Bicycle

4839.Brunel Way (181)

Haka and Cats and That, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

I felt that this collaborative piece by Haka and Cats and That merited its own post rather than potentially being overshadowed by the adjacent Bob the Builder piece by Haka. In this collaboration, the bicycle is by Haka, and the cats, unsurprisingly, by Cats and That.

The collaboration is a charming and endearing scene with a couple of cats lounging on the bicycle. The cats are simply painted, without bells and whistles, but this subtle approach is really effective, and anyway who doesn’t love cat street art? Cats and That has burst onto the Bristol scene in recent months and is already making a mark all over town. The column cats next to this wall are an example of this.

Cats and That, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

Finally, I would just like to say that writing this blog is a genuine pleasure. Sometimes it can be a bit of a slog, especially when the trials of work and home life catch up with me. At times it might seem a little esoteric, but I stick by the guiding principle that I started writing street art posts to help others understand, appreciate and love the street/graffiti art scene in Bristol.

This comment from a visitor, Artemis BJJ, to Natural Adventures was left on my ‘About’ section, and it absolutely made my day and reinforced my resolve to continue doing what I do, because even if it makes one person happy, I have done my job.

“What an awesome blog! Randomly bumped across it while googling “j3 roundabout bristol”. A considerably more engaging and aesthetically interesting result than I was expecting. Keep up the great work! 😁🖖”

3761. Upfest 2021 75×75 (5)

Five down, and only another 70 to go. Upfest have absolutely nailed the festival in this most extraordinary of years by spreading the painting over a long period and thus avoiding the huge crowds that normally attend the long-weekend event. This piece by Hannah Edwards is on North Street, not too far away from the Upfest shop.

Hannah Edwards, North Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

Hannah Edwards is an illustrator/window painter/mural artist/signwriter from Bristol, but I am not familiar with her work, so it is great to see this piece. The style is reminiscent of those GWR posters from the thirties and has a wonderful sense of motion. Unusual and fun, and yet another new artist for Natural Adventures.

Spielberg effect

Over the rooftops

the eighties reimagined

now ET, go home

by Scooj

2079. Jessop Underpass (2)

There is one artist in Bristol whose work is guaranteed to bring a splash of colour and an interesting perspective and that is Tom Miller. This piece has appeared recently opposite the Riverside Garden Centre and is a bit of a stunner.

Tom Miller, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, March 2019

There is a bicycle theme on the left hand side which is full of movement and which appears to metamorphosise into a fairly typical abstract explosion of colour and form the further to the right of the piece you look.

The transition is worked so skilfully and perhaps exaggerated by splitting the piece up into three sections (I had to do this because the fence where it is painted is so long.

Ever since I first saw my first Tom Miller piece I have marvelled at his extraordinary talent and how he has brought his unique brand of surreal fine art into the street. In my view an artistic genius.

1445. West Street (2)

I have only seen Pelmo’s work a couple of times, but I know that I really love his work. The soft tone and style of his cartoon characters carries with it a light-hearted humour, and his pieces tell complex stories. His work reminds me a little of Gary Larson’s Far Side cartoons, but there is a little more tenderness to Pelmo’s work.

I think that this wall was part of Upfest 2016, but I never made it here before as it is really quite a long way from the Upfest main area. This is a highly accomplished piece and in it is a deftness and confidence in the scene that Pelmo has created. It is so easy on the eye, it almost feels that it is just part of the street scenery. It is easy to drift into the world he has created.

I love his attention to detail, things like the hand rail that the character on the right is holding and the shadows cast by the bicycle and the street bins. Of course for the cat lovers there is a splendid moggie sprawled out on the wall. I also rather like the way that the rubble sacks in front of the piece almost feel like they are incorporated into the whole experience. I love this and really look forward to seeing his work at Upfest 2018.

1428. Stokes Croft

Right next door to the huge Alex Lucas mural in Stokes Croft is this interesting recent shutter piece by Object… . This is a commission piece from TLD cycles and helps us to understand the boundaries between commissions and free street art.

Object..., Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018 — Object…, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018

Object… is no stranger to this blog, and much of his work is highly political and outspoken. He is also an artist who needs to make money, just like the rest of us, and producing work like this is how he does it. What I really like about this piece is that is is a really nice rendition of a bicycle gear block which carries the strong signature stule of the artist. The shop could easily have commissioned some sterile corporate artwork, but instead chose a local artist. The shopfront as a result really fits in with the area.

520. Partition Street (2)

It has been a long while since I saw anything new from Silent Hobo, and this one is mercifully close to where I work, so taking a look is a daily occurrence. This will actually be the first of two posts on this piece, as it is unfinished in these pictures, and was completed about a week later.

Silent Hobo, Partition Street, Bristol, November 2016

I have to say that it feels a little incongruous being so close to the Zesk piece next to it as the styles are quite different, but considering it on its own, it is a lovely piece.

https://scooj.org/2016/01/12/101-partition-street-2/

The hashtag #standwithscotty is a reference to Scotty Cranmer, a BMX professional cyclist who earlier on this year had a very bad accident. He is making a slow recovery, and for all updates on his progress, you can look at the link.

Look out for the update when this character will be joined by his posse.

Idyllic cottage

where I learned to ride a bike

never forgotten.

by Scooj

209. Mina Road (1)

It has been a little while since I posted anything about Silent Hobo. This is a shopfront commission in the wonderful St Werburghs area of Bristol, slightly north east of St Pauls.

Silent Hobo, Mina Road, Bristol, March 2016

Silent Hobo’s work often depicts a ‘happening vibe’ going on among the subjects in his pictures. Here he has captured the aspects of fun and leisure that cycling offers, and I’m sure it says more about it than some stock corporate photographs of people cycling.

I have never been to the Sportsman Bicycle Shop before as I have several closer to where I live and work. Maybe next time I am ‘snapping’ in the area I’ll pop in. I love the fun the couple are having on their bike, and the detail he includes of a little hedgehog…these days a rare sight.

All in all a really nice commission and one that showcases the best Silent Hobo has to offer.

Strawberry Line

Father and daughter

on a cool September day

cycling together.

by Scooj

	dennyho on 5097. Brunel Way (198)
	dennyho on 5097. Brunel Way (198)
	scooj on Thursday doors – 23 Marc…
	Teresa on Thursday doors – 23 Marc…
	sustainabilitea on Thursday doors – 23 Marc…

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