Tag: bird

221. Devon Road (1)

A new location for me. I found out about this incredible road in Easton through a friend of mine who wondered if I had heard about a community project, the purpose of which was to brighten up Devon Road. I looked up the community Facebook page, and was astonished that this was completely off my radar. I decided to check it out…what delights!

The main part of the road is a regular Bristol street, but at the Northern end it has a dogleg tracking West, which is actually a lane with two long terraces backing onto it. Each terraced house has a yard with walls and doors opening out into Devon Road. It is these walls and doors that are being sprayed. Everyone is happy. The street artists have walls to spray and there is little tagging here as it is a bit off the beaten track. The residents have the benefit of some beautiful works going up on their properties and the whole area looks vibrant, especially on a lovely sunny day.

Aspire, blue tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Aspire, blue tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

My first post from Devon Road is a stunning piece by Aspire. This, in my view, is one of his finest. The birds are a blue tit on the left, and a coal tit (I think) on the right. Just fabulous. I am now on the hunt for a blue macaw that I know he has recently sprayed. I will find it.

Aspire, coal tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Aspire, coal tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

Heron

 

In its grey coat it

came, eyeing up the neighbours

fishpond, then vanished.

 

by Scooj

194. Gloucester Road, Metropolis

This stylised owl seems to have occupied this little corner for ever – I can’t remember it not being here, but having said that my skills of ‘street art awareness’ have only been in full operation for about a year now, so it might not be all that old.

45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016
45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016

It is a work by 45RPM, the very same who created the corporate commission for the Body Shop in Hotwell Road. This owl is special, and you will note, completely unmarked by taggers. A lovely work that could do with a bit of a wash.

45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016
45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016

183. Moon Street (9)

Another wonderful bird piece by Aspire, from a few weeks ago. I’m not too sure what species this one is, and I can’t find any reference to it on his Instagram feed. It maintains the high quality I would expect from Aspire, and many of the common features in his work.

Aspire, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Aspire, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

I very much like the way he still chooses to spray these masterful pieces on ‘illegal’ albeit tolerated walls, as he could so easily go down the commission-only route.

Aspire, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Aspire, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

I guess the best thing about Bristol street artists is that they all choose their own paths, but coexist in apparent harmony. It is about the full spectrum of street art and we are very lucky indeed.

Dawn chorus

Compensation for

an early start; sweet singing

and unfettered joy.

by Scooj

169. West Street

I am still coming across street art that was created during Upfest 2015, and on my walk yesterday I found this wonderful piece by Gemma Compton.

Gemma Compton, West Street, Bristol, April 2016
Gemma Compton, West Street, Bristol, April 2016

Compton is an artist and fashion designer who is based in Bristol, and another graduate from UWE (University of the West of England). A lot of her work incorporates wildlife and birds in particular. She has an interesting website that shows off her extensive work. Street art is clearly not her main focus, which is a pity, as this is rather good.

7/10

155. The Bearpit (7)

Tuesday this week was a bit of a red letter day. I managed to see some wonderful new works walking in to work via Stokes Croft and The Bearpit. It has been very frustrating, because I have been in training since then, and not been able to post anything, so I have a bit of a backlog.

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Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016 – Yellow-headed Blackbird

This is yet another very recent bird by Aspire, and there are more to come. Although Aspire calls this bird a saffron headed marsh squawker (his joke?) it is actually a yellow-headed blackbird, found in Mexico and central North America.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

Another triumph from Aspire

8/10

151. Ashley Road (2)

This hoarding, on the corner of Ashley Road and Picton Street is a favourite of mine; the pieces here never last long, but they command attention due to the great location. The first time I ever saw one of Tom Miller’s works was here. Regrettably I didn’t photograph it and then it was gone. Right now the hoarding belongs to Aspire.

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Aspire, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016

This piece appeared earlier this week, and in my view, is one of Aspire’s best so far. I am not sure what species the bird is, but it doesn’t look like a British one.

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Aspire, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016

With the improving weather, the turnover of street art is on the up, and I really look forward to Monday mornings to see what has changed.

8/10

Classy birds

 

Collared doves in love;

modest country cousins to

the streetwise pigeon.

 

by Scooj

150. Armada Place (2)

It seems hard to believe that I have notched up 150 posts of Bristol street art already. It wasn’t meant to become a ‘thing’ but it has somehow crept under my skin. Mrs Scooj is underwhelmed by my interest in urban art, but I have the bug, and it gives me great pleasure.

This is one of two new pieces by Bristol artist Aspire. His works, mostly of birds, are truly beautiful and at this time of year entirely appropriate and the Spring gets a foothold and lightens out hearts. This is a ‘tui bird‘ an endemic bird of New Zealand – not something we usually see in the Stokes Croft area.

Aspire, Armada Place, Bristol, March 2016 - Tui Bird
Aspire, Armada Place, Bristol, March 2016 – Tui Bird

I have featured two other Aspire works previously, a robin (and who doesn’t love robins?) and another bird (I’m not sure what species).

Just wonderful. 8/10