Bucket hat – Natural adventures

3077. Dean Lane skate park (334)

This is one of two pieces by Laic217 painted about a week ago. I missed the other one at the M32 roundabout which lasted about 12 hours. Here we have a nice study in black, grey, white and pink set on a rather untidy grid.

What I like about this piece is that Laic217’s use of the pink really emphasises the character’s accessories – the strange glasses, the neck chain, spray cap and signature on the bucket hat. It is always great to see his work popping up about the place, and I think I might have a newish one to find today!

2369. M32 roundabout J3 (157)

Laic217 has only gone and smashed it again, with this exquisitely summery scene. I can’t make up my mind whether the tree shade on the piece actually adds to the ambience, I don’t think it particularly detracts from it, which is not usually the case with shadows and street art.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019

This is a masterful piece by Laic217 with many of the features we are accustomed to seeing in his work… the bucket hat and smiley and a skeleton spraying, although the sspray paint seems to have been replaced with sun cream or something more gloopy. The crowning glory of the piece though is the shirt.

Laic217 works so hard on his fabrics and this Hawaiian shirt with tiger motifs has pretty much blown everything I have seen previously out of the water. I just don’t know how he has got the tiger print to look so good using a spray can – quite extraordinary. This is an artist whose work just goes from strength to strength and I just can’t get enough of it.

2193. St Werburghs tunnel (77)

Another artist I will never tire of is Laic217 and this piece in St Werburghs tunnel is so typical of his great work. Another weed-smoking bucket-hatted skull, which he simply gets better and better at crafting.

Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019

I feel a real closeness with Laic217’s work because since I started doing this recording Bristol street art thing in 2015 I have watched his work closely and seen his style develop significantly, and although his subjects are often similar, the depth and complexity of his pieces constantly grows. Love this one.

2137. M32 cycle path (21)

Top Cat by Deamze looks on at a recent piece by Laic217. While not quite up to the very high standards we have come to expect from Laic217, this is still a rather striking piece Bering many of the hallmarks used by this artist.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019

I would guess that this was probably painted rather quickly, and perhaps not enough thought was given to the proportions of the portrait. Whatever the reason, the top of the head and hat is a bit squished. I am rather fond of the skull shirt decorations though. More from Laic217 soon I hope.

2114. Moon Street (63)

Not quite as prolific as he has been in the past, but still keeping things ticking over is the brilliant Laic217 painting in one of his favourite spots in Moon Street. I think the dimensions of the wall lends itself to his portraits.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019

In this piece we see a return to several ideas used in Laic217’s work which link back to a theme of flammability. A melting face, which Laic217 has used to great effect many times, that spells out his name. Spray can caps for eyes recessed deeply into the eye sockets and a bucket hat which in this case seems to be fashioned out of a spray can.

I will never get bored with his work and if I am honest probably look forward to discovering his work more than any other artist… it is like a game.

2054. M32 roundabout J3 (128)

Another one that slipped through the net is this melting face piece by Laic217 from a time when he was experimenting with these kinds of facial distortions and disfigurements, back in February 2017.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

Although it is only a small piece, sandwiched between two bits of graffiti writing, it demands to be looked at, and why not…this is the kind of piece that typifies the work of this Polish adopted son of Bristol. Melting face, bucket hat, smilie face smoking… all trademarks used by Laic217. Another fine piece.

2013. Dean Lane skate park (189)

Back to home soil now and the warm and familiar sight of a Dean Lane piece by Laic217. This is the second recent piece that I have seen where he has been playing with these red eyes which are slightly disconcerting in their non-human (robotic) quality.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019

There is a slight shift in style too in this overall piece. To me it has a water-colour kind of quality and looks like it has been lifted from an artist’s sketchbook. This feels like Laic217 is moving on to a new level, where his confidence and competence is allowing him to experiment more.

I believe he was supposed to be painting this wall with Cort and Cros, but had arrived long before the others and had pretty much finished before they arrived. This is a pity, because it is a long time since I last met this elusive artist.

1957. Moon Street (57)

Back to things more contemporary now with this interesting recent piece by Laic217 in Moon Street. There is an interesting quality to this piece which is more about what is not included than what is. No face and no colour on the hat and track suit top.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2019

Even though a lot of what Laic217 paints appears to be formulaic, or at the very least incorporating similar themes, each of his pieces is highly original, and I’m not quite sure how he achieves that.

It is great to see him back spraying in what I guess must be one of his favourite streets and what is certainly mine.

1746. Moon Street (54)

Absolutely no prizes for guessing the artist…besides which his signature is strikingly obvious in this piece. Laic217 favours this wall, and I must have six or seven of his works from here over the past three years or so. Incidentally, Moon Street is one of my favourite haunts too, but there seems to be less and less turnover here than there used to be.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2018

In this piece, we have many of the things you can expect from Laic217 Including the bucket hat and brick wall motif. But what I particularly like about this character is his eyes which are actually spray can caps – a great idea. You have got to like the rather manic ‘Joker’ mouth too, which adds a touch of menace to the piece.

Laic217’s pieces are often highly colourful and this one is no exception to that. The turquoise background acting as a perfect foil to the red brick shirt and purple face. I’ve always been a fan and likely will always continue to be one.

1543. Moon Street (46)

I don’t think that there has ever been a time when I didn’t enjoy finding a new Laic217 piece and this one is no exception. The work is in one of his favoured spots in Moon Street and fits the frame of the doorway perfectly. There is a sinister element to the piece with the eyes missing and the scarf obscuring the face – I would expect nothing less.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018

I have mentioned many times before that Laic217 has developed his techniques a great deal over the last few years especially the different materials worn by his characters. In this piece the handkerchief tied around his neck has folds that disrupt the pattern on it, a nice touch.

Three hallmark signs mark this out as a Laic217 piece…The bucket hat, the smiley and the distorted face. They just keep coming.

	cannibalrabbit on 34. Close to home
	paulh121 on 3319. St Werburghs Tunnel…
	scooj on 3319. St Werburghs Tunnel…
	paulh121 on Christmas begins
	paulh121 on 3319. St Werburghs Tunnel…

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