5338. Brunel Way (213)

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

By the time this post is published I will be midway through leading a workshop for a partnership in Lincolnshire. I arrived in Lincoln yesterday evening, and have never been here before. I was pleasantly surprised by the old town, and the cathedral is one of the most impressive I have seen in England. It is a pity I will be here only for a day, and returning home immediately after the workshop. I digress… Maybe wasn’t very impressed with this piece, when he posted it on Instagram, and was minded to go over it, but he hasn’t so far, so maybe he has some affection for it after all.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

The subtle colours and gentle interlocking shapes make this more of an abstract piece than anything else, and as such does a good job, I think. The green shape has something of the pachyderm about it, and once seen can’t be unseen. I rather like this modest and gentle piece. My kind of thing.

5332. Brunel Way (212)

Lee Roy and Waste, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Lee Roy and Waste, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

This was my third attempt at photographing this fine collaboration from Lee Roy and Waste, under Brunel Way, because of the rather irritating light and shadow that is cast on sunny days from the left. I got there in the end. I was lucky enough to be there when the artists were painting the piece and I got to meet Lee Roy for the first time, and what a genuinely lovely person he is – we chatted plenty.

Lee Roy, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Lee Roy, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

The collaborative wall is clever in that each side is a reversed-out colour version of the other, and how different they look, using the same powerful pink and black colour scheme. Lee Roy talked to me about his rather free style and said that he used to write really tight letters, in a more traditional graffiti manner, but that he found it increasingly unenjoyable, striving for perfection and instead has adopted a more liberated style, tending towards anti-style. He certainly seems to be happy with his current work, and has been churning out pieces at a terrific rate so far this year.

Waste, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Waste, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

I don’t know much about Waste, other than that he is a friend of Lee Roy’s from out of town. I forget where… Cardiff? Swindon? I should have made a note. I like this piece a lot, and note that Waste has made things easy for himself, using the ‘tram-lines’ in the wall to keep his letters regular. All in all a very nice collaborative wall, which fortunately remained undogged long enough for me to get some decent photographs.

5329. Brunel Way (211)

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

There is no doubt about it, Mote is in a very rich vein of form, not only with productivity, but also with his series of bird monsters, which appear to have inspired him greatly, and which I must say are rather appealing. I also like the way that Mote has grown the range of formats, from thin columns to squares to landscape orientation.

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

Mote has drawn on nature itself, recognising the delineation between a bird’s face and the rest of its plumage, more apparent in some species than in others, for example parrots and vultures. There is some interesting fill work in the two halves of green, reversing the drip colours, and some of the drips falling out of the monster’s face and on to the floor. I have loads more to post from Mote, just from June, let alone pieces that are loitering in my archive.

5308. Brunel Way (210)

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

I had a nice chat with Mr Draws over the weekend in this exact spot while he was buffing over this piece in preparation for a new one. At least he was going over his own work – how often does that happen?

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

The bright colours in the letters and background have a hint of confection about them, almost good enough to eat. The whole thing calls out jelly to me, but I think that that might just be me. I know that Mr Draws wasn’t too happy with the neon pink colour, as it seemed to strip away the paint beneath. My advice is to steer clear from the neon colours, they are tricky and in the sunlight they decompose really quickly.

5299. Brunel Way (209)

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

I would definitely like to see more from Mr Underbite on the streets. His versatile, if rather unfortunate, character definitely adds a touch of butter sweet humour to the streets of Bristol. Although this is a small piece, probably a little old and slightly out of the way, I thought I would post it, because it has a charm about it and is very much a part of the everyday street art experience in the city.

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

Technically, this piece is more Daveside than Brunel Way, but I use the latter as a generic area description, in much the same way that I use Cumberland Basin to describe the large area just north of the river. Nicely painted, the hapless character, with his comb-over hair, makes me smile, just as all of Mr Underbite’s pieces do. I only found this by mistake, reminding me always to walk the few extra yards and to be inquisitive… the rewards are out there.

5242. Brunel Way (207)

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023

Last year, Maybe sprayed a piece that was all about hay fever, and the fact that this recent piece under Brunel Way is not dissimilar, leads me to believe that Maybe might be a pollen sufferer at this time of year. The main difference between the pieces is that this one is a little more direct and graphic in its content.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023

Those of a fragile disposition should look away, as the character in the piece has her finger deeply inserted into her nostril, while green bogey faces (I am guessing) look on from the sidelines. The piece is nicely painted, creative and a little bit edgy in a schoolboy humour kind of way. Maybe certainly keeps us on our toes with his ideas and unique style.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022

5223. Brunel Way (206)

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023

Good morning all. A fine start to a brand new week, the sun is shining and in the blink of an eye it will be Friday and the beginning of another weekend. This amazing cartoon portrait piece by Zake was added on to an existing collaborative wall, and looks like it could almost be a part of the paint jam, but it was added a day or two later.

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2023

Perhaps a little bit creepy, Zake’s face is less than happy, with large tears rolling down the cheeks and a rather snotty nose. The open mouth looks like an archetypal cartoon whale mouth, if you know what I mean. The face is sitting over a daisy and a bed of clouds. There may be some symbolism here, but I can’t quite fathom it out. I also don’t think the balance of the piece is quite right, and although I can’t put my finger on it, it leaves me a little uncomfortable.

5209. Brunel Way (205)

Acer One, Dibz, Jody and Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Acer One, Dibz, Jody and Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

This is an absolute classic collaboration from the crème de la crème of Bristol graffiti writing and street art, from Acer One, Dibz, Jody and Turoe, taking up the entire length of the bridge support wall under Brunel Way.

Acer One, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Acer One, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

First off is aclean and ticy ACER from Acer One, with a lovely colour transition from top left to bottom right. The stylised font is accompanied by a trademark shadow, giving the illusion that the letters are standing out from the wall.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

Next up is a wonderful piece of writing from Dibz. I hardly need to say too much about Dibz’ writing that I haven’t said before. Tight and classy – perfection itself really. It is a miracle that something like this is created using spray cans.

Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

Jody has definitely come up trumps with an outstanding Satanic portrait piece, that is as good a character piece that I have seen anywhere this year. There is so much texture and depth in the face, which seems to be bursting through the wall and coming at ya. Just brilliant.

Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

The collaborative wall is rounded off with a superb piece of graffiti writing from Turoe, who doesn’t hit the streets too often these days, but when he does, turns out high quality pieces like this. The black background, blue bubbles and cosmic cloud theme run through all four pieces drawing them together as part of a collaborative presentation. An absolute treat for the people of Bristol.

5176. Brunel Way (204)

Enn Kay, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Enn Kay, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

This is a cheeky little piece by Enn Kay, on a small ramp at the southern end of the Daveside DIY skate park. Somehow Enn Kay manages to create a really soft finish to some of his pieces, and I don’t know how he does it. Maybe it is the pastel colours or his shading skills.

Enn Kay, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023
Enn Kay, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2023

I have a feeling that the monster character was painted on a pre-existing abstract piece, although it is possible that Enn Kay painted the background as well, but it doesn’t really fit with his style. It is always good to see his monster pieces about the place. Barp!

5147. Brunel Way (203)

Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023

Like the Kid Krishna piece alongside it, this Marckinetic piece didn’t last long, which is a pity, but we all know how this works. I was lucky enough to catch up with both of them when they were painting these pieces, and although I spoke with Kid Krishna for some while, Marckinetic was busy getting on with his piece, stopping only to say hello – he was on a mission.

Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, M32 Cycle Path, Bristol, March 2023

I am not certain, but I think I can see the letters MARK. There is an overall dreamy drippy feel to this piece with lots of bubbles and drips in the background as well as in the letter fills. There is a big fat white drop shadow around the piece, which doesn’t quite work for me, there isn’t enough contrast between the white and the yellow. A grey might have worked better… listen to me… ‘the critic’.  A lovely piece, in Marckinetic’s distinctive and distinguished style.