with you now.

Mr Penfold and Merny (Morny), M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Mr Penfold and Merny (Morny), M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

These two have collaborated on more than one occasion, often in the company of Billy, but this is just the two of them. The abstract shapes on the left are from Mr Penfold and the lorry from Merny. The whole transport phase of work from Merny was quite one of the most unique themes in the Bristol street art world, and I have to say that I really miss it, which is why finding this in my archive is such a pleasure.

Sarenne

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Day five Sarenne tamed

longest black run in Europe

indomitable

.

by Scooj

4219. Windmill Hill (3)

I got distracted by and then sucked into my archives recently, and when that happens I invariably find photographs of pieces that really ought to have been posted, but for some unfathomable reason never did. This wonderful ‘extra’ piece was painted by My Dog Sighs in 2019 when he was painting a collaboration with Curtis Hilton on Windmill Hill.

My Dog Sighs, Windmill Hill, Bristol, April 2019
My Dog Sighs, Windmill Hill, Bristol, April 2019

The ephemeral faces on the wall are unmistakably the work of My Dog Sighs, and really demonstrate the depth of talent the artist has, from subtle pieces like this to high-end bold pieces adorning the entire sides of buildings. Finding little hidden gems like this one is always a joy for people like me.

My Dog Sighs, Windmill Hill, Bristol, April 2019
My Dog Sighs, Windmill Hill, Bristol, April 2019

4218. Dean Lane skate park (458)

As with all walks of life, there are important contributors, and in the sphere of Bristol street/graffiti art, one of these notable people is DJ perks. We don’t get to see nearly enough of his work around the place, unless you hang out at the L Dub spot, but it is not only his art, but his interest in visiting and photographing the work of others, that makes him a great contributor. Most artists, counterintuitively, don’t know much about other artists, as they (quite rightly) tend to focus on their own art and their friends. It is up to people like me and Paul H to record and write about as much work as we possibly can. DJ perks is a rare artist who bridges the gap.

DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022

This is a really nice piece of graffiti writing from Perks in Dean Lane, and demonstrates just how much his work improves from piece to piece. His work here is very clean with a fine 3D shadow and central disappearing point. It is the creative fill in his letters that is particularly noteworthy though – some really attractive stuff. Always great to see work from DJ Perks.

Dance

.

I don’t want to dance

it really isn’t my thing

unless I’m alone

.

by Scooj

4217. M32 roundabout (381)

I have a feeling that (at the time of writing this post) three of the entrances to the tunnels under the M32 roundabout feature pieces by Slakarts. I haven’t checked the fourth for a little while and maybe he has gone for the full set, I don’t know. This one is on the St Werburghs side and is rather a charming little piece.

Slakarts,M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2022
Slakarts,M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2022

It is a privilege to have watched Slakarts evolve and develop his trademark character  over the last few years into a much more sophisticated base element which he has been experimenting with. This piece is the new basic model, but it is so much stronger than it was, say a year ago. The thick neat black lines remain, but the features have improved. I am really enjoying the new directions and improvements Slakarts is adding to his work.