I think I said this last time I posted a piece by Nevergiveup but I will say it again because it is still pertinent… gone but not forgotten. I discovered a new (to me) graffiti spot in the Cumberland Basin recently, and one which I think Nevergiveup also discovered a little while before he left Bristol.
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2019
This rabbit looks like it has had a little dose of nuclear radiation, but apart from the extra eyes ears and tooth it seems to be in the rudest of health. I love the location of this rabbit and for me it really adds to the quality of the piece. Still plenty to come from #followmyrabbits.
More great graffiti writing from Smak on the south side of the M32 roundabout on a stretch of wall he has painted many times. As one would expect his letters are beautifully designed and presented and the colour patterning really cleverly used in each one.
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak really sets the bar for this style of writing in Bristol and rarely drops below this exceptionally high standard. It is the care and attention to detail that raises the quality of the piece, for example the darker colours on the background are carefully worked and in synchrony with the letters where he could have just presented the whole thing on a dark plain background. Lovely piece.
Ahh! Lobe with another exceptional, bold, stylised, portrait, this time of an unshaven man with spectacles and woolly hat. I have only seen a few of her pieces, but every single one of them has brought a smile and I get a real sense of excitement each time l find a new one.
Lobe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
It is funny how different graffiti spots in Bristol can undergo peaks and troughs in terms of turnover. The cycle path has been quite dead for a while and then suddenly over the last couple of weeks it has kind of got busy again, this being one of several recent pieces. It just shows that constantly patrolling each of these favoured graffiti spots is utterly worth it.
Another fine collaboration, this time from Conrico and Crafty Cicada, with a strong oriental theme going on. While I have posted many pieces by Conrico, this is the first from Crafty Cicada who I can only presume was on a visit to Bristol and kindly left us this beautiful work.
Conrico, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019
The left hand side of the collaboration is unmistakably by Conrico and as always is more than just a piece of artwork because his work always has such a strong narrative, a story going on. In this piece a cartoon character is serenely sitting cross-legged, as if meditating on the back of a very large catfish – so what’s the story?
Crafty Cicada, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019
The other half of this collaboration by Crafty Cicada is an altogether more stylised with a fish (of unknown genus and species), a rising sun, some bamboo and some Japanese Kanji characters. There is a peace and tranquility here, and on seeing this, I would be very interested to see more from the artist.
A lovely and unexpected collaboration on a wall favoured by Conrico.
It took me three visits to this wall to be able to get some decent photographs of the fine collaboration from Laic217, Ugar and Cory. The solution to my photography problems was to visit the spot on an overcast day. On Autumn sunny days, there is a high risk of shadows from the trees and shrubs being cast across the wall.
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Laic217 has once again excelled with this fabulous skeleton with a boogie box over his shoulder, a common motif for his pieces. He has once again shown his mastery of painting materials and fabrics with the skeleton’s jacket. Lovely work.
Ugar, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019beautifully filled piece of graffiti writing.
Ugar, who pretty much always paints his name, even though I have seen a couple of character pieces some time ago, has given us characteristically brilliantly filled letters, something that he excels at.
Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
The third piece in this collaboration is by Cort and rather like Ugar’s piece is creatively and imaginatively filled and decorated. His letters though are a bit of a moveable feast and in this instance he has spelled out CORTOS.
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
From my perspective the Laic217 piece wins the day, it is simply so good and the artist just gets stronger and stronger.
When I saw this little collaboration from Tasha Bee and Stupid Stupid Meathole, my first thought was that it looked a bit old and weathered, and I wondered if I might have overlooked it on previous visits to Dean Lane… in other words I have absolutely no idea when it was painted.
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
The collaboration is bookended with two beautiful faces from Tasha Bee and filled with what looks like the word ‘meat’. These two have collaborated before in the past, but not for some time. In fact I don’t recall seeing much from Stupid Stupid Meathole for quite a long while.
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
I’ll always have time for Tasha Bees stylised faces and am equally fond of SSM’s rather grotesque figures. This piece of writing though is quite uncharacteristic because there is lots of colour, not just the single pink SSM usually uses. A nice low-key collaboration.
Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Communicate is a national annual conference for environmental communicators, policy makers, scientists, students, film makers and the like from all sectors. It is organised by the Natural History Consortium and is based in Bristol.
Each year I get to meet with my peers and listen to and get involved with cutting edge ideas, with contemporary practice and with exploring solutions. Time to recharge my batteries.
Ah, this is Mr Draws at his happy creative best. His wonderfully recognisable lettering filled with bright and imaginative colours and spme rather nice spotty patterning. Along the bottom of the writing we have some melty drips. All very neat and tidy.
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
This is unquestionably a feel good piece and with the blue skies behind it reminds us that not every day is dreary and wet, even if it feels like it sometimes. The shadow effect to the bottom and left of the letters is particularly notable. Do you know what, I think Mr Draws is moving up a gear.
Natural adventures 