Tag: Abstract

4672. The Paintworks (3)

Billy, The Paintworks, Bristol, August 2022
Billy, The Paintworks, Bristol, August 2022

I have not posted many pieces from The Paintworks wall, which is a bit of a shame really, so I will try to change that if I can. This is a very nice abstract piece from Billy, full of colour and character, as you would expect from the artist. The wall is a little bit grubby, which suggests that the piece has been here for some while.

Billy, The Paintworks, Bristol, August 2022
Billy, The Paintworks, Bristol, August 2022

Billy always manages to create uplifting work, and the combinations of shapes and colours carefully slung together in this piece work well for me. The other thing I like about this piece is that it is nicely framed with a black border that helps us to focus on the art within it.

4654. Upfest 2022 (41)

Rosie Woods, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Rosie Woods, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

This stunning piece, by Rosie Woods, is a little bit tucked away and perhaps overlooked by many, but in my view is one of the finest abstract pieces in Bristol at the moment. We were honoured to have Rosie Woods at Upfest, because although she grew up in London, she now lives in Australia, and that is one hell of a trip… perhaps she was over in Europe visiting relatives and painting at a variety of festivals/commissions.

Rosie Woods, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Rosie Woods, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The colours, depth and textures in this piece are seductive and compelling… it is really sumptuous. I have looked at a lot of Rosie Woods’ work on the Interweb, and am definitely a big fan. I very much hope that she will pay us a visit again, if ever she makes it over to the UK again.

4587. Greenbank (49)

Well, I rather set this piece up yesterday, when I said that I would be posting another piece by Marckinetic today, and here it is, a magnificent and unusual looking piece from the Bristol to Bath cycle path at Greenbank.

Marckinetic, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2022
Marckinetic, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2022

As with yesterday’s piece, I struggle to find any recognisable letters, although I can kind of see MORFO, which I am sure is wrong, maybe it is MARC. Perhaps the most eye-catching element to this abstract piece is the fill on the lower half of the ‘letters’. The cosmic scene, complete with clouds and stars, is quite magnificent and leaves a strong impression. The nicely buffed wall and blue cloudy, spotty background contrasts well with the main piece. More in the can from Marckinetic.

4585. M32 Cycle path (182).

I have only recently become aware of Marckinetic and his unique pieces, but now I seem to be seeing them everywhere. I am having to conclude that he is an established artist who has only recently moved to Bristol. How else could I have not had his work on my radar?

Marckinetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2022
Marckinetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2022

I haven’t seen enough of his work to know whether his pieces are some kind of cryptic writing or simply interesting abstract studies in landscape format. Give me a little time and I will find out. This piece is made up of two colour elements: some yellow/orange and pink/purple blocks, and a network of thinner blue arrows running through them. The whole object is given a solid black 3D shadow that very effectively lifts the piece from the wall. Black and blue dots fill the available background space. This is a really nicely constructed piece from Marckinetic that has been expertly finished. Watch this space for more from the artists… maybe tomorrow.

4556. Porto (8)

A prolific, and it would seem well respected, artist in Porto is Hazul. Over the three days that we were there exploring the city we encountered a hatful of abstract murals by the artist, some new, some old and some that looked like commissions. These are the first three…

Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

The first is a beautiful piece in black, white and red (the colours of early Decay pieces), with nice curvy lines and patterns. The crystal shape is almost like a signature and appears on a lot of Hazul’s work.

Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

The next piece looks more like a commission, and is nicely placed on the side of a building. The abstract shapes seem to have a consistent form and the colour selections work wonderfully well. This is a really carefully thought out and skilfully executed piece.

Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Hazul, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

The last of this mini-gallery is likely to make it into a Thursday doors compilation at some time in the future. The shapes in this piece are not unlike those in the piece above. Once again some great colours have been used. Hazul seems to be an artist who really knows and understands their craft. More from Hazul to come.

4514. Nelson Street (15)

Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022
Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022

Anyone who visits the centre of Bristol can’t have missed that there has been a lot of redevelopment work going on in Nelson Street, Broad Street and the surrounding area. This rather seedy backwater has, over the last two years undergone a bit of a face lift and is being opened soon as a huge, 250 bedroom, hotel owned by the Clayton chain. Let’s hope they can find enough workers to staff it! Unlike many developments, this one has retained some significant existing murals and commissioned a new one by the old master, Felix Braun.

Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022
Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022

Felix Braun or FLX is one of the godfathers of Bristol street art and author of the book ‘Children of the Can’ a ‘must-have’ for enthusiasts of the Bristol scene. His artwork has taken on a highly designed stylised look in recent years, and this huge mural is a gorgeous reminder of his talent. Abstract figures at the base of the piece draw your eyes in before sending them upwards towards the giant figure and it’s shadow. There is something very pleasing about the piece overall, and it is great to see FLX’s work in the heart of the city.

4497. St Werburghs tunnel (295)

More abstract fantasticness from Mr Klue, who after a long absence from the streets has now hit a rhythm and it turning out some lovely pieces in the St Werburghs tunnel on a regular basis.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022

This one is in his prime spot, which I am sure will have made him very happy, and reintroduces another of his recurring themes, floating stairs or steps. I don’t quite know the significance of the steps, but Mr Klue uses them in a lot of his work. A stairway to heaven perhaps? Such is the new productivity of the artist, I am struggling to keep up with posting his work, especially with Upfest and a trip to Porto to report on. Never been so blog-busy.

4449. Lower Approach Road (11)

This hoarding is so difficult to photograph. it is a long landscape format with tons of light above and below, which interferes with the brightness of the artwork. it doesn’t seem to matter what time of day I take pictures here, I am never really satisfied. I think I might just have got away with it with this stunning sunflower piece by Farrah.

Farrah, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, May 2022
Farrah, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, May 2022

What an amazing welcome for people arriving in Bristol Temple Meads station, as they exit from the front of the building and walk or drive out to join the main road. Farrah’s paint brush style lends itself very favourably to the textures and forms of Van Gogh, and this is a perfect example.

Farrah, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, May 2022
Farrah, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, May 2022

Farrah is the darling of commissions in Bristol at the moment and deservedly so too I might add. This is an absolute corker and another fine example of her unique work.

4419. M32 roundabout J3 (407)

By the time I got to it, half of this collaborative wall had been taken out, within 24 hours of being painted, fortunately, this part by Mr Penfold survived. It can be frustrating when pieces are overpainted so quickly, but everyone who paints in Bristol knows the score.

Mr Penfold, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022
Mr Penfold, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022

The work in this piece is so obviously by Mr Penfold, and needs no signature. Nobody else in Bristol creates these amazing abstract pieces. This one is a little different from some of his work, for example there are no shadows of any of the shapes, and it all feels a little bit more random than usual. Great to look at, and although short-lived, magnificent while it was there.

4343. Cattle Market Road (10)

A mural artist who is rapidly developing a name for herself in Bristol is Farrah, and some recent additions to her portfolio include this wonderful piece in Cattle Market Road.

Farrah, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2022
Farrah, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2022

Farrah, with her abstract pieces, seems to be as comfortable with a commission as she does with a roadside hoarding like this one, and there seems to be something of a civic appetite for her work, for example I have noticed a number of planters around the city that have been decorated with her work.

Farrah, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2022
Farrah, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2022

This particular piece has a rather summery feel to it, reminiscent of sunflowers. The brush strokes have a movement to them and the blending of colours is so skilfully done. Farrah is an artist on the up and up.