Cumberland Basin – Page 10 – Natural adventures

6619. Cumberland Basin

Sam Brentall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024 — Sam Brentnall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

The Christmas break continues to be ultra-busy so I am rushing today’s posts a little. Normal service will resume in a few days. This piece, by Sam Brentnall is a wonderfully uncomplicated cartoon character dog holding a chicken, and whoever not?

I have only posted one of Sam Brentnall’s pieces before, which was up at Purdown, so coming across this one in the Cumberland Basin was a very pleasant surprise. His work really justifies the phrase ‘less is more’ and what I mean by that is the simplicity of the scene tells a story without overindulgent elaboration. I would definitely like to see more of Sam Brentnall’s work on the streets… perhaps in 2025.

6614. Cumberland Basin

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

Not long ago, I met Lee Roy, whilst walking our respective dogs, and he informed me that he was hanging up his spray cans for a while, which was disappointing to hear, because I like his work and the way he expresses himself through it. However, this piece might signify a return for the anti-style(ish) writer.

During his ‘lay-off’, he hasn’t lost his touch in the slightest, indeed, this is a rather sharp piece, beautifully presented and with an array of his favourite fill patterns and shapes. The purples and greys work well against the blight blue background, and this is a very fine ‘come back’ piece. Hoping this is more than a splash in the pan.

6611. Cumberland Basin.

Blam, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

Seriously quick one today – I have loads of Christmas preparations (housework) still to do, and very little time to do it in. This is a nice mega-tag type of piece by an artist I don’t know much about, called Blam, who I believe might live in Bristol, and who paints occasional pieces.

This spot is one I really like, and Blam has managed to fill the space well with this ultra-green combination piece.

6610. Cumberland Basin

Vane and Bnie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2024

This stunning collaboration from Vane and Bnie was painted a little while ago during a paint jam organised to wish Mena a swift recovery from her accident in Thailand. The character on the left is by Vane and the writing, spelling MENAS is by Bnie.

The colour selection in this collaboration is really quite something, with the purples, pinks and mint green working exceptionally well together. I don’t get to see much artwork by Vane, and Bnie hasn’t painted too much this year, so this collaboration was bonus and a bit of a treat. I hope all the good vibes created during this paint jam have helped Mena on her journey to recovery.

6575. Cumberland Basin

Noise and Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

One of the reasons that I am able to dwell a little on going back through my archives is that the winter weather is finally getting the better of ‘fair-weather’ artists, and turnover has slowed considerably since the back end of November. Although it is never good to see a slow-down, the upside is that it does give me a bit of a breather and the chance to share some ‘forgotten’ pieces, including this fine collaboration from Noise and Zake.

I have said it before, that Zake loves to team up with anyone who is willing to paint with him, and in this piece he has combined really well with Noise, incorporating his cartoon character as the ‘O’ of NOISE. The deep stripy drop shadow lifts the collaboration and unintentionally mirrors the teeth of Zake’s character. This is a really satisfying collaboration to see, from two of Bristol’s best artists.

6570. Cumberland Basin

Conrico, Acer One and Andy Council, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

You might be able to detect that I have been rooting around in my archives again, which I like to do every once in a while, because there are so many pieces that I’d like to share, but that get left behind. How this amazing collaboration from Conrico, Acer One and Andy Council ever got omitted I’ll never know, but I am making up for it now.

Conrico and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

The three part piece is a wonderful co-creation in which all the distinctive elements come together seamlessly. The landscape background with hints of an oriental coastal scene is by Conrico and creates a wonderful setting for the letters of Acer One, that spell out WABI SABI in two sections either side of the centrepiece by Andy Council,

Andy Council, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

The central portrait of a roaring tiger has everything you’d expect from a piece by Andy council where each of the elements of the tiger are ‘stitched’ together to form a coherent and, frankly, stunning whole. I think that the rose pink clouds emphasising the tiger head were painted by Conrico. The overall collaboration is a triumph of three very different styles coming together to create something truly excellent.

6564. Cumberland Basin

Abbie Laura Smith, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2024

Abbie Laura Smith has pushed the creative boat out a little with this symmetrical wheatpaste stuck on a utility box in Cumberland Basin. Rather than being bilaterally symmetrical, the twin portraits are rotationally symmetrical, which I think might be a first on Natural Adventures.

I love the way that Abbie Laura Smith has introduced some colour into this paste-up, which features a portrait of a woman looking a little fed up, and perhaps sad. ALS has a wonderful way of representing hair, which almost looks like it is from a lino-cut that has been scored and printed. There are some subtle differences in the application of colour between the two portraits, such as the lips and distribution of pinks and reds in the hair. This is a wonderfully creative piece from our resident wheatpaster.

6551. Cumberland Basin

This is the second paste-up that I managed to find in Abbie Laura Smith’s latest blitz, and although I only found three pieces, I am sure that there would have been more. A little bit bedraggled, reflecting the damp conditions when I photographed this piece, the paste-up features a black and white image of a woman, reversed out in this instance, with writing incorporated throughout.

As with the last of her pieces that I posted, I can’t quite make out all the writing, but can pick up the odd line here or there, such as “The only chance left was goodbye” and “Keep that…”. Once again these might be sad or morose, but out of context it is difficult to know. Poignant pieces printed off on paper and pasted up in special places for the curious to look at.

6538. Cumberland Basin

I was aware that Abbie Laura Smith had pasted up some new artwork recently because she told me via Instagram messenger, so of course, I had to get out and try and find them. I managed to find three, of which this is the first. I expect there are more that I didn’t locate.

This wheatpaste was looking a little forlorn as the top half had become unstuck in the damp weather and folded over itself. I had to try and replace it and quickly photograph it before it peeled down… it took me several attempts. The style and content of the piece fits snugly into Abbie Laura Smith’s repertoire with a black and white portrait of a woman with words woven into her hair.

If I spent a little longer, I could probably pick out all the words, but I think it is a sorrowful piece, as I can see the words ‘grief’ and ‘the loss’. More to come from our resident paste up specialist soon.

6533. Cumberland Basin

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

Neddy Ned Neddy is one of those artists who paints from time to time in Bristol, but never enough to grace the pages of Natural Adventures all that often. It is always a pleasure to include his work, though, because his writing style is quite special and beautifully executed.

In most of his pieces, the vanishing point for his drop shadow is located centrally behind the letters, which gives the illusion that they are hurtling towards you from the background. The flaming colour selection works well against the blue, and this is an all-round stonking burner.

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	paulh121 on Telling a tale

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