Character – Page 31 – Natural adventures

5850. Brunel Way (256)

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024

It is always great fun to come across the hapless Mr Underbite, looking as confused and ever so slightly miserable as usual. This is not the first time Mr Underbiter has appeared on this particular wall, which seems so very well suited to the proportions of the face.

The letters MUB refer to the artist and the character’s name. I suspect that this was a quick one, as the underlying piece (by Ryder, from recollection) is still partially visible, and it is a simple two-tone affair. I very much hope that we het to see plenty more of this fine character work as things warm up in 2024.

Just in case you miss the piece, a nearby slap (sticker) reminds us that Mr Underbite comes in many sizes and forms on our streets.

5837. M32 roundabout J3 (554)

Minto, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024

I mentioned a little while back in a Minto post that we were likely to see a lot more of his work, and indeed that is exactly the case. There is something quite unique in the way that Minto combines his letters with characters or scenes to build up a story, and this one is a very green story.

The letters spell out, unsurprisingly, the word MINTO, and contains three or four faces sort of organically melded into the letters. To the right, the end face reminds me of the faces on the trains and other vehicles in the Thomas the Tank Engine books, but maybe that is just me. This is a nicely thought out and painted piece from Minto.

5829. Peel Street Green (26)

Sub, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024

Having only recently graced the pages of Natural Adventures, Sub, I have a feeling, is going to feature more and more going forward. This large piece in Peel Street Green combines his big letters with a pussycat character. The piece was overpainted last week with some writing that incorporated (and by implication, took credit for) the cat… Sub has since returned and restored his own letters.

Sub’s letters tend to be super-large and simply filled, but it is the inclusion of his cartoon, manga-style cat, that adds lots of interest to the piece. This is a nice clean and tidy piece, and it will be interesting to see if the incorporation of characters will become more of a thing for the artist. Nice work.

5772. Brunel Way (252)

Jevoissoul, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2023

I am rather fond of Jevoissoul’s work. It doesn’t have the sharpness or precision of writers like Dibz or Smak, nor does it create extraordinary characters in the way that Sled One or 3Dom can, for example, but it has a charm and authenticity that underpins the vast spectrum of art and graffiti that we see in Bristol. On such solid foundations great things are built.

Jevoissoul has painted two of his characters with ‘Popeye’ smiles. The fills and shading is basic and effective, creating some contrast and depth in its simplest form. No Jevoissoul piece is complete without the word ‘slow’ in attendance, although I don’t know why he writes it, nor why it is pointed at the character on the left. One for the next conversation I have with the artist.

5767. Picton Lane (17)

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2023

These pictures were taken in the dark (the miracle of modern phone technology!) and probably don’t fully capture the magnificent colours of this graffiti writing/character piece by Kosc in Picton Lane. The piece was painted alongside a Mind 49 frog which recently featured on Natural Adventures.

The chrome letters are interrupted by a cigarette?-smoking skull appearing in the place of the O of KOSC. As you’d expect, the whole piece is beautifully constructed and executed in one of Kosc’s favourite spots. A classy piece.

5764. M32 Cycle path (248)

Rudini Doodini, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024

I haven’t posted nearly enough work by Rudini Doodini over the years, mainly because he hasn’t painted very often. He used to paint small characters under the name of Morph, some of which I posted a few years back. This is one of the larger pieces I have seen which was painted alongside Wxttsart and Mind 49.

The letters WHO are interspersed with three stylised characters looking like they mean business. There are some great colours in the piece and the composition works very nicely. I hope that this early New Year piece signifies more activity from Rudini Doodini in 2024.

5757. M32 roundabout J3 (546)

Minto, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023

I suggested recently that we would be seeing a lot more from Minto in Bristol, because I believe he has moved westwards from London, and so it seems to be, confirmed by another original and captivating piece on the M32 roundabout at the end of last year.

The letters MINTO are very well disguised in this piece of multiple characters, I can see at least four of them. There is plenty to look at in the piece, and the paint work is really classy, even Minto’s signature is classy. A really nice imaginative piece, and I expect to see a whole lot more from Minto in 2024.

5753. M32 Cycle path (246)

Jevoissoul, M32 Cycle path, Brisol, December 2023

It is my birthday – a significant one, and I have slightly taken my eye off the ball with writing my blog, so this will be an exceptionally quick one. Here we have a fun cartoony piece from Jevoissoul who emerged on the scene as recently as October last year.

The character has a cartoon Picassoesque feel to it and reminds me of an artist who used to paint in Bristol called Panskaribas (see below). Jevoissoul often accompanies his work with the word Slow, and he has done so in big letters in this piece – I expect to see a lot more from the artist this year.

Panskaribas, New Stadium Road, Bristol, October 2018

5747. Jubilee Street (7)

Mote, Jubilee Street, Bristol, December 2023

Having had a reasonably quiet autumn period, Mote has been having something of a purple patch lately, and I wonder if it might be in part related to teaming up with Mr Crawls and finding new inspiration. Whatever the reason, I am very much enjoying his renaissance.

I normally visit this spot after I have been to the recycling centre, but don’t expect to find anything new, I was pleased to see a few new pieces on this occasion. Mote has painted a humanoid monster this time, which is a bit of a departure from most of his work, and I think that it works rather well. The floating hand with a thumbs up also adds to the piece significantly. Monsterish and endearing, the way that Mote works, and he has managed to succeed with this one. I’m not sure what the ‘tunnel vision’ means, but I am sure there is a story there.

5744. St Werburghs tunnel (396)

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023

Any and every time I see a piece by Fiva, it makes my heart sing. The rarity value has something to do with it and this is one of only three pieces painted in Bristol in 2023, and before these we had to wait three years for his reappearance.

This is an outstanding piece, adopting his customary formula of writing his name and accompanying it with a fun cartoon character. As in previous pieces, Fiva has superimposed a script ‘fiver’ over his block capitals ‘FIVER’ to create an amazing and very clever effect. He is a master of this technique and seems to make the complicated look simple.

The wonderful character is saying ‘Diolch Bristol’ which is Welsh for ‘Thank you, Bristol’. I’m not too sure what that means, but it has an inference of finality about it. I do hope not, and will be keeping my fingers crossed for a return by the artist in 2024. Meanwhile, I will simply enjoy and admire this outstanding piece.

	scooj on 7435. River Avon (107)
	scooj on 7165. Dean Lane skate park…
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)

	scooj on 7435. River Avon (107)
	scooj on 7165. Dean Lane skate park…
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)
	scooj on 7458. Greenbank (181)

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