On the side of the Lost Horizons Arts Centre there are some framed panels which are curated by the Centre, and I think that Bnie has a lot to do with that curation. Most of the panels were refreshed about three weeks ago, and this one from Merny is particularly fun.
Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023
Merny says “jelly! Get over it!” – you’ve got to laugh, really. The jelly, which is sitting on a pink plate, is brilliantly painted, demonstrating an understanding of colour, shading and portraying translucence that few artists manage. To do it in his naive style is even more remarkable. Break-out labels finish the piece nicely, a piece which I think combines fun, mischief and talent in equal measure. Jelly – get over it!
We live in a crazy world. On the one hand there is everything to be excited about, all the beautiful things that our planet has to offer – nature, culture, science, poetry, art, landscape, architecture, sport, friendship and so on, the list is almost endless, and yet, on the other hand I feel stifled by all the horrors that surround us, from wars to disease to the rise of authoritarianism, the grip of advertising, selfishness, profit and greed, that list too is almost endless. My small gesture of kindness to myself is to keep writing this blog, all elements of it, as an antidote to the evil and to bring a little focus on the good things that I am grateful for.
Laic217 among many, many others brings me pleasure and happiness, both on discovering his work and then on recording and writing about it. This is a particularly good one from him on the cycle path between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads station.
Laic217, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023
The character, wearing a wooly hat and smoking, has a dark and sinister appearance, cleverly created by the absence of any white in the eyes, which is unsettling. The brilliantly painted skull tattoo adds a little threat and menace. No need to sign this one as it is pure Laic217 at his best, and although his choice of subject might not suit everyone, his mastery of technique is a sight to see.
Mr Underbite, River Avon, Bristol, March 2024Mr Underbite and Herman Creates, River Avon, Bristol, March 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022Mr Underbite, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
This piece by RichT completely passed me by. I have no idea whether is is old or new. It is a lesson in looking backwards because I walk past this wall from time to time, but cannot see the face of it when walking from the direction I come from. I think it was the dog that stopped after I had gone past and I caught the piece in my peripheral vision, and of course made a bee line over to it.
RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023
The piece is typically busy and interesting and beautifully presented. The piece is also brilliantly on-topic, with a can of paint character (not a spray can on this occasion) painting a floral design with a paintbrush. The colours are incredibly subtle and the piece has a black and white tinted effect. Some clever work picking out the mortar lines in the brickwork emphasises the sense of place. A great piece, a commission I imagine, and a nice tribute to Elliot.
Desi, Peggy and Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
I don’t know how old this lovely triptych by RBF bedfellows Desi, Peggy and Evey is, but I think it slightly predates the much larger RBF Halloween collaboration just to the left. A rather pleasant appetiser to its immediate neighbour. Desi has adopted her joined up writing for this piece which is neatly and tidily presented.
Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
Desi leads off on the left with another Veil piece using the light blue and yellow colour palette adopted for the collaboration. I have to say that I don’t think the colour combination is an especially good one, looking a little anaemic against the autumn leaf litter in front of it. Desi has some nice horizontal fills and subtle dot details and the 3D drop shadow helps it to pop out from the wall.
Peggy, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
Peggy has made an oblique reference to the colour scheme with the incorporation of a yellow colour in some of her details. The floral display, complete with an eye at the centre of the flower is exactly what you’d expect from Peggy, containing some nice detail in the levels and petals. I don’t know what the letters AIZH stand for, but you can make them out at the base of the piece. Peggy’s work lends itself very well to being the decorative filling between two pieces of graffiti writing.
Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
To the right, the effervescent Evey has knocked it out of the park once again. Her letters are nicely thought out and she has reflected the horizontal fill regime in Desi’s work on the other side, and has come up with some decorations in the letters that make them feel substantial without being too busy. More great work from these three who appear to enjoy painting together.
The Earthshot Prize looks at solutions to the challenges our planet faces. Five prizes of £1 million are awarded for five years, this being the second year and the award ceremony will be in Singapore.
The shame about this is that the prize has to exist at all. If Governments around the world were serious about getting out of the mess we’re in they would be funding this kind of research and innovation as part of the ‘day job’. I try to lok on the upside though.
My one hundredth post from Greenbank and what better way to celebrate such a landmark than with this stunning face piece by Zake. Over the last few years, Zake has been one of the most regular artists in Bristol, either painting solo or with his PWA friends.
Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2023
In this piece Zake has gone large, and to give you some idea of scale, this portrait stands at about 7-8 feet tall. As always with Zake’s work, the contours and texture of the face are created by a wonderful contrasting of light and shade, giving the appearance of deep furrows and folds in the subject’s skin. Zake pretty much always paints in this cartoon style and I think it would be really interesting to see if he could paint something a little more realistic in terms of proportion and features, just as a one-off… I think he would smash it.
Natural adventures 