3031. M32 roundabout J3 (225)

I can’t remember when I last saw a new piece from Ments, but it is quite some time ago. The word I always use to describe his work is ‘organic’ and it most definitely applies to this recent piece on the M32 roundabout.

Ments, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Ments, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

This is a delicate piece that feels rather ephemeral, and is so unlike the work of more conventional graffiti writers. It is quite hard to make out the letters MENTS, but I assure you they are there. This is an accomplished piece painted with great skill, however it isn’t my favourite work by the artist, something feels a little unbalanced about it… I am though, being hyper-critical because it is actually very, very good.

3030. Frome side (3)

I had an interesting virtual discussion recently with Paul H about what to call graffiti writers when you write about them or post on Instagram/Facebook. I tend to call them by the name that they write, so SOKER is Soker, RUSK is Rusk and so on. However every now and again, especially when writing for the first time I might use their Intstagram handle, which Paul tends to use more.

The problem with both is that some artists have a habit of either changing the letters they write (Dasco is doing this at the moment, although he is in Spain) or changing their Instagram accounts. The point is that intuitively I would have called this artist NESK, but because I was with Paul when I saw this beautiful piece I am calling him by his Twitter name – Bazmataz.

Bazmataz, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Bazmataz, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020

This is an absolute beauty, whatever one calls the artist. The metallic effect, the stars, the 3D fill and the colours are all made to work hard to produce an outstanding piece. I will definitely be looking out for Bazmataz (Nesk) in future.

Thursday doors – 2 July 2020

Doors 113 – yep, you guessed it, some more archive street art doors.

I’ll not bore you with excuses. I’ve not had the time to photograph or prepare any new doors for you once again. I have had just about enough time to search out some I prepared earlier… much earlier – these ones first published in 2017/18:

3 Hawley Mews, Camden Town, London, Thursday Doors
3 Hawley Mews, Camden Town, London, Thursday Doors
Tristan Eaton, Little Italy, New York, October 2017
Tristan Eaton, Little Italy, New York, October 2017
Gnasher, Stucley Place, London, November 2017
Gnasher, Stucley Place, London, November 2017
Face the Strange and Codefc, Stucley Place, London, November 2017ERA PICTURES
Face the Strange and Codefc, Stucley Place, London, November 2017
Thursday door, Bradley Theodore, New York
Thursday door, Bradley Theodore, New York
Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2017
Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2017
Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
DNT, Nelson Street, Bristol, November 2017
DNT, Nelson Street, Bristol, November 2017
Door, Moon Street, Ryder
Door, Moon Street, Ryder
Phoebe New York, East Village, New York, January 2017
Phoebe New York, East Village, New York, January 2017
Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018
Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018

Once again, that’s yer lot.

I have to try and find more time for Thursday doors, but these are busy days. 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 Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

 

 

3029. L Dub (19)

There are certain artists whose work you expect to see at L Dub, but Conrico is not one of them, so it was a double pleasure to find this piece on my last visit. Conrico has a fabulously imaginative and creative mind, and his pieces are always exploring new ideas and styles.

Conrico, L Dub, Bristol, June 2020
Conrico, L Dub, Bristol, June 2020

This is a clever piece of writing that appears to have been sliced apart horizontally almost as if it had been written in the sky or on the surface of water and then disrupted in some way. Conrico has a ‘brush stroke’ touch that is quite unique and that makes it quite easy to spot his work… oh and the big letters are a bit of a give away too.

3028. M32 roundabout J3 (224)

The artist I miss the most when he hasn’t hit a wall for a while is Kid Crayon. There is something about his work and that it was seeing his wheatpastes in 2015 that drew me into appreciating street art in the first place that has created a special place in my heart for KC’s work.

Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

This is a typically wonderful piece from a recent paint jam at the M32 roundabout. The big bold letters are interrupted with a pyramid and an all-seeing-eye for an A. This in itself is terrific, but the character’s face and hand emerging or sinking into flat calm water is pure magic.

Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

The party hat, a signature element of KC’s recent works, is silly and fun, setting the whole thing off perfectly. Kid Crayon’s work is nearly always fun and engaging, bringing a smile to faces.

Hot air

.

New deal – build, build, build

what a load of old cobblers

Johnson fools no one

.

by Scooj

 

Boris Johnson’s speech fact checked on the BBC website.

 

3027. Dean Lane skate park (328)

The turnover in Dean Lane is very high at the moment and if you blink, you will miss things and over the last few weeks I have certainly missed quite a bit here and elsewhere. Fortunately I was in the fight place at the right time to find this nice piece from Kool Hand.

Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol. June 2020
Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol. June 2020

Regular readers will probably recognise this orange orangutan(?) character that seems to be a particular favourite of Kool Hand. As part of his development as an artist, he has added some squiggle fills to what would normally be a solid fill. These squiggles give the face more depth and character and it looks like a bit of practise using new techniques to me, which is great to see.

 

 

 

3026. Brunel Way bridge (40)

This is the last piece from the RBF Black Lives Matters wall organised by Pekoe a couple of weeks ago. It is by honorary female artist Rezwonk, and rounds off the whole collaboration with some real style. I understand that Rezwonk was a stand-in for a late withdrawal, and what better understudy could you want.

Rezwonk, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Rezwonk, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

It’s a funny thing, but when I first saw the piece, I didn’t know it was by Rezwonk, and only found out subsequently. I’m not certain I would have identified it immediately, which shows how we become familiar with the letter shapes as much as we do the style of different artists. Anyhow, this is a fine ‘Matter’ from Rezwonk and a fine conclusion to a fine collaboration.

RBF Crew + friends, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
RBF Crew + friends, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

Maritime

.

Shocking reminder

to this small island nation

summer can be cold

.

by Scooj

3025. Brunel Way bridge (39)

On now to part 4 of the Black Lives Matter wall organised by Pekoe, mobilising the RBF crew into creating one of the most memorable collaborations of the year so far. This part of the wall is by Hazard and is similar to the clenched fist that she painted on Turbo Island a week or so earlier.

Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

This is such a strong image made stronger by Hazard’s mastery of colour and shading, creating an almost iridescent effect. A beautiful and emotionally charged piece. There is a rather nice little cameo appearance by Smak whose ‘no justice, no peace’ writing edges the top of the fist. So good to see this as part of this collaboration.

RBF Crew + friends, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
RBF Crew + friends, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

 

Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020