Laic217 has three or four main themes that he likes to return to. Most of his characters are skeletons, often spraying, but he has also painted a lot of melting faces and face distortions, of which this is a fine example.
Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, December 2021
This one is a newish piece on the long Greenbank wall, which surely only has a few more months left, as the development behind it seems to be moving with some pace now. The distortion is deliberately unsettling and challenging, especially as it is confined to the face and the hand with a spray can in it. The rest of the character is normal, so there is a lot of confusion and deception going on. I love Laic217’s creativity and mischief, and this piece ticks all my boxes. Beautifully executed too.
I had kind of given up on the final three Upfest 75 walls in 75 days pieces, especially as the 75 days was up some time ago, but hope and excitement were restored when Sled One painted this beautiful piece for the event a couple of weeks ago.
Sled One, North Street, Bristol, December 2021, Upfest 21,
Above the General Store in North Street, the intricate mural features a snakes and ladders theme, with a medieval twist hinted at by the hand-held daggers and ornate sleeves. I did not notice the Advance Pest Control van in the photograph until posting this piece, but I think it adds a little something to the scene.
As we would expect from Sled One, the mural is executed with class and precision and is a fine contribution to Upfest’s summer event. So now there are only two pieces left for me to find. One, I know where it is, the other is a mystery.
Paste ups tend to be few and far between in Bristol, and there is nothing like the culture of wheatpastes here as there is in Shoreditch, for example. I suppose that their rarity makes them extra special, and when qWeRT visits the city, it is always refreshing to see his goggle-eyed characters.
qWeRT, North Street, Bristol, December 2021
This one in North Street is immediately above a Stewy stencil of a sheep, and is perfectly positioned under the coping stone of the wall. Although looking a little worse for wear, this piece isn’t actually all that old and is one of several that appeared in the North Street area a couple of months back. Creative and fun, qWeRT will always be welcome in Bristol (as far as I am concerned).
* on the news that Simon Case, head of the Civil Service, has ‘recused’ himself from the investigation into 10 Downing Street parties last Christmas, when London was in tier 3 lockdown, because his own team were involved in a Christmas party quiz at the same time. Oh dear! 🎄🎅
It is always great to stumble across a new artist, and especially one with a really unique style. This is one of two new pieces from debutant Klub2020, who I believe is another tattoo artist turning his skills to wall art, along with others like Sepr, 3Dom and Chill.
Klub2020, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2021
This piece hidden away on the M32 roundabout reminds me a little of the Pink Floyd ‘Relics’ album cover. There are sort of human figures running towards a scroll emblazoned with the name Klub all over it. Full of detail and interest, I am a little puzzled by the method he has used to get this quite unique finish to the piece.
Most street artists have a background in art, illustration or design, and many have jobs related to their craft and skills. Some supplement their income with commissions and some (the really lucky ones) derive a comfortable income from their street art and spin-offs from it, for example, Banksy, Inkie and Nick Walker. Hazard, I think, falls into the category of supplementing her income, and you will find a lot of her work around the city, on commercial or private walls that have earned her a little money.
Hazard, Mina Road, Bristol, December 2021
This is one of Hazard’s mos recent commissions in Mina Road, and although not bold or brash, the plant piece oozes class. The mural is painted above the Haus of Hair hairdressers and looks to be a sumptuous collection of houseplant leaves (of the rainforest ilk), providing texture and depth to an otherwise ordinary wall. This is a beautiful commission and a great advert for Hazard’s work.
It feels to me like Slakarts is taking his art to a new level and his recent pieces have shown real dynamism and creativity. This recent piece from the M32 cycle path, works on his stylised character portrait, but presents it in an entirely new way.
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2021
The piece is made up of two portraits facing one another in subdues grey colours, with some lighter highlights that express freedom and confidence in his work. Contrast this with one of his recent colourful pieces and you see an artist whose range is wide and skills are of the highest order. A lovely ephemeral piece.
I haven’t really left myself enough time to write very much about today’s wonderful piece by Smak. For some this might be a blessing… consider it an early Christmas present.
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
I have neglected Smak for far too long, and haven’t posted anything by him for months. The reason is simple, there is so much great and new stuff being created out there that the competition for space o Natural Adventures is as high as it has ever been. This is classic Smak wildstyle graffiti writing. Subtle colours, great design and lovely tight artwork. Standards are still high in the Smak camp.
As mentioned by Dan in his recent Thursday Doors posts, it is traditional this week, to take a look back at the doors of last year and post our favourites, so here we go for my favourite doors of 2021. I hope you enjoy them (again). Note – all these doors were first posted in 2021, although some were photographed in previous years.
A rather fetching door and surround, Bristol, January 2021
Church door with (extra) large hinges, St Agnes, Bristol, May 2020
Double doors, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2020
Beware of the dog, makeshift door, Bristol, March 2021
Garage door to Electricity House, Christmas Street, Bristol, March 2021
Bristol South Baths, Entrance doors, Bristol, May 2019
Door at number 2, Blaise Hamlet, Bristol, May 2021
Door to the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1254), Chichester, May 2021
Door with beautiful brickwork including a crest above it, Chichester, May 2021
Closed shop door, Lyme Regis, Dorset, July 2021
Perfectly proportioned house and fine blue door, Lyme Regis, Dorset, July 2021
Polruan Block House door, Polruan, Cornwall, August 2021
Blue hillside door, Liskeard, Cornwall, August 2021
A stunning door to the former home of the mother and aunt of the Brontë sisters, Penzance, Cornwall, August 2021
Captain Cutters House door, Penzance, Cornwall, August 2021
Vine cottage green door, Looe, Cornwall, October 2021
Double garage doors, Bristol, June 2021
So another year of Thursday doors comes to an end – with all the COVID-19 disruption it hasn’t been the easiest year to get out and photograph doors, but it has nonetheless been great fun. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year, and see you all in 2022.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Natural adventures 