2407. Brunel Way Bridge (18)

I don’t go to the road bridge under Brunel Way nearly as often as perhaps I should, because it is a bit out of the way from my usual wanderings. It is just about dooable from my work, but I tend to work from home most of the time these days, and rarely get out that way. The point is that I got lucky on this particular trip, because this fine piece by Saik One was one of several nice art works on both sides of the wall.

Saik One, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019
Saik One, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019

Saik One is the artist who paints large rats, but also can write a bit too! For the most part the black and yellow block shadow works quite well, but it might have been better coming off at an angle rather than being horizontal… but then who am I to make such comments, I have just spent two hours in the garden spraying a single letter and bottled out of the 3D block shading altogether! This is good work, nicely done.

2397. Brunel Way Bridge (17)

Although I can’t be sure, I think this ephemeral portrait might be the work of Annika Pixie… it certainly has many of the ingredients that are common to her work, the lightness of touch and delicate nature of the subject, but I have not seen her paint many walls like this one.

Annika Pixie, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Annika Pixie, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019

As I write this, my curiosity got the better of me and I had a look at Annika’s Instagram feed, and sure enough there is a little video of this piece, filmed in only the way she can do such things. I love her touch, which is full of subtlety and magic and in such stark contrast to the macho work one is used to seeing. Nice one Annika.

2322. Brunel Way Bridge (15)

You can always spot a high-quality piece of graffiti writing. There is something about the confidence with which it is painted, the clarity of the lines and competence of the fills, not to mention the accoutrements. This piece by Turoe has it all.

Turoe One, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2019
Turoe One, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2019

Tucked away under the Brunel Way bridge, the piece was completed during a paint jam with Veks (to follow) and really is of the highest quality. I don’t have many pictures of Turoe’s work, so it was great to capture this one.

2300. Brunel Way Bridge (14)

This column piece under Brunel Way bridge is unmistakably by Pekoe, and what a pleasant surprise it was to find it on a recent trip to the whole Cumberland Basin area. The last work from Pekoe that I saw was a collaboration with Mr Sleven at the M32 roundabout, which was rather splendid as I recall.

Pekoe, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, June 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, June 2019

This small piece, which is typically bright and colourful, includes a theme that Pekoe is very fond of, a third eye. I don’t know what these columns are like to paint, but I can tell you that they are a devil to photograph because of the variable light, and because cameras can’t take pictures round corners, or at least mine can’t. Nice work from Pekoe.

2092. Brunel Way Bridge (13)

What a fabulous piece under Brunel Way by the distinctive Sepr. I love his work, which is so easy on the eye and has a strong retro cartoon feel to it. Part of an ASK paint jam, this piece features a dog in a smart suit performing with a little human glove puppet.

Sepr, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Sepr, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, March 2019

Sepr’s work pretty much always raises a smile and is always of such high quality. It is easy to see his tattoo artist roots in his clean lines and original designs. Truly one of Bristol’s very best artists and he keeps on turning out outstanding work.

2085. Brunel Way Bridge (12)

I have a feeling that this wonderful collaboration by 3Dom and Epok has been here for a little while, but it is a spot I visit infrequently and so cannot be sure. The wall, underneath Brunel Way is one which I find particularly difficult to photograph, due to the light reflections that encroach from the sides.

3Dom, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
3Dom, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

On the left is a rather large fly by 3Dom with an urban/industrial landscape on its back. The wings are beautifully crafted and the whole insect nicely proportioned…quite what the story is I am not sure.

Epok, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Epok, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

The right hand side of the collaboration is a piece of graffiti writing from Epok. I never get tired of his beautifully designed asymmetric writing that seems to combine  graphic design and street art so perfectly. This is a fine collaboration from this ASK duo.

2081. Brunel Way Bridge (11)

I was alerted to this wonderful piece by Kid Crayon through Instagram and naturally tried to get to see it as quickly as I could. The piece was part of a collaboration with Subtle but alas, Subtle’s half had been painted over by the time I got down to Cumberland Basin.

Kid Crayon, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Kid Crayon, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

I am guessing that Kid Crayon rather likes this tone of pink, because it features a lot in his work. Either that or he ordered way too much pink and is wading his way through it.

Kid Crayon, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Kid Crayon, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

Once again, Kid Crayon has turned out yet another impressive piece and rather wonderfully incorporated one of his characters into the ‘O’ of Crayon, and it is great to see his trademark floating Crayon making a comeback. So very good.

1769. Brunel Way bridge (10)

Alongside a rather magnificent Sled One piece i posted a little while back is this really unusual work from Ments. I haven’t seen much of his work for a while, so it was great to find this. In the past I have described his work as ‘organic’ in its form, but this piece represents quite a departure from his previous work.

Ments, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Ments, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

There is a modernist feel to this piece, abstract surrealism almost and I rather like it. The writing spells out MENTS as it does in most of his work, but this time it is a little more legible. The colour selections are quite unusual but seem to work pretty well on this bright red background. More to come soon from Ments.

1745. Brunel Way Bridge (9)

It has been a long while since I last posted a piece by the extraordinarily talented Sled One, so it was great to come across this piece in the Cumberland Basin a week or so back. The wall itself is always tricky to photograph because there is a lot of glare that streams across it – this may be an artifact of the time of day I usually visit this wall.

Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

I will not pretend that I have anything other than utmost admiration for the work of Sled One – his fantastical creations are the stuff of cartoons and surrealism combined. Add to that potent mix a technical gift and you have some of the best artwork being produced in Bristol at this moment in time.

Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

Earlier in the year I met Sled One a couple of times, and it turns out he lives on my road (although I think he travels around a lot too, originally coming from York (I think)). On his Instagram account he labels this piece as a self-portrait. I guess he is fond of Nike shoes! He says it started as an ASK (the crew he belongs to) piece, but that it ended up elsewhere. I can’t read ASK concealed anywhere in the illustration. Fabulous work.

 

1534. Brunel Way bridge (8)

This piece is actually not really on Brunel Way, but is in the Cumberland Basin where the Brunel Way bridge/flyover begins. And who should pop up here but Pekoe, who until a couple of weeks ago was completely under my radar.

Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

This piece, in doodle style, is actually really nicely presented and has a great balance of bright colours and squiggle elements to make up a fine portrait. I am new to her work, but I am enjoying what I see and look forward to finding more of her pieces in Bristol.