The paint jam at Dare To a couple of weeks ago really did throw up some fantastic work from an ‘A’ list of Bristol artists and it would seem that each artist bounced off the next to up their game a little.
Smak, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
This is a cheeky number (getting into the spirit of the adult nature of the Dare To club) by Smak. Tucked away, and slightly awkward to photograph, this bright and colourful piece includes a little devil complete with cherries on his pants. The writing is typically top quality and has that double letter style where each letter seems to have been painted twice over. More excellent work from Smak.
A gallery of fabulous and distinctive graffiti writing from Bristol-based artist Cort
All photographs by Scooj
Cort, M32 cyc;e path, Bristol, August 2020Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020Cort, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019Laic217 and Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019Cort, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2018Laic 217 and Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018Laic217 and Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018Cort, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2018Cort, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2018Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2017Laic217 and Cort, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2017Laic217 and Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017Cort, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
No signature, but who needs a signature when your work screams out Fiva? It feels like an eternity since Fiva hit any walls, but this is quite some comeback. I don’t need to tell you what it spells, but I am probably as curious as you are as to why he decided upon the word Puffin.
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
The piece is dedicated to Josie and perhaps the word puffin means something to her. The writing is big and bold, but I can assure you that just because it looks simple does not mean it is simple to do. For a start there are all those straight lines and the correct spacing between letters etc. There is an extremely nice touch with the grey shadows to the left and bottom of each letter. A magnificent piece. I tried to emulate one of his letters last year, with a rather disappointing result… very difficult to do.
This is the last post in this little digression from the Cheltenham Paint Festival (although I will post some more in the coming weeks) and it falls to the brilliant Bristol artist Sepr to round off his cluster. Some of the best pieces at the CPF are painted on the pavilion in Pittville Park and this is no exception.
Sepr, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
Sepr’s style is so appealing to me, the retrospective style so reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s and illustrations that used to appear in children’s books. The story here is of a man on the telephone listening to a penguin with a guitar and maracas. Go figure… stunningly executed work as always.
Doors 120 – Some Cheltenham doors (posted a day late)
It has been a month since I last posted Thursday doors and like the idiot I am, I missed this Thursday for my comeback, so here is my offering a day (and a month) late.
I took these pictures on a trip to Cheltenham for the annual Paint Festival hosted there a couple of weekends ago. I can’t remember the last time I posted some newly photographed doors rather than the archive graffiti ones I have been posting lately, so I hope you enjoy them.
Awning in need of a minor repair, Cheltenham, September 2020Beautiful birdcage awning, Cheltenham, September 2020OK, so it’s a little out of focus, but this door was just too good to leave out, Cheltenham, September 2020An ornate wrought iron awning, Cheltenham, September 2020The steps are curved and even the red door is curved, Cheltenham, September 2020A gorgeous door somewhat eclipsed by the warning notices to the right, Cheltenham, September 2020
So there we have it, I managed to get myself back into the swing of things, albeit a day late. Expect more archive pictures next week, unless I get myself out for a walk somewhere.
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.
One of the nice things about the Cheltenham Paint Festival is the large number of Bristol-based artists that are asked to paint. Mr Klue is a particular favourite of mine. His modest demeanour betrays his obvious talent and unique abstract style
Mr Klue, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
I am not overjoyed at my hopeless photography. The close-up is a little too close and I have cut off the left hand edge of the piece. This is a colourful piece that probably spells out KLUE, but might not, and presents many of the trademark features we would expect to see in one of his pieces; floating steps, wisps of smoke and coiled cones give the artist away. I am rather taken with the orange ball, a nice feature.
Daub is an artist I have come across a few times at the Cheltenham Paint Festival and at Upfest in Bristol. His ink pen pieces are most distinctive and painstakingly crafted. Last year I stopped for quite a lengthy chat, but this year was a little more difficult to interact due to social distancing.
Daub, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
This mesmerising piece is of an owl, I think, and between the large eyes is a small yellow beak, introducing the only colour to the work. What is not clear from these pictures is the amount of detailed shading that you can see when you get close up. A nice piece from a festival regular.
I have just checked and I never posted his piece from last year… I’ll have to put that right.
