The blue and yellow colours used in this piece give it away as another reference to the war in Ukraine. There is so much to like about this scene, by Sled One, painted alongside Smak, and it is typically full of fine detail and great composition, let alone the outstanding execution.
Sled One, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
I have noticed that Sled One does enjoy painting cheese, and he has excelled himself with this cheese character, full of holes and a couple of cheeky mice. His work is always fantastical, combining characters with abstract shapes sprinkled with surrealism and always with outstanding results. I like that this piece references Ukraine, without being in your face, it demonstrates that there are so many ways to support the Ukrainians.
It is most satisfying knowing that something is going to happen and then discovering that it has indeed happened. This is a wonderful collaboration between Bristol artist Kid Crayon and two Spanish artists, I think from Barcelona, Largo and Rama. I spent a while a few weeks back chatting with Kid Crayon in a bar and he told me then that he had been in touch with two Spanish artists on Instagram, and had agreed to paint with them on a planned visit to Bristol. This, I guess, is the result and I love it.
Largo, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Set on a purple background and starting on the left is a fabulous cartoon style man and his blue car by Largo. I love the style in the man’s face, the hatching bringing out his features and his glasses are brilliant. There is a simplicity to this work that works really well. I wonder what the story is.
Rama, M32, Bristol, April 2019
In the middle of the collaboration is this ashtray by Rama, with a smoking Posca pen in it – a reference to a tool of the trade, a bit like the way many artists feature spray cans in their work. I am particularly drawn to the little chips in the ashtray – fabulous attention to detail.
Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Finally, on the right hand side is this stunner from Kid Crayon. Heaven only knows what is going on here, a country bumpkin maybe with a sheriff badge with the word Eat (his crew with SPZero76), grating a plate of cheese. I don’t know why, perhaps it is the unuisual story and concept, but I absolutely love this piece a whole lot, even the overpainted white outline names behind each section.
Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Unfortunately this collaboration didn’t last long, and was overpainted with some inferior burners, but that is the way with street art. I am just so pleased I got to see this wall before it was ruined.
What a wonderful bit of creative painting that works towards urban regeneration and cohesion. Three drab utility boxes on the M32 roundabout were recently given a makeover by the Sheffield artist Color.
Color, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2017
I met Color when he was spraying some pillars in East Street for Upfest and we had a chat about the work he does with incorporating the surrounding street furniture into his work and transforming the ‘drab’ into the ‘vibrant’ and the social benefits this brings about. I can say with some certainty that these cheese houses and mouse have brought a smile to many faces in an area that can at times be quite intimidating. Upfest work to follow sometime soon…I hope.
Another weird and wacky wheatpaste from Kid Crayon that I posted some time ago to illustrate a haiku, before I started posting about street art.
Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, July 2015
I really am warming up to his uncomfortable portraits and his choice of spots. It is strange, but until you start looking for his works you simply don’t see them, or if you do, they don’t seem to register. They are all over Bristol, and I have several more lined up to post.
Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, October 2015
I see this boy/man eating cheese most days, and it always makes me smile.
Natural adventures 