Bean

6991. Brunel Way (318)

Kool Hand, Mr Crawls and Bean, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Well this is an unusual trio, but nonetheless a very welcome collaboration from Kool Hand, Mr Crawls and Bean. On closer inspection, I am guessing that it is actually two distinct pieces, a collaboration from Kool Hand and Mr Crawls and an independent piece by Bean, which is perhaps why it looks like an unusual coming together.

Kool Hand, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Kool Hand has been painting a lot this year, spreading his time between writing and characters. This piece is a profile of his famous orangutan character, which is synonymous with the artist. Constantly improving, Kool Hand has added more detail with shading and complexion.

Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Mr Crawls just keeps on going with his gulls, and I just keep on going with photographing them when I see them. This is a nice one painted in his stylised cartoon format – nice and sharp. Difficult to read the expression on this one.

Finally, Bean, who has made a quiet comeback in recent weeks, has painted this exquisite piece with two characters in blue tones spraying the wall. The larger character looks like he is ‘high’ floating on the fumes from the paint can. They have been busy painting the letters BEAN. This is beautifully presented, and it is a great pity that some wally has plastered mud on the piece – what is wrong with some people? A refreshing wall, that didn’t last to long.

6967. Dean Lane skate park (838)

I am so pleased to see that Bean is back in town and doing his stuff, which he does so well. The last piece I posted was a portrait piece that couldn’t be more of a departure from his ‘house’ style, and it was great to see. Here he returns to more familiar territory, with this wonderfully colourful character piece.

The character, like so many he creates, has no pupils in his eyes, which gives him a bit of a haunted look. Old Bluebeard here is wearing a kind of gilet over a green t-shirt, with a gold chain and cap accessories. The whole thing is beautifully painted, and tight as a nut. There is great separation from the piece (by Turoe) beneath it, with red, black and white bordering, bringing his character to the forefront. I don’t think that Bean particularly believes/enjoys wall preparation or buffing – perhaps it takes too long, or maybe detracts from the subversive nature of street art. Another great piece from an artist whose work I really like.

6929. St Werburghs tunnel (497)

I often comment about artists who paint in a particular style, and ask myself whether they could do something completely different, marking them out as a versatile artist. Well, Bean has gone the full mile with this portrait piece that couldn’t be further removed from his usual cartoon characters.

I have to say I was quite flabbergasted when I saw this, and admire Bean even more than I did before. I knew he was clearly very talented, but this portrait takes my view of him to another level. I hope he will be painting in Bristol more over the Summer months, and will wait to see what other hidden talents he has in his locker.

6789. Dean Lane skate park (811)

If, like me, you are interested in numbers, today’s post contains a rising sequence of numbers – 6789. In our base ten counting system, this is the last time this true sequence will be possible, because 78910 doesn’t work, and also even if it did I’d have to be writing posts for the next 100 years or more. Actually, I am wrong, so ignore that. The next number that will work is 12345, which I might reach if I carry on for 10 more years. Enough with the numbers already.

I am always delighted when Bean returns to Bristol and lets us know that he is alive and well. I hope that when he is finished for the summer with his studies, he will get busy on our streets.

I believe Bean to be one of the great talents emerging from the Bristol scene. His character pieces are growing in sophistication and here he has combined a joyful youth with the letters BEAN, which are reversed out on his T-shirt. There is a message ‘positivity and all that jazz’ which is either speaking to the viewer or to himself or, perhaps, both. I take energy and hope from this piece.

6498. Dean Lane skate park (773)

What a wonderful surprise to find this modest piece behind the swimming pool railings in Dean Lane skate park. Blink and you might miss it. Bean has been absent from Bristol for a long period, away at university studying hard I expect.

This character piece is really interesting, because it looks like modern take on an old school archetype. Bean has synthesised this very well and he has an ease and competence about his work. I expect this was a quick one, and I didn’t see any others around the time this was painted. I am very much hoping to see more from him after he graduates.

5986. Brunel Way (270)

The wonderful thing about art is that you can create situations or landscapes or portraits and so on that are utterly fictional, unlikely, impossible, weird and that you are in control of this creative universe. Alternatively, some artists try to capture real life either through accurate representations or abstract interpretations. Bean has painted something verging on the weird side with this piece.

The character, who is wearing a rather curious hat, is holding his, or somebody else’s severed legs from which blue gloop is gushing. I’ll not attempt to interpret the piece, which is exceptionally painted in Bean’s trademark two-tone colour cartoon style. An entertaining and curious piece.

5972. M32 Cycle path (261)

Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol April 2024

By the time this post is published I will be half way through a team away day in Derbyshire, planting trees. I have to leave right now so that I am not late for my lift.

This is another magnificent piece by Bean whose Easter break return to Bristol has been both productive and seen some real improvements in his work. I love the character’s hair in this piece. Norma’s service resumes tomorrow I hope.

A gallery of outstanding cartoon characters and writing from Bristol artist Bean

Instagram: @ceelo_bean

All photographs by Scooj

Bean, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024

Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

Bean, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

Bean, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Klashwhensober and Bean, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2023

Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023

Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

Bean, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023

5949. Dean Lane skate park (705)

The Easter break from his studies has been a productive time for Bean, and I expect we’ll be fortunate enough to see a whole load more in the summer holiday. With each piece, Bean’s work appears to get more sophisticated in both composition and execution.

In this piece he features a man, who looks like he might be a little upset, with steam coming out of his ears. On his finger, he is dangling a tomato(?) which is of course normal behaviour… not. There is so much great detail in the piece and plenty of perspective, and the medallion with his signature is a fabulous touch. I am pleased to see again that Bean has put a bit of a buffer background to differentiate his work from the noise of previous graffiti on the surrounding wall. Outstanding work from a young artist who I think will be wowing us for some years to come.

5930. Cumberland Basin

I suspect that this is just a little taster of what is to come from Bean later on this year, as he dropped a couple of pieces during what I suspect was an early spring break from his studies. His work is really developing well, and his stylised cartoon characters are each so unique.

I like the way that Bean has added a bit of a buffer around his character, allowing it to stand out a little better from the ‘noise’ or artwork that he has overpainted, it certainly makes a significant difference to the outcome. I would love to see some of his work on a fully buffed wall, maybe this summer. This piece is a cracker, and the character feels really animated, with lots of movement in his hair and from the spray can.

	M. on Revel Puck Circus
	paulh121 on 7352. Cumberland Basin
	Sheree on 7352. Cumberland Basin
	paulh121 on 7350. Hillgrove Street (9…
	Bill Bisgood on Thursday doors – 11 Dece…

	M. on Revel Puck Circus
	paulh121 on 7352. Cumberland Basin
	Sheree on 7352. Cumberland Basin
	paulh121 on 7350. Hillgrove Street (9…
	Bill Bisgood on Thursday doors – 11 Dece…

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