Elephant – Natural adventures

7160. Cumberland Basin

DFC1848, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2025

A few of the pieces that were painted as part of Werm’s birthday celebration didn’t last more than 24 hours, including a rather striking piece by Zake and some writing by 3F Fino. Fortunately, however, this character piece by DFC 1848 remained untouched.

Spot the difference

There are two differences between the two photographs, taken about three minutes apart. Can you see them? Clue, one is on the elephant, the other is not. DFC1848 continues to expand his repertoire, and this elephant is quite a beauty.

There is something about the style of this piece that reminds me of 1960s and 1970s TV cartoon shows. It is really nicely painted, with good solid fills, some great three colour shading and a superb thick border. It was really good too to be able to catch up with the artist, just as he was finishing up.

3487. M32 Spot (105)

Many of the old classic Disney films would have a weird and frankly rather disturbing sequence, often adopting a different illustrative style to the rest of the film. Ryder has brought one of those to light with this magnificent pink piece at the M32 Spot. Who can forget the drunken pink elephant hallucination scene from Dumbo? – what was that all about in a children’s cartoon?

Ryder has done a magnificent job with his elephant characters and an equally disturbing set of faces incorporated into his RYDER lettering. Part of a collaborative wall, this is a wild and stunning piece of graffiti writing and shows off Ryder at his very best.

3291. Cheltenham 2020 (13)

Mr Draws really came up with something of a surprise at this year’s Cheltenham Paint Festival with this environmental piece of an elephant and the slogan ‘ system change not climate change’.

Mr Draws, Paint festival, Cheltenham, September 2020

I caught up with Mr Draws in the centre of town and he told me that he had used a technique for the first time which is used by many artists called a doodle grid. He reported that he enjoyed it and that it had worked really well. There seems to be a bit of a mixture of techniques and styles within the piece, for example the rather abstract foliage, the well proportioned elephant and the twigs with leaves. A strange combination but one with a clear strong message.

2058. Dean Lane skate park (196)

Recently Face 1st has been teaming up with an artist I have not been aware of before who likes to paint elephants, Junk. I don’t yet know much about the artist, but I like his simple style which goes so well with a very similar style used by Face 1st.

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

I have actually posted a collaboration by these two before fairly recently, but thought that the whole thing was by Face 1st and that he had branched out into doing elephants…he corrected me via Instagram.

I hope to see more of this pairing…there is something rather calming and meditative about this collaboration… maybe it is an elephant thing.

Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019

1973. M32 roundabout J3 (120)

Readers will be in no doubt that Face 1st is one of my favourite and most featured artists in Natural Adventures. This beautiful work at the M32 roundabout features his trademark faces and some incredibly sweet elephants…without ears.

It would appear that Face 1st is not to everyone’s taste and just to the right of the piece is a throw up saying ‘Face Junk’. Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t deface (literally) his work, and the quality of the ‘protest’ simply isn’t up to much, emphasising how much better the Face 1st piece actually is. You certainly have to develop a thick skin to be in this game, but I guess you wouldn’t do it if you were too sensitive. Another work from this gentleman that I can cherish.

1029. Upfest 2017 (57)

I met Falko One in East Street on the Sunday of Upfest. It was early in the morning and showers were threatening. He had already started on the first of three commissioned elephants he was planning to complete in the day, but was doubtful because of the rain. This is a man who likes to paint elephants, and he does it really well.

Falko One it turns out is one of the most well known street artists in South Africa and has been working for almost thirty years inspiring others and growing the graffiti culture there. He is best known for his elephants.

As with several other pieces at Upfest, it was great to see the artist in action and how he went about creating his piece. I think what you see here is someone very much at ease with the subject. He has a great understanding of the proportions, shape and movement of elephants and can create these amazing pieces in no time at all.

The colours and shading, also bring a unique aspect to his art. I mean who ever saw a pink elephant before…hic?

38. Dean Lane (1)

I took a swift walk through Bedminster today and encountered this very recently sprayed simple stencil.

Diff, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2015

I don’t know the artist because it is unsigned. It is really charming and makes use of the wall’s features.

Update 1 August 2022 – I believe this delightful piece was by Diff

8/10

	scooj on Shards
	M. on 7397. Turbo Island
	M. on 7397. Turbo Island
	beth on Shards
	scooj on Thursday doors – 8 Janua…

	scooj on Shards
	M. on 7397. Turbo Island
	M. on 7397. Turbo Island
	beth on Shards
	scooj on Thursday doors – 8 Janua…

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