Tag: Eye

706. Upfest 2016 (110)

This is the sixth piece by Shab that I have posted since the beginning of the year. A relatively new discovery for me, but he has been here all the time…I just hadn’t recognised his work. I feel such a fool, because he is not only really established in Bristol, but turns out fantastic pieces across the city Bristol which somehow fell under my radar.

Shab, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Shab, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

His work at Upfest appeared on the side of a train carriage with the word ‘unwellcome’ (spelling) written above several of his line drawn figures and heads. His human figures are like studies or drafts, with particular attention to proportions, muscles and form. I do like his work very much, and of course the piece is generously sprinkled with eyes.

663. Magdalene Place (3)

This is another small piece by Shab that I photographed before I knew who it was by. Fortunately I keep a good archive of pictures that I regularly revisit, which is why some of my posts are a little out of date.

Shab, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016
Shab, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016

In this piece we see Shab’s trademark triangular patterns and a rather fetching brown eye. I think the top half of the hoarding is by another artist, but I can’t recognise who. The adjacent piece is by Mr Klue, featured in a post from some while back. Magdalene Place is a little back lane in St Pauls which often has some rather good street art, even if it is a bit out of the way.

Eye bogies

 

Phrase from my daughter

‘eye bogies’ had me laughing

I called them ‘sand men’.

 

by Scooj

645. St Michael’s Hill (1)

Well it’s all Shabs at the moment. I said that there would be more to share with you, and so it is. This is a lovely piece on the side of a small café at the bottom of St Michael’s Hill, and in an area without much I the way of street art.

Shab, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, September 2016
Shab, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, September 2016

This piece has the characteristic colourful outlines of a figure, and of course a beautiful signature eye. I have walked past this many many times on my way to work, and I believe it to be an outstanding work.

Shab, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, September 2016
Shab, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, September 2016

The area is significant to me and my family as both of my children were born in St Michael’s Hospital just up the hill from here.

635. Picton Lane (9)

Well I said two posts ago that I would start to feature more of Shab’s work, and here I am, true to my promise. This is a really nice piece down a back street with a very low footfall. I doubt many people have had a chance to see this piece, and indeed I am not sure if it is still there.

Shab, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Shab, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

Once again the signature eye features prominently, together with another of Shab’s motifs, a crow. I like his work, and particularly like the patterns in black and white he makes to in-fill the piece. More soon.

Shab, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Shab, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

632. Dean Lane skate park (31)

Shab was one of the first wave of Bristol graffiti/street artists along with the likes of Cheo, FLX, Inkie, 3D and Jody to name just a few. It is curious then that this is my first post about Shab’s work. It is of a very recent piece that went up in Dean Lane. I didn’t post it immediately, because I didn’t know the artist, but serendipitously he followed me on Instagram the same day, and that was that. I am a little ashamed that I hadn’t made the connection myself before, but I am still learning…every day. I have several other pieces by him in the archive so I will start posting them.

Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017
Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017

This abstract piece is fairly typical of his work and features an amazing eye, one of his ‘signatures’. The piece brings together two contrasting elements, the rounded white shapes bound with black outlines, and a multi-coloured jagged pattern – the two complementing each other perfectly. It looks like a spaceship, but probably isn’t one.

Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017
Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017

The eye is really beautiful. Looking forward to finding and posting more from this master.

610. Code Street, Shoreditch (1)

In my wanderings through the streets and alleyways of Shoreditch it was comforting to come across a familiar sight. So much of the artwork was unknown to me and then this…a piece by Bristol graffiti artist Voyder. All of a sudden I felt quite at home and rather pleased with myself that I could identify an artist in the heart of London’s graffitiland.

 

Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

I have to say though that I don’t think it is his best work, and not a patch on the stuff he has bee producing in the last few months (in my view). This wall was produced for the Meeting of Styles festival June, 2016. The photographs are a bit dodgy because the daylight was fading, and my crappy little camera was fussing about the light levels. I think I just about got away with it.

Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

583. M32 Spot (2)

Following on directly from the previous post, here is another wonderful piece from the concrete sprawl under the M32. This is by 3Dom from back in September 2016, and you might get a flavour of what he thinks of it from a hashtag he used on his Instagram feed: #skullsareprettyboringafterawhile.

3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2017
3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2017
I happen to rather like it, and it works well in the troglodytic surroundings. I don’t think it took too long to spray, although I don’t know, I just have a feeling. He has real flair for attention to detail, the shading, the folds around the eye, the reflection in the eye and drips from the skull. The piece is humorous and the fly coming out of the hole at the top sets it off nicely.

543. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (4)

Another great artist to claim a wall in Rivington Street is My Dogs Sighs, and his piece is alongside other greats such as Fanakapan, Stinkfish and Thierry Noir. This is a piece typical of My Dog Sighs, composed of a pair of eyes, and on closer inspection a scene going on in the reflection of the eye itself.

My Dog Sighs, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
My Dog Sighs, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

This is a clever technique used by My Dog Sighs, and it is in the detail of the eye that the story lies. Difficult to make out, but the artist knows. It is always nice to stumble upon anything by My Dog Sighs.

534. Upfest 2016 (73)

An interesting commentary piece at this year’s Upfest by MAS972, and artist based in Tel Aviv. I don’t know if it reflects his experiences in the UK, but we certainly are a nation awash with CCTV cameras.

MAS972, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
MAS972, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Another visiting artist I know little about, but you can see more of his work at this London street art design website.  think the text is a reference to the slogan from Candid Camera, which was ‘smile, you’re on TV’, if I remember correctly.