Tag: Graffiti

5196. Sparke Evans Park (71)

Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

Another instalment from the Burberry check paint jam in Sparke Evans Park, and this one is by Smak. The artist has really gone to town on this one and spread himself out a bit, with a truly awesome piece of graffiti writing.

Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

You can make out the letters SMAK, although with all the patterning, if you didn’t know what you were looking for it could be a bit tricky. As you might expect, the technique and skill in this piece are second to none, and you are seeing graffiti writing at its absolute best. It is great to see a spike in activity from Smak.

5195. Dean Lane skate park (595)

Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

Javiceus, to give Ceus his full name, has undergone as slight reinvention, and returned from his winter slumbers with a different look to his work, which is altogether lighter and more airy, if that makes sense. He continues to write the letters CEUS, but they somehow feel different.

Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

There is a heavenly appearance to this piece, probably conveyed by a background of blue and white, looking a little bit like clouds on a sunny day. The letters in a light lilac colour are nicely formed and executed, with an orange disc, which looks a little like a disfigured smily face, making up the ‘E’. More in this style to come from Ceus very soon.

5194. M32 roundabout J3 (471)

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

In this piece, part of a recent paint jam on the St Paul’s side of the roundabout, we see Laic217 at his magnificent best. A rather evil looking skeleton is set on a fabulous backdrop of church windows in true horror film style, brandishing a gold medallion with the letter L for Laic.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

As with all his pieces, the folds of the fabric of the skeleton’s robe are beautifully painted and convey a texture that many artists struggle to portray. Light and shade play a large part in Laic217’s work, creating depth and perspective. This is an outstanding piece from the master of skeletons.

5193. Peel Street Green (11)

Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023
Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023

In his own words, Mote has had a little bit of a quiet patch lately, although I have to say I hadn’t noticed as there is always so much of his work about the place to find. He assures me, though, that he has rediscovered his mojo and his enthusiasm for painting on the streets again, which can only be a good thing.

Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023
Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023

This is quite a large piece at the end of the wall in Peel Street Green, featuring another crazy, creative monster. The cartoon style used by Mote renders all of his characters as rather loveable, no matter how many nasty teeth or strange eyes they might have. Mote has left us with a very tidily painted and crisply finished piece here, which is great to see.

5192. Various locations

Slim Pickings (TES), Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021

I mentioned a few days back that In hadn’t posted anything like as many pieces by Slim Pickings (TES) as I should have done over the last few years, so I set out to remedy that by doing a trawl through my archives. This is what I came up with, and this is just for 2021, so I expect to do another of these mini-galleries for subsequent years.

Writing TES, Slim Pickings (the name of his Instagram account when I first encountered his work) maintains the exact same general form for his letters, tinkering at the edges with colour changes and some other playful additions. Here are the pieces I should have posted before:

Slim Pickings (TES) Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2021
Slim Pickings (TES) Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), L Dub, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), L Dub, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021
Slim Pickings (TES), Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021

5191. M2 Cycle path (213)

Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

There is always something rather nice when a new artist starts to land pieces about the place, it keeps things fresh, and adds to the incredible volume and diversity of street/graffiti art in Bristol. Bean has hit the ground running and stamped his brand in several popular spots, including on the M32 cycle path, where this is the second one that I have found here.

Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Bean, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

Although I have seen a piece of writing from Bean, I think that the main focus is on character pieces, which are cartoon in style and usually pretty bright and bold. A common theme in street art is for the character to be holding a spray can, reflecting the work of the artist themselves. This blue-faced, red-haired character is holding a rather nice orange can. This piece is beautifully presented, with great shading and highlights. I am looking forward to a whole lot more from Bean this year.

5190. M32 roundabout J3 (470)

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

Rusk is a lovely bloke, and although I have to remind him who I am pretty much every time I meet him, he always makes time for a chat. I was in the right place at the right time when he and several other artists were having a bit of a paint jam on the St Paul’s side of the M32 roundabout. This was one of a really classy gallery of pieces.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

Rusk has painted a graffiti writing and character combination with a little slogan and probable theme of ‘born to die’. The writing is, as always, first class and as neat and tidy as you’ll ever see. The metallic feel is worked hard with combinations of white and grey and clever highlights and stars. Along the top of the piece, the grim reaper is calling out to bypassing pedestrians and cyclists… you’re next. Beautiful work from Rusk.

5189. Dean Lane skate park (594)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

At a guess I would say that I only post about a quarter of all the Werm pieces that I find, and tht is probably only a half of what he paints, so I will have to find a way to remedy that. I think I might have to do a trawl through my folders and publish a mini gallery to get back up to speed.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

In the short three or four years when I first met Werm, who was writing EMAN at the time, he is in my view, one of the most improved artists and graffiti writers in Bristol. The technical skills he displays with his work is of the highest order, and it just shows what talent combined with dedication can do. There is more to this piece of graffiti writing than just the stunning colour combination.

5188. Dean Lane skate park (593)

Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

Consistently brilliant and brilliantly consistent, Trafficity manages to paint the exact same structural form of letters spelling ZIOM. As I have said in previous posts featuring his work, I suspect there is a hidden smaller word running along the top of the letters, but until I next meet him to ask him, I cannot be sure.

Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

There is something very reassuring about Trafficity’s work, a constant landmark that reappears, when all else around us in in complete turmoil and chaos. The colour selections and transitions are near perfect, and the border and outlines clean and tight. It is always great to find a Trafficity piece.

5187. Hepburn Road (20)

The colourful nature of the Stokes Croft area is perhaps best represented by this little alleyway, known locally as ‘Crack Alley’. Although the drug dealing that used to be the USP of this corner of Bristol has moved on, the graffitied walls continue to be a feature, and every now and again an absolute beauty appears. This collaboration from PWA artists Face 1st and Zake is just such a beauty.

Face 1st, Hepburn Road, Bristol, April 2023
Face 1st, Hepburn Road, Bristol, April 2023

The PWA writing is by Face 1st, and is quite a rarity, as he usually writes FACE. The orange is really striking in this dark alley, and the depth to the letters really helps them to pop out from the wall. There are some nice shout-outs to Nightwayss, Soap and Chill too.

Zake, Hepburn Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zake, Hepburn Road, Bristol, April 2023

The character piece from Zake is brilliant and seems to portray a young tagger looking rather upset – maybe he got caught spraying walls. The shorts and t-shirt are a stroke of genius, and the body position suggests a lot of forward movement from the character. I absolutely love this, it makes me laugh, a lot. Altogether a superb collaboration from this pair.