He doesn’t visit Bristol often (enough) but when he does he always leaves us something special and on a recent visit Kleiner Shames painted this stunning piece which is a slight departure from his more recognisable FOIS letters that we are more familiar with.
Kleiner Shames, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2020
Using colours that KleinerShames favours, and that help with identification, and a couple of designer block letters, the piece spells out the artist’s initials K S. I have missed seeing his work since he left for London, but we are blessed in Bristol that he makes these occasional trips to his old home.
I think that this might just be my favourite mural from Mr Penfold to date. I like everything about it. The proportions seem to work really well, the colours, the balance the designs and the shadows come together perfectly in this bright abstract piece.
Mr Penfold, Merrywood Road, Bristol, July 2020
Because Mr Penfold generally works to commissions, we don’t get to see nearly enough of his distinctive brand of abstract work on the streets, but for him to do so would probably erode his strong commercial brand. I really love this piece.
Doors 96 – A selection of doors from the Orchard Street/Lane area of Bristol
Just a quick one this week. A few doors that I photographed back in December just round the back of the Bristol Hippodrome. The houses around here survived the Blitz, unlike many others in the centre of town.
Green door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Arched garden door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Fine door with a gorgeous awning, Bristol, December 2019
Door, Bristol, December 2019
Unusual panelled door, Bristol, December 2019
So, a set of period doors all of which I rather like in one of the older bits of the centre of Bristol.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.
Well, well, well, this piece by Paul Monsters only goes to show that it is always worth making the effort to go off the beaten track from time to time, rather than only visit the ‘sure things’.
Paul Monsters, Leonard Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Last week I only had a short lunch break so rather than strolling off to Bedminster I took a quick butcher’s at Leonard Lane. This was my reward, a large colourful geometric design piece by Paul Monsters.
Paul Monsters, Leonard Lane, Bristol, December 2019
It is rare to see such large ‘commissiony’ type pieces in Leonard Lane, rather it is well known for tagging and practice pieces. I am guessing that it was permitted by Centrespace, the owners of the wall. What is most interesting about this excellent piece is that it is the first I have seen by Paul Monsters that is in such a narrow street. It works extremely well and seems to bring extra light to this dark and dingy place. A great find.
Looking back to September when the weather was just lovely and I managed to capture a few more doors from the beautiful cornish village (town) of Fowey. Fewer words this week – enjoy the doors.
Black door, Anchor House, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
Large folding door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
See the blue door on Ferryside, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
Anchor knocker door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
Unusual recessed front doors, A nice pair of blue doors, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
A nice pair of blue doors, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2019
All a bit rushed this time.
Meanwhile, please go take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.
Mr Penfold is a designer who paints quite a few commissions in and around Bristol, and his characteristically colourful patterns are unmistakably his work. I think that his art tends to divide opinion a little, but I have to say that I am always rather pleased to find a piece by him.
Mr Penfold, King Street, Bristol, August 2019
This one on King Street is a favourite spot for the artist and is a replacement for a piece he painted there a while back. The most annoying thing about it is that the red wheelie bin is permanently parked right in front of it and it is very hard to get a clean shot (you can see I failed miserably). The colours that Mr Penfold selects always reminds me of confectionary, in particular liquorice allsorts, you can probably see why. There is an interesting feature on the wall just to the right of Mr Penfold’s piece, which is the letters St N P, carved into the stone wall of. I don’t know if this is some kind of stone mason marking or a signpost or something else… answers on a postcard please.
I really do wish that Kleiner Shames had never left Bristol for the lure of London, but I suppose that is where the work and opportunities are. However, it is so good that roughly two or three times a year he returns to Bristol and leaves one of his distinctive pieces as a gift to all of us that admire his work.
Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Although taking pictures in St Werburghs tunnel is a nightmare, some pieces transcend the quality of the picture, and this in my view is one of those. The letters spell out FOIS (time in French), and for a long time I thought that was the name of the artist. I don’t remember how I met him, or discovered his name, but I do remember buying a couple of pieces of art from him when he was clearing out his studio to move to London, and they are treasured possessions indeed. Come back soon.
I have walked past this pioece by Mr Penfold a handful of times, but not until recently did I have my camera with me, which is a pity really because it has been rather spoiled with a tag. It is in a little alley just off Nelson Street and close to St John the Baptist church.
Mr Penfold, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
His work always contains these abstract designs in bright colours, often incorporating animal print patterning. The colours in this piece are typical of his work, which can often be seen brightening up shop fronts and public spaces. Something about his work reminds me very much of the 1980s, it might be the brashness of the placing together of contrasting patterns and colours. Always instantly recognisable, and usually upbeat work.
It is obvious from this collaboration combined with Instagram posts from each of these artists that they not only paint well together, but they are really good friends too. Jointly, Hazard and Tasha Bee are at the vanguard of female street art in Bristol, although if I am honest an artist’s gender to me is not as relevant as the quality of their work, both score highly on the latter measure.
Hazard, M32, Bristol, January 2019
The Hazard piece on the left is a copy of the one she painted in Stokes Croft a couple of weeks earlier and has that amazing blue and red shadow thing going on.
Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2018
It is so good to have her in Bristol for a while because we get to see her work first hand, rather than via social media – I need to photograph her most recent piece this lunchtime (by the time you read this it was a couple of days ago).
Tasha Bee, M32, Bristol, January 2019
The Tasha Bee piece on the right is in such a different style – flat rather than 3D and highly designed, fitting the ‘Tasha Bee brand’ if that makes any sense at all. I love the work of both of these artists, and although I have met Tasha Bee several times, I would love to meet Hazard too and see her at work. Wonderful collaboration.
Natural adventures 