The nice thing about dropping down beneath the M32, where a canalised section of the River Frome flows, is that it seems to be a popular spot for visiting artists to paint, often accompanied by Bristol friends showing them around.
Wee Nuls, Frome side, Bristol, June 2021
This delightful piece by Wee Nuls was painted a few weeks back by the Belfast-based artist who, it appears, cut her teeth with spray painting in Bristol some time ago. I love this kind of portrait piece that sits comfortably alongside Slakarts, Pekoe and others who create bright and colourful faces about the city. I hope that Wee Nuls makes more trips to Bristol soon.
I have found it difficult to get out and about photographing doors recently, so this selection is another trawl through my archives of street art and graffiti art doors from last year. All of these doors were originally featured as posts on street art in October and November 2021, but are being repurposed for Thursday doors. If you recognise these from the first time round, please forgive me. Enjoy:
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2020 Nevergiveup, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2020 Silent Hobo, Mina Road, Bristol, October 2020 Utility box painted with a flower, Bristol, October 2020 Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020 Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020 Sepr, Dighton Street, Bristol, November 2020
That’s yer lot this week I’m afraid. Maybe just maybe I’ll get out to photograph some doors before the next time we meet. Until then, have a lovely weekend.
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.
I think that Eman is the artist I have seen the most of in recent weeks, I think that the times and days and locations that we visit somehow coincide. This time I was lucky enough to catch him painting his first portrait piece in collaboration with Evey, although she had not yet arrived when I took this WIP shot.
Eman, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Obviously any blue female portrait will be compared in some way to the most reproduced Chinese Girl portrait by Vladimir Trechikoff and this isn’t too far away from that. It is great to see Eman trying new things, he seems to have an appetite for pushing himself hard and with great results.
Evey and Eman, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
Evey, who turned up after I had gone, has added some orange flowers and her letters EVEN to the right of the piece and reminds us that ‘all black lives still matter’ keeping the BLM movement in the agenda. This is a rather lovely collaboration, and quite unusual in its structure. Great to see.
It would appear that Zake is off the leash. Over the past month, I have seen and photographed several Zake pieces that seem to get better and better. This is the first one in a series, and a good starting point.
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2021
I first came across Zake’s work on the columns under the M32 several of which still remain, which is remarkable really and shows the respect from other artists. Although this is not his best work, it does hark back to those earlier pieces. There is some great uplighting going on here and an exaggerated characterful face. Watch this space for more from Zake.
If this piece hadn’t been signed, and hadn’t appeared on Instagram, I am not sure that I would have ever identified the artist as Georgie. I know that she varies her styles and techniques quite a lot, but this one, in my eyes, is totally different. Painted as part of the Bristol Womxn Mural Collective paint jam from a little while back, this piece perfectly fits the aspect of the wall at this point.
Georgie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2021
It is funny, but I thought I had photographed dozens of Georgie’s pieces, but it turns out that it is actually only a handful. This slender elf figure appears to be doing some kind of yoga or exercise routine, but is very clearly connected to nature, which is a popular contemporary theme these days. I think the whole piece has a hint of 1930s illustration about it, except for the rabbit, which I don’t think adds anything to the painting (sorry). Great to see Georgie getting out and about.
Ooh, a very lovely piece from Ryder on the M32 roundabout, full of fun and movement. Part of a wider collaboration, but worth singling out because it is just too good to share the limelight.
Ryder, M32 roundbout, Bristol, June 2021
What could be better than a RYDER riding on a skateboard – all in bright green and five cheeky little characters. If nothing else the piece is a memorable one that definitely stands out from the crowd. This is Ryder at his playful best.