Tag: Graffiti

5020. Dean Lane skate park (565)

Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023

I just happened to be in Dean Lane skate park as Acer One was starting this piece. It was quite busy down there at the time, with Silver (thank you, Paul H for reminding me) painting opposite, DJ Perks who had just finished a piece on the pool wall (I think) and Peggy was on the sloping wall near the raised skate park, painting a floral piece. I do like it when there are lots of people to chat with.

Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023

The wonderful piece, by Acer One, is a tribute to Shimmer, another artist taken away from us far too early in life. It is clear that Shimmer was a popular character, and there are tribute pieces all over the city dedicated to him. There is a lovely sense of order and geometry in this piece, but of course there is, it is by Acer One after all. Acer One uses a long ruler with a handle to achieve his straight lines, but you can see that he has also used the brick course to keep everything flush. A fine tribute.

5019. Brunel Way (192)

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Klashwhensober is utterly relentless. I reckon that I only post about one in five of his pieces, and I currently have a lot of catching up to do. This recent piece under Brunel Way is something a little different and special from the artist, and demonstrates his versatility.

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Set on a grey background and ‘stitched together’ with a blue line running up and down and across the piece, Klashwhensober’s letters ‘SOBER’ each have their own character and design. I particularly like the E and R at the right hand end. The colours work pretty well together and the 3D drop shadow does a great job in lifting the letters away from the background. An unusual offering from Klashwhensober, but one that works really well. I’d welcome more like this from him.

5018. M32 cycle path (197)

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

There has never been a time when I haven’t been absolutely made up to find a portrait piece from the wonderful Pekoe. It feels like quite a while since her last piece, so this one was a very welcome find.

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

Of course, the portrait has many of the characteristics you’d associate with Pekoe’s work; big hair, sad eyes, great shading to bring out the features and incredible presence. I would have to say that I am not entirely sure about the colour scheme, a little bit too much brown and orange for my liking, but overall this is another wonderful shot in the arm from Pekoe.

5017. L Dub (38)

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023

I don’t visit L Dub (Lawrence Weston) very often, and so there is always quite a lot of new stuff to look at when I do make the trip. I have heard DJ Perks talk to me about Donz, a painting friend, many times, but this is the first time I have featured him on Natural Adventures – it will not be the last.

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023

This fresh piece, spelling DONZ, is rather unusual, having white letters and borders of red , blue, pink and green – some nice original thinking going on here. This might sound strange, but I feel that there are some similarities with Benjimagnetic’s work, although a greatly simplified version of it. Perhaps it is the block patterns or the arrows, but there are several components that both artists use. Anyhow, this is a great piece to introduce Donz to Natural Adventures.

5016. Brunel Way (191)

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

I believe that this is a reasonably old piece from Mote on one of the columns under Brunel Way, but I have only recently photographed it – there are so many in this spot it is difficult to keep up.

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Every time I have seen this piece, I instantly get images of the caped crusader and am not sure if this is deliberate or accidental on the part of Mote, who is not known for his characters drawn from popular culture, but rather from his imagination. Whatever the inspiration for this column piece, it is cheerful and fun and typically clean as you’d expect from Mote.

5015. M32 Spot (155)

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

The whole of the M32 spot has become really untidy lately, and the flyposters have been very busy covering every surface with irritating posters. I never thought I’d say it, but I reckon the whole place could do with a bloody good buffing, tidy up and starting over again. Bogat has managed to find some space on this column to paint one of his trademark faces.

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

Although relatively simple in design, Bogat’s work is captivating and packs a punch, and he has a look and feel that is quite unique in Bristol. I particularly like the red cap, which reminds me of my own personal super-hero Jacques Cousteau, who was rarely seen without one. A nice column piece from Bogat.

5014. Moon Street (101)

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

I first became aware of Cartoonneros when he painted a Kurt Cobain piece in Dean Lane in February 2019. I followed him on Instagram and have been intrigued by his work ever since. It is quite unlike anything we tend to see in Bristol, and although on first inspection it looks a bit untidy, his work is always really creative and imaginative.

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

His decision to paint in Moon Street was a good one, as this little alleyway, my favourite spot in Bristol, which is suffering slightly from neglect, is in need of some TLC from artists.

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

This stencil is a fabulous take on the iconic Rene Magritte “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” painting, but instead with the words “Este no es un stemal”, which literally translates as this is not a stem, although I guess stemal means pipe. Great stuff from Cartoonneros here in Bristol. He will be welcome here anytime.

5013. M32 roundabout J3 (450)

Hypo and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hypo and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

It has been a joy to watch some recent collaborations from Hypo and Hemper, and this is the most recent on the M32 roundabout. What is immediately apparent is that their styles are quite different, and that this is less a collaboration and more a painting together, and that is part of the gig, knowing that friends paint together having fun.

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

The Hypo piece is a rhapsody in green, accompanied by four graffiti arrows, adding a bit of dynamism to the letters. Due to the recent burst of activity by Hypo, I feel I now have enough of his pieces to post a gallery of his work, so watch this space.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

Hemper has absolutely smashed it again with this outstanding HEMS piece, which is technically (and visually) brilliant. The burst of colours cross-faded through the lettering is masterful, and filling in the gaps between the letters with little green spheres in genius. Hemper has a knack of creating perfectly unique graffiti writing pieces every time he splashes paint on a wall. Love it.

5012. M32 Cycle path (196)

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

I came in search of a Face 1st piece, but instead found this wonderful Slakarts colour fest, so you win some, and you lose some, I guess. I have noticed that in some areas of Bristol, the turnover has been on the high side, which means that if you snooze, you lose, and I have been doing a fair amount of snoozing recently.

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

Although Slakarts has had a fairly quiet twelve months, the pieces he has painted are real belters. I’m not sure that I can convey just how good this piece is technically. The design is great, but the definition between elements with the thick, crisp black lines is outstanding, and the colour fades and shading, to give depth are excellent too. This is Slakarts at his best.

5011. St Werburghs Tunnel (351)

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2023
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2023

How nice it was to see Mr Klue again, when he was painting a new piece adjacent to this one last week in the tunnel. At first, I didn’t recognise him, as it has been a few years since we last met. During the course of our conversation, I managed to establish that he always writes KLUE in his pieces, and never deviates, which is great to know, because there have been times when I thought he has written something else altogether.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2023
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2023

This, I think, is one of my favourite Mr Klue pieces, Mainly on account of the colour selection. I love the reds, yellows and oranges, which combined with the wispy, smokey style of Mr Klue’s work give the impression of fire. Now that I know it definitely says KLUE, I can see it so much more clearly – funny how the mind can fill the gaps when you have a little bit of information/confirmation. A wonderful piece from a lovely man.