5481. Brunel Way (226)

Fade, Jody and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Fade, Jody and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

We are blessed in Bristol to have so many outstanding graffiti artists, and I have to remind myself how privileged we are to be able to enjoy such awesome free art, that most towns and cities in the country simply don’t get to experience. Three of the best artists, Dibz, Jody and Fade combined to give us this amazing Ghostbusters triptych, alongside Ryder, whose piece I will post soon.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

To the left in spooky blue and green colours is writing by Fade, but just to confuse things, he has written DIBZ in a sot of mutual respect thing going on between the artists. Underneath are the letters RDA and RFK, which, if I am honest, I don’t know what they stand for, but are presumably crew names. Great crisp clean letters with a glow of green ghostly ectoplasm.

Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

In the middle is a piece by Jody, which convinces me that he is one of the most talented and versatile character/portrait artists in Bristol, has painted Slimer, the iconic ghost from the film franchise. The fact that this year Jody has painted a range of pieces including a demon, a hooded woman, a renaissance portrait (using brushes) Barbie and now Slime, simply demonstrates that he can turn his hand to pretty much anything.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

To the right, the letters from Dibz are as perfect as ever. Dibz has been smashing it all year long and shows no signs of slowing down. He is painting so fast that some of his pieces are getting left behind in my archive – an unthinkable state of affairs. Yet another epic wall in this year of epic walls.

September II

Shadow, Bristol, September 2023
Shadow, Bristol, September 2023

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Loitering unseen

an unnerving sense of threat

a predator waits

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by Scooj

5480. M32 roundabout J3 (507)

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2023
Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2023

Lee Roy is no stranger to Natural Adventures, nor is he a stranger to this spot on the M32 roundabout, and I have a feeling that he might have overwritten one of his own pieces to paint this one, or at least a short while after.

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2023
Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2023

In this piece we see Lee Roy’s free approach that touches on anti-style, full of energy and activity. The colours are rich and complementary, but the eye is immediately drawn to the skull, with red ‘lightening’ coming from its bloodshot eyes. This feels like a good old-fashioned piece of graffiti writing.

5479. Cumberland Basin

Kool Hand, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2023
Kool Hand, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2023

Such is the volume of pieces dropping in Bristol these days, that I am still posting pieces from Werm’s birthday celebrations, like this one by Kool Hand, from some weeks ago. I don’t think that I am ever going to get close to getting on top of this and perhaps need to be a little more judicious in my selections, although this is a challenge, because part of the point of the graffiti/street art posts on Natural Adventures is to showcase the range and diversity of pieces, from high-end to beginners, without prejudice.

Kool Hand, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2023
Kool Hand, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2023

In this piece, which is pink, consistent with the colour choice for the paint jam, Kool Hand has reverted to his staple orangutan character and the letters KH. As Kool Hand has developed his artwork, so this character, which has a three-quarter profile and loads more depth than some of his earlier renditions, shows off how far he has come and continues to improve. A nice piece with a familiar face.

Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019
Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019

September

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Indian summer

maybe too early to crow

welcome nonetheless

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by Scooj

Arsenal 3 – Manchester United 1

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Sweetest victory

sweeter for last minute goals

more than just a game

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by Scooj

5473. M32 roundabout J3 (506)

Sled One, M32 roundbout, Bristol, August 2023
Sled One, M32 roundbout, Bristol, August 2023

I would have to say that seeing new artwork pretty much every day of my life fills me with deep pleasure, but there are some artists that max out that feeling and one of them is Sled One. Possibly better known for his wild and surreal character pieces, Sled One is a fantastically accomplished graffiti writer too, as this piece on the roundabout demonstrates.

Sled One, M32 roundbout, Bristol, August 2023
Sled One, M32 roundbout, Bristol, August 2023

I guess the thing that stands out in this beautifully crafted piece is the fill in the letters SLED1. To me the fill looks like an old stone wall with a choppy sea alongside. Whatever it is meant to be, what is remarkable is that it is contiguous throughout the letters, creating a scene to be viewed through the letters. Some mint-green flashes add further interest. This is a masterful piece of writing from one of Bristol’s best.

You can view a gallery of Sled One’s extraordinary work here

5472. Greenbank (94)

Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

The sun wasn’t being kind when I took these pictures of Mind 49’s wonderful car piece recently, and these photographs really don’t do justice to the vibrant green paint used for the car. This amazing piece I find a little paradoxical, but I have got my head around it. There are elements that are a little ‘off’, for example the tyres are a little out of shape, and yet the reflections in the glass and panels of the car are nothing short of brilliant. The windows in particular give the impression that the car has been parked under some trees. An amazing effect.

Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

Sitting over the car is a huge number 49, a number that plays a significant part in Mind 49’s life, having changed his moniker from Mind Control a year or two back. If you look carefully, he has also written the letters MIND in tiny little letters over the side of the car. This piece is a real treat and one of my favourite of the year so far. Note to self: isn’t it about time we had a Mind gallery?

Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Mind 49, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

5471. Brunel Way (225)

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

Absolutely brilliant! It feels like a long time since Mr Underbite last hit the streets and here he is on a wall that he has occupied at least twice before now. Looking splendid on a lavender background, this black and white version of our hero looks very fine.

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

There are a number of similarities between the look and feel of Mr Underbite, and Asre’s character portraits from a year or two back, but I think I have come to the conclusion that they are not the same artist. In this piece our hapless friend is wearing a flat beanie, the best kind, which we used to call a Bennie hat, after the character in Crossroads. Indeed, the rather unflattering name that the squaddies in the Falkland Islands bestowed upon the Falklanders was ‘Bennies’ a term that had become naturalised by the time I arrived there in 1987.

Postie

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Familiar face

and community hero

Andy the postman

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by Scooj