Paradise island
not all it appears to be;
no food, no nothing.
by Scooj
881. Upfest 2016 (148)
Hey, there’s a whole bunch of not very scary monsters in this work from Nol, and I think Edo Rath. Michael Nol is a rather tall Dutch artist (not that you can see from these images) and Edo Rath enjoys painting clean lines and happy characters. Together the pair have formed a collective called Noodle Inc.
I was able to take a couple of snaps while this piece was in progress, and it is interesting to see how the piece is constructed, with a full outline, and then systematic filling from left to right.
I have touched on this in a previous post, and I am intrigued by artists go about their business in such different ways. some add layers, some freestyle completely, some use templates, some work from the centre outwards and so on. All interesting.
I think these guys will be making a return for Upfest 2017. Watch out for more scary monsters.
Sunbathing
Catching the last of
the afternoon sun, your games
for the day, over.
by Scooj
880. Upfest 2016 (147)
Bees are very much the central focus of this Upfest piece by That Bloke Wilson, a self-taught artist who has been drawing all his life. He has been part of the Birmingham street art scene for a few years and has appeared at several local events there.
I’m not too sure what the story is that’s going on in this piece, but that is one big fat bee making off with the pot of nectar.
879. Upfest 2016 (146)
This colourful piece is by a graffiti artist turned tattooist, Cize one. An artist for more than thirty years, Cize one has produced an accomplished piece here. Having read that he designs tattoos, one can see that he pays a lot of attention to detail, and has clear lines which are filled with colour. It is an unusual, almost comic-book style that he uses. Very nice.
878. Upfest 2016 (145)
An unusual and rather unsettling piece from ‘1743’. Ambulances and crows are perhaps not the bringers of joy, and this is a hard-hitting piece, in spite of its small size.
The Upfest programme biography reads:
‘UK artist based in Leeds. I paint stuff because I can and it’s fun. Mostly with a spray can and stencils. Inspired by life and what I see around me.’
877. Upfest 2017 (144)
I don’t know a great deal about this artist, but her name is Brooke Ashley. This is a really engaging piece that I feel would lend itself well to illustration, and I would guess that her background may be in illustration.
One of the more modest pieces from the festival, but beautiful none the less.
Relief
Cool damp air surrounds
my melancholic humor
offering relief.
by Scooj
876. Upfest 2016 (143)
This is a really interesting piece by the Dutch street artist Pronk-Stukken, not only for its unusual and captivating subject, but also because it was sprayed at Dean Lane skate park, which is not an official site for Upfest artists, and one that gets sprayed numerous times over during Upfest. My guess is that he had another piece somewhere at the frstival, which I don’t appear to have photographed.
This piece reminds me of a camel, but that is just what I see. I loved this piece the first time I saw it, and still like it now. One of my favourites of the festival. Regrettably it looks like Pronk-Stukken will not be returning this year.
Summer interrupted (for a day)
Let the sun shine in
or at least a cloudy sky;
break in dry weather.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 