Tag: Bristol

399. Nine Tree Hill (4)

It has been a little while since DNT or Akarat graced these pages, so here is a reasonably recent collaboration, or perhaps better, co-location of these two great local graffiti artists. The dragon is by DNT (Bruno Dante) and the fish on the utility box are by Akarat. I didn’t see the fish the first time, which is something of a gaffe for a marine and fisheries biologist who prides himself on observational skills.

DNT and Akarat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, August 2016
DNT and Akarat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, August 2016

This is a fairly quiet collaboration tucked on a side street just off the main drag of Stokes Croft. I love to see their work, and together with other local artists, they really do keep things fresh. Great dragon, great fish…different styles meeting.

Akarat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, August 2016
Akarat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, August 2016

398. M32 Roundabout J3 (17)

UPDATE: Instagram to the rescue…this work it appears is a collaboration between Serge KB (Kortenbroek) and Simian Switch, both from the Netherlands. In this work, the animal is the work of Serge KB and the background by Simian Switch.

Generally I don’t like to post an artwork unless I know who it is by, but occasionally the interweb lets me down, and I just can’t seem to track down the artist. This is one such case.

Unknown artist, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016
Unknown artist, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016

This lovely work appeared around the same time as Upfest, so I am guessing that the artist isn’t local, or if they are, I haven’t seen any of their work before. There was another piece at Dean Lane skate park by the same artist which appeared at the same time, but no obvious signature there either. I love this piece, the colour selections and the depiction of the animal create quite a unique feel. It is simply beautiful, and I felt I had to post it to share it, but also to possibly get some insight from readers as to who the artist is.

397. Charles Street (2)

I posted about this duo back in January this year, with a focus on the robin by the talented Aspire. At the time I didn’t know who had created the wheatpaste of a yellow telephone box with Marilyn Monroe in it. It was of course D7606…he even signed it!

D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016
D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016

Recently, the yellow telephone box has been replaced by an orange one and Monroe by Bowie, I am guessing that D7606 made this exchange during Upfest, as he was in Bristol doing his stuff during the festival.

D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016
D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016

Since becoming aware of D7606, and reading an excellent interview with him, I have really begun to enjoy his work, and with my weekly work trips to London, I encounter his treats all over the Shoreditch area. There is something fun about the repetition of themes that he pastes up, and he makes street art very accessible for wannabe graffiti artists (like me).

D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016
D7606, Charles Street, Bristol, August 2016

This is a wonderful vibrant, contemporary piece, and I love it. Aspire looking good as ever.

396. Moon Street (10)

There are not enough great words to describe the work of Sled One. He is one of the most talented graffiti/street artists in Bristol, whether it is wildstyle writing or freestyled scenes like this one, he is without doubt a master of his craft.

Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

This is a crazy and fun picture, and as with most of his creative scenes, there is surely a story going on here. I don’t know what the story is, but  it incorporates a bull in a camper van and some other weird stuff going on. There are some similarities to the work of 3Dom, in that they both can create these dream-like landscapes and stories.

Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

This piece needs looking at to enjoy it, and I looked and I enjoyed. Spend a while seeing all the little details and see if you can figure it out. Another triumph from the awesome Sled One.

Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Sled One, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

395. M32 Roundabout J3 (16)

On the West side of the M32 roundabout there is a long concrete wall which runs next to a pathway and which reduces in height along its length. About midway along this wall is this magnificent Epok piece.

Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016
Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016

So typically Epok wildstyle writing, and a fabulous selection of colours. It really is outstanding in every sense of the word. It is in the part of the wall where the pathway narrows, so it is very difficult to photograph pieces here unless taken from the sides, or using fisheye lenses.

Epok - detail, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016
Epok – detail, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, August 2016

Epok’s works have lovely simple and clean lines and blends smooth curves with angular shapes to create the EPOK letters. Always pleasurable to see.

394. Devon Road (7)

A little jaunt back to May this year, in fact polling day if I remember correctly, when I made my first and so far only trip down to Devon Road. So many treats in one day in one road.

Deamze, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Deamze, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

This is not the only Deamze work in the road, there is also his Ren and Stimpy. I am not too good on cartoon characters, especially ones that weren’t part of my growing up, so I am not too sure who this little character is (is it batfink?)…nor the frog, Not that it matters too much, it is another great work by the master.

Stinking

 

Summer’s sickly stench

skulks in side streets all set to

assault my senses.

 

by Scooj

Last days…

 

The deceitful sun

warms my back just enough to

keep chill winds at bay.

 

by Scooj

391. Upfest 2016 (35)

At the far west end of North Street in the Rising Sun pub garden there was a host of SSOSVA (Secret Society of Super Villain Artists) gathered under a covered area. There was a real party atmosphere going on, some very loud music and clearly all the artists were having a ball.

RIP, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
RIP, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

RIP is a stencil artist I have come across many times before although I am only familiar with his small single layer witty stencils. This piece was something of a pleasant surprise for me, to see a multi layer stencil, and a really rather classy one at that.

RIP, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
RIP, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

It is interesting that the more that you see of an artist, the more depth you get to discover. The range of styles and techniques can be incredibly broad from studio to street…just another aspect I love about the whole street art/graffiti scene.

 

390. Upfest 2016 (34)

There are some artists who are quite unique, because of their style, subject matter or materials. Shok 1 is one such artist. I don’t know if anyone else does what he does, or at least with so much skill.

Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016

Shok 1 is a British artist who specialises in X-ray images. Watching him work was amazing. He uses a small image for reference, and then sprays out every detail on a large wall. His attention to detail is just exceptional. I watched him ‘mist’ an area on the bottom right of the piece, and over five minutes he must have sprayed the same spot twenty times, with different densities of spray.

Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016

I don’t know where he got the X-ray of the unicorn from, but it must be a pretty rare thing.

Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Shok 1, Upfest, North Street, Bristol, July 2016

Shok 1 was a lead artist at Upfest and quite deservedly so. It is amazing to have one of his pieces in Bristol as I don’t recall seeing one here before. I hope he returns next year, or sooner. Almost pure perfection.