I checked through previous posts before writing this piece about Solar, and it appears that I have only written about his work twice before on Natural Adventures. This is in spite of having taken plenty of pictures of Solar writing about the place. I will need to rummage around in my archives to post more Solar pieces, as they offer an antidote to more conventional graffiti writing.
Solar, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
In this ethereal piece under the M32, Solar has written out his letters, which have a transparent look to them, over a background pattern of red, purple and black ‘marbelling’ of the wall. A lovely piece in a place where it won’t get as much exposure as it deserves.
I first came across Whysayit (YSAE) a few years ago when he regularly collaborated with Kleiner Shames. Although I have never met him, I have enjoyed his irregular anti-graffiti style over the years, and this one under the M32 is a banger.
Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022
The organic writing is simple, spelling out ‘YSAE’ in two tones of pink. Light pink for the letters and dark pink for the drop shadow. Combine these with a black border and white highlights, and you have straightforward, quality writing which lifts nicely off the wall. Sometimes less is more.
Over the weekend, I had an hour or two to kill while the dog was at the groomers, and took the opportunity to drop down under the M32 to a spot along the River Frome, where I can’t take the dog, because it could be a little dangerous
The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
My reward included this wonderful little column piece from Inca the Mole. It is always a great pleasure to find the Mole’s pieces, and this one was quite hidden away. The mole is decorated with little peace symbols and some simple stars add a little interest to the background. A simple idea nicely executed.
I bring you a couple of nice pieces from Klashwhensober from underneath the M32, the bit that is over the Bristol Frome (hence Frome Side), and adjacent to the M32 Spot. As with several other prolific artists, I have started to post more than one piece at a time if they are from around the same time in the same location, simply because I have a backlog of unpublished pictures that is swelling immeasurably, thanks to Upfest 2022 and a short trip to Porto, with its emerging street art scene.
Klashwhensober, Frome side, Bristol, May 2022
The first piece is a beautifully colourful and happy SOBA piece that is filled with a natural scene including clouds, some birds and a superb purple flower. There is more going on here, though, with a green line that looks liked barbed wire running across the piece. I’ll need to ask Klashwhensober what it is all about next time I see him. I like the KLASH block letters on the ‘H’ too.
Klashwhensober, Frome side, Bristol, May 2022
His second piece, which might have been his first piece, is another set of SOBA letters, with an icy theme happening. The letters are filled with what looks like cracked ice, and the bottom of the letters are fragmenting in frozen blocks and falling to the ground. A fire in the centre of the piece provides an additional burst of colour. Both pieces are nicely done and very ‘Klashwhensober’ish’ in style.
Because I don’t drop down into Frome Side all that often, access is difficult with the dog, most of the pieces are new (to me), and I get to photograph a lot of work. On my most recent trip, I was pleased to find two pieces by Morag, an artist whose work I really rather like.
Morag, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2022
With each new piece I find by Morag, there seems to be an elevated level of sophistication. More detail, more of an expression in the face, accessories like the hat seen in these pieces. It is a journey I am thoroughly enjoying and I look forward to seeing more around Bristol.
Morag, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2022
Both pieces share the characteristic style, but have quite different expressions, and the colour palettes are different too. Morag has joined a merry band of artists that like to do faces, including Slakarts, Zake and Asre – good company indeed.
It would appear that Logoe has had another blitz in Bristol recently, hitting several walls over a very short period of time. These two pieces are from the Frome Side spot underneath the M32 between the two roundabouts. This is a place I don’t often visit, because it is too dangerous to go there with the dog, and I rarely photograph street art without him.
Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2022
Both pieces follow Logoe’s modus operandi, which is to paint his thin script lettering on a colourful background and to decorate the whole thing with a horizontal array of oval spots of varying sizes. This is his thing and this is what he does. This red piece looks wonderful and is accompanied by the words: ‘Attitude legit cos I’m tearing up shit’ – which is a lyric from NWA’s Straight Outta Compton – something I’d have never found out without Google.
Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2022
The second piece following the same formula although with chunkier writing and a duller mustard background is a tribute to the late Meatloaf, which is a rather nice gesture. The two pieces are about 20 yards apart, and I am guessing were painted in the same session. More to come from this latest whistle-stop tour by Logoe.
I don’t know if there is an awful lot more I can say about the kawaii cuteness of Maesyhook’s work, other than to say that here is another fine piece hot off the production line, this time underneath the M32.
Maesyhook, Frome side, Bristol, June 2-021
I think that this a rather sweet little creature emerging from a banana – how do you think of such a thing? Usually we associate large spiders with bananas, having hitched a ride from their native countries. This is a very nicely finished piece, painted with her soft pastel colours that lend themselves so well to these (edgy) cute characters.
I always feel a little anxious visiting this spot, because I get these ridiculous images of falling into the river, and need to be extra vigilant. The anxiety is more than worth it in terms of the reward of some seriously excellent graffiti art. This lively piece is by Lewse.
Lewse, Frome side, Bristol, June 2021
The format is a common one for Lewse, with letters in her own font, beautifully filled and book-ended with a lovely Yogi Bear cartoon character. Lewse has definitely got these writing/cartoon character combos down to a tee. Always good to see her work.
The nice thing about dropping down beneath the M32, where a canalised section of the River Frome flows, is that it seems to be a popular spot for visiting artists to paint, often accompanied by Bristol friends showing them around.
Wee Nuls, Frome side, Bristol, June 2021
This delightful piece by Wee Nuls was painted a few weeks back by the Belfast-based artist who, it appears, cut her teeth with spray painting in Bristol some time ago. I love this kind of portrait piece that sits comfortably alongside Slakarts, Pekoe and others who create bright and colourful faces about the city. I hope that Wee Nuls makes more trips to Bristol soon.
Slakarts is not only a talented street artist, but he is also a really decent bloke. I was walking through the tunnel a couple of weeks back, and he cycled past me, and then stopped to say hello. After a very brief chat, he said he had to dash, but I was rather touched that he had bothered to stop at all.
Slakarts, Frome side, Bristol, June 2021
This piece next to the M32 Spot is a rather interesting take on his faces, and with the tooth missing has the appearance of a punk granny. It certainly made me smile when I saw it, although I have seen another like it elsewhere. Slakarts keeps churning out his very distinct style of portraits, and Bristol is all the better for them.
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