3109. Brunel Way bridge (52)

Just when you think you have got your head around all the new artists in Bristol, more seem to appear out of the ether. Some will be one-off visitors, some will be emerging new talent some may have been around for a while but I just haven’t picked up on their work yet. I am not sure which category Elv8 fits into, but this is a lovely recent piiece from under Brunel Way bridge.

Elv8, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020
Elv8, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020

The portrait piece is really striking probably due to its fantastic use of bold colours, the dark blue and red making a very strong statement – no wallflower this piece. There is a simplicity that is attractive, but also some complexity in the white shading that offers some relief on the girl’s face and shoulders. Great to see and I hope there will be more.

3089. Brunel Way bridge (51)

This is the third recent Kool Hand orangutan piece that I have seen and once again he is branching out into the use of patterned fills rather than the solid ones that have been such a central part of his past work.

Kool Hand, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020
Kool Hand, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020

The character’s face has been filled with what looks like an army print camouflage effect, but is probably just a random green and white pattern. I am enjoying watching Kool Hand adding a layer of sophistication to his pieces.

3080. Brunel Way bridge (50)

Ments has been taking an experimental new direction over the last six months or so with a new kind of organic wildstyle writing.  A blending of curved shapes and shades loosely coming together to form cryptic letters.

Ments, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020
Ments, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020

I would have to say that this piece has utterly won me over and I think it is one of the best pieces I have seen from Ments in a while. If these shapes and shades were worked in chromes, greys and whites, there would be a liquid metal feel to it, but no, he has gone for a full colour version of molten metal and it is fantastic. It has been worth the wait to see this new direction for Ments, and I have another new one to share with you soon.

3079. Brunel Way bridge (49)

Under Brunel Way, alongside the River Avon is a popular wall (a supporting slab of concrete) that has featured many times on Natural Adventures. Occasionally the curved end of the wall receives some artistic treatment and in this case it is from Daz Cat, another busy artist since late May.

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2020

In this piece we are treated to another full length body cat character, rather than the cat face that we are more accustomed to seeing. This full body approach allows us to see the full scope of talent that Daz Cat has to offer, and the rather elderly-looking cat is wearing a rather nicely painted red outfit with blue trimmings. An enjoyable piece for sure.

3058. Brunel Way bridge (48)

I think that this might be the first Slim Pickings (Tes) piece that I have posted since the easing of lock down restrictions, and what a nice one to be kicking off with. Some lovely colours and the customary care and attention that Slim Pickings always applies to his work.

Slim Pickings, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Slim Pickings, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

The piece was part of a No Frills collaboration that was painted over the RBF Black Lives Matter collaboration before it, emphasising just how rapid the turnover here is right now. An aesthetically pleasing piece from a great writer.

3057. Brunel Way bridge (47)

The walls and columns under Brunel Way have been a bit of a honeypot in recent weeks and turnover has been pretty high. As always it is pretty difficult to keep on top of it, but I can at least share some of the pieces I find. This one is from Benjimagnetic, who has only made a couple of appearances on Natural Adventures, but I have plenty more of his pieces in my archives.

Benjimagnetic, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Benjimagnetic, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

Benjimagnetic’s style is quite unique and recognisable, but I find his wildstyle writing pretty much impossible to read. His ‘brush’ strokes and lines and blocks really identify the artist, in particular the yellow three-line decorations in this instance. Colourful and skilfully worked, this is a nice piece from Benjimagnetic.

3056. Brunel Way bridge (46)

Only a few days ago I posted my first Pl8o piece and said at the time there would be more to come. This is the second piece by the artist and I have more in the can, so I suspect that his work may become a regular feature in Natural Adventures.

Pl8o, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Pl8o, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

The letters of this piece clearly spell out PL8O and are similar in style to his other work. The magic comes with the creative use of fills and shading which differ from letter to letter. I rather like his interesting black and white outline too. Somehow Pl8o’s pieces are rather easy on the eye.

3052. Brunel Way bridge (45)

Annika Pixie has a style all of her own, not only in her artwork but in her free-spirited way of living her life. Her Instagram posts are an interesting insight into her extraordinary world. Her artwork always feels so fragile and ephemeral, but behind the these ghostly faces lie many untold secrets.

Annika Pixie, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Annika Pixie, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

This column piece was painted during a paint jam organised by Skor85. Unfortunately I didn’t get to speak with Annika because she was just leaving as I was arriving, and by the time I had taken a few pictures she had gone. The piece itself is in my view a little haunting and feels a bit tinged with sadness.

Annika Pixie, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Annika Pixie, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

Columns are quite difficult to paint and even more difficult to photograph, and I don’t think these pictures do the piece justice. Great to see something new from Annika Pixie, it has been a while.

3049. Brunel Way bridge (44)

I haven’t seen nearly enough of Mr Draws this year. I know that his painting sprees go in fits and starts in a good year, but the disruption imposed by coronavirus this year seems to have impacted on Mr Draws more than on other artists. I was really pleased therefore to find this one by him under Brunel Way.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

This is a simple enough piece, but the element that stands out for me is how effective the black shading is with the orange outline. This is a combination that tidies up the whole thing really well.

I am away fishing at the moment, in fact just about to head off for the Lizard in Cornwall, but am aware that Mr Draws has just painted another piece and hope it is still there by the time I get home on Sunday/Monday.

 

 

3044. Brunel Way bridge (43)

I hadn’t seen Jee See for quite some time, so it was really great to catch up with him during a paint jam under Brunel Way organised by Skor85. By the time I got there he had already completed his Seismic column piece and was sitting in the sun chilling out.

Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

In this piece, Jee See has worked the column well. I have to say that as a photographer, cylindrical columns are a major pest for two main reasons, it is hard to avoid reflected light and often the piece wraps around the column. In this instance Jee See has done me a real favour.

Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020

At the base of the ‘seismic’ is a character resembling a bit of a mash up of ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and Marc Bolan. Just as a footnote, Jee See stands for Goshiku Chavu (Japanese interpretation of Gothic Chav). You can see Goshiku Chavu written to the left of the character. This is all very Jee See.