Tag: Bristol

2253. Raleigh Road, Tobacco Factory (14)

Two weekends ago there was a special event held at the Tobacco Factory to celebrate 25 years since becoming a Bristol arts venue. As part of those celebrations the Tobacco Factory teamed up with Upfest who organised some artists to paint the car park walls under the Summer Editions banner. A firm favourite for such events is the wonderful Alex Lucas who painted this gorgeous piece.

Alex Lucas, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019
Alex Lucas, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019

Entitled ‘Pipe peace’ the illustration is based on a particular type of smoking pipe, used by a number of Native American cultures in their sacred ceremonies (so Alex tells us in her Instagram feed). I guess the link is tobacco.

The pipe reminds me that one of my closest friends at school, and indeed a next door neighbour, had a peace pipe in his house which belonged to his father. His father was an illustrator of children’s books, all of which were Native American stories, brought to life with the most extraordinarily detailed drawings using Rotring ink pens. I loved the books he created and the illustrations were sublime. His name was Paul Goble and I was always full of admiration of his work. I just read on the Wikipedia page that he passed away in 2017, which has made me feel very sad indeed. I digress…

Alex Lucas, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019
Alex Lucas, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019

Alex was very busy with her work when I went to the 25th anniversary celebrations, and I had my dog with me, so I wasn’t really able to have a chat, especially as my dog might have upset her dog which was in the crate next to her. I really like this piece, the lines are so clean and the simple four colours work so well together, a little reminiscent of the Dr Seuss illustrative style. Definitely worth a trip.

Rain stopped play

 

Within a minute

of setting out the paint cans

the heavens opened.

 

by Scooj

2252. Dean Lane skate park (215)

What a fabulous piece this is by Rusk. I don’t tend to associate his work with character pieces, but this burner/character combo is a real winner. I never read any of the Garfield cartoons, but certainly know who he is, and this lazy cat is brilliantly suspended in the ‘U’ of Rusk.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

The writing, as you would expect from Rusk is absolutely first class and the colour combinations absolutely perfect. That red is ‘to die for’. This piece was painted alongside an excellent Rezwonk piece (to follow) a couple of weeks back. Really great piece.

2251. Easton Business Centre

Getting a bit lost in Bristol can have its rewards. I dropped my son off at a friend’s house recently, he could have got the local train, but it was a Bank Holiday and they just don’t run very regularly, so the dad taxi it was. Good thing too, because I decided to take a different route home which meant that I drove past this magnificent mural by Alex Lucas that I had no idea even existed.

Alex Lucas, Easton Business Centre, Bristol, May 2019
Alex Lucas, Easton Business Centre, Bristol, May 2019

The commission is an eye catching and vibrant ‘advert’ for the Easton Business Centre, and I imagine has become something of a local landmark. It is an imaginative and creative piece in the wonderful illustrative style used by Alex Lucas.

Alex Lucas, Easton Business Centre, Bristol, May 2019
Alex Lucas, Easton Business Centre, Bristol, May 2019

Three rather shifty looking foxes are dressed and equipped as miners. I am not sure of the significance of this other than that there has historically been some mining in Bristol and maybe this is a reference to that. Whatever the story, this is an absolute gem and finding it was a joyful moment.

British summer time

 

Cool sun, perfect sky

gusty wind cuts through the yard

September in June.

 

by Scooj

2250. New Stadium Road (13)

Decay is really doing some special work at the moment. His new form, writing his name is this style, is so very pleasing on the eye and allows him to experiment with all sorts of colour variations.

Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019

This piece was part part of a collaborative wall with Rezwonk and Nightwayss and these three painted another wall some 30 yards away at the same time. Lots more to share from these sessions. Loving this Decay renaissance.

2249. Dean Lane skate park (215)

Elvs is a fine wildstyle writer from Wales, although I don’t know if he lives in Bristol or in Wales, but he tends to do several pieces every year in the popular Bristol graffiti spots. This is one of at least two pieces he did during May this year (more on his other one soon) and it really shows mastery of his elaborate ‘tag’, which remains broadly similar in shape from wall to wall.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

This piece is characteristically clean and sharp, with three lovely horizontal layers of pink acting as a backdrop to the detailing in black that makes this so obviously an Elvs piece. I’m not certain what the Japanese writing says, but I do know that it is in the Katakana form. It might say HiSoKu. I’ve noticed that Elvs quite often has this Japanese influence in his pieces. I’ll have to ask him to elaborate next time I see him.

Seventeen

.

‘L’ plates for the boy

and a Play Station joystick;

man in transition

.

by Scooj

2048. Upfest 2018 (150)

Iain MacArthur is an artist and illustrator based in London who only occasionally paints street art pieces, mostly focussing his efforts on designs for t-shirts and skateboards etc. (so his Upfest biography tells me).

Iain MacArthur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Iain MacArthur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a really interesting and somewhat challenging piece that shows a cut-away black and white face with a host of colourful strands bursting out like ideas or thoughts. The whole piece has a distinctive illustrative style, and the circles with the little motif inside them are particularly striking. I’d be interested in seeing more from Iain MacArthur.

2047. Upfest 2018 (149)

I love wheatpastes (in case you hadn’t noticed) and at Upfest 2018 we were blessed with a series of poignant and thought provoking stencil paste ups by About Ponny. I was particularly moved by these small scenes, each one depicting the marginalised or forgotten, the vulnerable or neglected.

About Ponny, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
About Ponny, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This one, produced in sepia tones, shows two small children sheltering under a small basket, and has overtones of iconic images from the Vietnam or Cambodian conflicts. There is so much emotion and sadness and pity captured in this image. Really, truly this is an outstanding piece of art.