3780. Turbo Island

This was a rather nice little quick collaboration from Face 1st, Soap and Zake that rather predictably didn’t last very long. Turbo Island is a funny spot. Sometimes a piece can last for weeks there, but more often anything that is painted gets tagged within 24 hours and then it is up to someone else to pick up the batton.

Face 1st, Soap and Zake, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2021
Face 1st, Soap and Zake, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2021

Of course, we know that PWA boys Face 1st and Soap are regular painting buddies, but it is great to see Zake join them in this collaboration. Face 1st and Soap have merged their pieces in red with their trademark face and mouth/skull respectively. To the right, the Zake face reminds me very much of a ‘man in the moon’ type character, and has so much expression, looking over at the other two.

A great fun collaboration.

3779. M32 Cycle path (132)

I first met Eman in almost this exact spot back in November 2020, and I would say that since then he is an artist who has had a significant impact on the Bristol street art scene. He is a prolific artist, and he is totally open to pushing his boundaries, equally at home with his writing or his character pieces. I cannot think of a more versatile artist in the city at the moment.

Eman, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2021
Eman, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2021

This rather attractive pink and grey combination of writing with a character is bright and cheerful and skilfully painted. The character, a gecko, is one that Eman has taken a liking to and is appearing all over the place. Great to see so much artwork coming from this really decent bloke who seems to enjoy what he does.

British summer

.

There is no pattern

unpredictability

the only constant

.

by Scooj

3778. M32 roundabout J3 (333)

This is an absolute gem of a collaboration from a little while ago by Hemper and Benjimagnetic, who will often be seen side by side painting Bristol walls, having said that, I still have yet to meet Benjimagnetic.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021

On the left is is a gorgeous gloopy, fluid piece of writing from Hemper with some outstanding fills and drips adorning the letters (HEMS). The piece is finished off with a little mist of green yellow around the boundary providing a bit of movement and depth. A very nice piece of writing indeed from this master of the craft.

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021

To the right of the Hemper writing is a very tidy piece for graffiti from Benjimagnetic, spelling out BEN (I assume). In recent months, Benjimagnetic has reined in his work a little from the rather busy style he has, into something calmer and easier on the eye. Personally I like this new direction and find it easier to engage with his newer work. The geometric patterns are still there, but with out too much fuss. Another fine collaboration from this pair.

Robbed

.

Best years of their lives

denied by a cruel virus

there’ll be hell to pay

.

by Scooj

3777. M32 roundabout J3 (332)

An artist, who perhaps never quite gets the recognition he deserves, is Corupt, who also writes Stick. I think that for every piece I have published, there are two or three in my files, which somehow feels unfair, but actually with only two posts a day, I am never ever going to be able to do justice to all the artists in Bristol.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021

This piece of writing is truly magnificent and has been widely amplified on social media. A beautiful combination of letters each with its own style with the O and U being part of a worm leave this graffiti writing with a rather horticultural feel to it, and I am all in favour of that. This is an accomplished piece which really captures the imagination.

3776. Upfest 2021 75×75 (8)

What an absolute beauty from Irony. I want this post to be about the outstanding art and not the difficult light conditions, so I will get my apology in early. The sun was bright and behind the wall, so the artwork is a little on the dark side. This wall needs to be photographed on a dull day probably to get the full weight and beauty of the piece.

Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

Irony is known for his incredibly detailed high-end murals and has appeared at many festivals around the UK, but he also paints walls all over London and he is far from a ‘pop star’ celebrity, preferring to keep his anonymity as far as that is possible. He is a modest talent.

Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

These giant rooftop pigeons, painted on the rear wall of The Hen and Chicken, are close to perfect. Their fluffed up ruffles so accurately portrayed and their general demeanour is so life-like. Irony has gifted Bristol yet another classic piece. But one that you have to look out for as it could easily be missed.

Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

Upfest has definitely triumphed this year with its 75×75 event, and this is only the eighth one I have posted… so much more to come.

Contagion

.

Delta variant

no respecter of vaccine

Mrs. Scooj succumbs

.

by Scooj

3775. M32 roundabout J3 (331)

It seems a very long time ago now, that pretty much every week we were being treated to a Rezwonk/Decay collaboration, since then, of course, we have had the pandemic and Decay has moved out of Bristol. The frequency of Rezwonk pieces has definitely declined, but the quality is still outstanding.

Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021

This piece on the roundabout, builds on his rather industrial theme where the letters look like pieces of metal riveted into the wall. The wonderful letters spell out REZER with the ‘E’s reversed. The subtle shadings of red and white give the letters some depth and lift them from the wall. A very tidy piece indeed.

3774. West Street (5)

Upfest is the gift that keeps on giving. By spreading out the 75 artworks over a period of 75 days, people like me, who can be rather lazy, are forced to get out and go to places beyond the usual honeypots, to find new pieces in the Bedminster area. In looking for these new pieces, I have been lucky enough to stumble upon older ones that I have never seen before, such as this beauty by Gage Graphics.

Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021

This delightful commission is on the shutters of the ‘Mutty Professor’ pet shop, and certainly brings a bit of colour to an otherwise rather bland shopfront. There are two shutters, one over the window and one over the door. In purples and pinks, the piece is of a rather gentle rural landscape with meadows and rolling hills.

Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021

The large window features a dog and a cat enjoying this landscape in the shade of a tree in blossom and an ash tree (there won’t be too many of those left in a few years). A really nice piece that I definitely wasn’t looking for, which makes it all the more satisfying.