Tag: Cumberland Basin

4102. Cumberland Basin

Different artists have different creative patterns or routines. Some paint the same thing over and over again, tweaking and perfecting it (for example Slim Pickings – TES), others create something extraordinary and different every time (Sled One, Tom Miller, 3Dom). Some only write, some only create characters and some combine the two. Mudra too has a modus operandi, which is either to create a character portrait or to write MUDRA cryptically incorporating characters and symbols. This piece falls into the latter category.

Mudra, Cumberland Basin, September 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, September 2021

This lovely piece from a little while back on the long wall at Cumberland Basin spells out the artist’s name, where the ‘d’ in a little breakout star at the bottom is replaced with a wonderful stylised portrait of a pink-faced, purple-nosed lady with shocking yellow hair. A wonderful and creative piece beautifully worked nice clean lines and fills.

4081. Cumbrland Basin

Ooh! Creative, imaginative and lots of fun, this wonderful piece from Slakarts down in Cumberland Basin is an elaborate expansion on his regular face template. In this piece, Slakarts is telling much more of a story than simply painting up his mega-tag that we see quite a lot of in the city.

Slakarts, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Slakarts, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

A man, a flower and a dog are the subjects of this lovely piece, and the confidence and boldness ooze out of the wall. Slakarts’ work is typified by the thick outlines and solid fills that present as clean and tidy work. There are some similarities in this work and that of Roo, which is a compliment indeed. More sophisticated stuff from Slakarts to come.

4032. Cumberland Basin

Although I haven’t posted much from Turow for a while, he is still churning out his work pretty regularly and switching it up as he goes along, as you can see from this rather different stylised block writing piece.

Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2021
Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2021

Looking like ancient monuments on the lean, these large golden letters with a pink border certainly stand out, and the white line and shimmer across the top of the letters helps to create a nice 3D illusion. Some interesting little blobs across the bottom add a stylish finishing touch. Another one for the gallery.

4020. Cumberland Basin

Well this is a real beauty from alien specialist Nugmoose down in Cumberland Basin. All in black and embellished with bright colourful flowers, this five-eyed alien is difficult to ignore, and plays to all of Nugmoose’s quirky strengths.

Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

Nothing lasts very long on this wall, so I was very pleased to get pictures of this one before it was painted over. No signature required from this artist, because his style and content is fairly recognisable, but just in case there is doubt, the alien script, in this instance on the character’s forehead, is a dead give away. An enjoyable piece from Nugmoose.

4002. Cumberland Basin

It is always a pleasure to come across a Pl8o piece, even more so since I met him. There is something about his letter choice that really appeals to me, so not only is it a nice bit of word play, the shapes of the letters work really nicely together.

Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

In this piece, Pl8o has reverted to his big block letters after a brief flirtation with script, although the dep 3D shadings he favours are not present in this one. A decent enough throwie (throw up) and another to add to his repertoire.

3968. Cumberland Basin

Brace yourselves for some more wonderful pieces by Maybe, which although this post is titled Cumberland Basin, actually come from three different spots in Bristol. The feature image was the first piece that I found from Maybe that wasn’t under Brunel way, but was posted on a column on the north bank of Cumberland Basin.

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2021
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2021

This first piece has two face balloons whose strings are lovingly intertwined as they drift off into a galactic scene. It is also a dreadful photograph and slightly out of focus. My camera is getting a bit goofed up and I think I will be replacing it fairly soon.

Maybe, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2021
Maybe, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2021

The second piece was in Dean Lane skate park on one of the ramps and it is the only one I have seen there to date. Here a face looks on as a hand picks out a star, once again on a galactic background. There is a calmness and serenity about most of Maybe’s pieces that makes them really accessible for all to enjoy.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021

The final piece from this group was from Brunel Way, where most of his pieces have been painted, and this one features another face and hand combination, where the hand is actually another face. All of this curiousness is set on a stunning Red Sea and red sunset. A true beauty. We have come to a point where expectations of his work are getting higher and higher, because his pieces are getting better and better.

3956. Cumberland Basin

One of the great things about living in Bristol is that it has enormous credibility with street/graffiti artists from all over the country and indeed the world, and so visits from some of the greats are not uncommon. Even so, it was rather a surprise to come across this exceptional piece of floral writing from Curtis Hylton on the long wall at Cumberland Basin a couple of weeks back.

Curtis Hylton, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Curtis Hylton, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

I haven’t seen writing like this before, and it is a real privilege to see it right here in Bristol. Spelling out SAME (Curtis writes under the name Samer), the floral patterns and colours blend seamlessly painted on a cosmic cloudy backdrop. Utterly breathtaking work from this super-talented artist.

3938. Cumberland Basin

I don’t know how it has happened, but I have got terribly behind with my posts today – something of a rarity. Possibly going for a run first thing upset my rhythm and routine. I’ve not been doing much running lately due to a knee injury, but am trying to ease myself back into it.

Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

To the point and to the wonderful old piece by Mudra, reminiscent of his very first pieces in Bristol. An old man with white moustache, red cheeks and glasses (maybe), superb work on a bare brick wall, and nicely signed-off with his @ signature. Good to  be able to post some of his older work.

3927. Cumberland Basin

Another debut on Natural Adventures – crumbs, there have been so many of those this year, it is no wonder that I am having difficulty with keeping up. This is a rather charming piece by The Mole, who come to Bristol for Eman’s birthday paint jam at the end of July.

The Mole, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
The Mole, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

Naturally enough, The Mole likes to paint moles, and this one is sporting a rather fetching collection of pink peace symbols. The signature says Inca, and to give the artist his full name it is ‘Inca the Mole’. I like these kinds of megatag pieces, where an artist settles on a theme and then replicates it with variations. Lovely to see, and definitely not the last I will be posting from this west of England artist.

3922. Cumberland Basin

I have a lot of attachment to this wonderful piece by Jelly, her second at this spot this year, because of the conversations we shared before she visited Bristol. There is something comforting and confidence-building when an artist makes contact with me to talk about meeting up during a painting visit. I must say that I was touched that Jelly made contact before her recent trip, and I only wish that I had been able to catch up with her while she was painting this piece, but unfortunately I had a full-on work day and wasn’t able to escape.

Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

Jelly has painted another of her beautiful portrait pieces, complete with her trademark exaggerated eyelashes on this high-turnover wall in Cumberland Basin. The piece, presumably entitled ‘open your eye’, is a portrait of a woman with a third eye, a common theme in street art, and suggests using perception beyond ordinary sight.

Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

The shading on the face and hand with red tints helps to provide a deep perspective, and the eyes and nose are particularly beautifully painted. I love the Henna tattoo on the back of the hand and fingers, and the jewellery too is a lovely detail that lifts the piece way above the ordinary.

Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Jelly, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

Another nice touch are the little white streaks of light on the woman’s hair that allude to the strands of hair so effectively. This is a lovely piece from a lovely artist who is thoughtful and inclusive. I do so hope that next time she is in Bristol I will  be able to accompany her, at least for a little while, as she creates another of her fabulous portraits.