4942. Various locations

Bogat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022

Bogat is an artist who is underrepresented on Natural Adventures, so this flurry of pieces that I photographed in March last year should go some way to addressing this. Although I took the pictures in March 2022, some of the pieces in the M32 J2 tunnels may have been there for a while.

Bogat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022

Bogat, who often painted alongside Asre, has a thing for open-mouthed portraits and the occasional octopus. The piece above, from Brunel way, is rather nicely done, with some nice shading on the octopus and its tentacles providing some depth. I rather like the bubbles rising off the writing, too, and filling the black space.

Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022

The rest of the pieces were photographed in the tunnels of the M32 roundabout junction 2, a few hundred meters North East of the junction 3 roundabout, which is a much more popular spot.

Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022

These tunnels are quite narrow, and dark, making photography something of a challenge. Somehow I managed to capture these pieces reasonably well, perhaps because they are in a portrait orientation rather than landscape.

Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022

It feels good to have posted these pieces, even if they have been collected together into one post. If I didn’t do that, then there is a real possibility that they would remain in the archives forever.

Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022
Bogat, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2022

4941. Sparke Evans Park (51)

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

I think I know why pieces from Sparke Evans Park sometimes get left behind in my archives. As mentioned on these pages numerous times, there is a row of mature trees that run parallel with the long wall, roughly 5 meters away from it. If there is even a hint of sun, then it is impossible to photograph anything on the wall due to dappled shading – summer or winter.

Often I will photograph the wall and be dissatisfied with the pictures, and then return some time later on a dull day to take more pictures. Because of the volume of new street/graffiti being painted each week, these second sets of pictures can get a little lost in the competition for space on Natural Adventures. By looking back through my archives I can pull out a few pieces that I feel should be posted. This beauty by Rozalita is one such piece.

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

Although last year was a relatively quiet year for Rozalita, compared to 2021, the quality of her work was outstanding, and this gorgeous piece combines her skills at painting portraits with her detailed flowers and butterfly. I am looking forward to another great year from Rozalita.

4940. Dean Lane skate park (557)

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022

I rarely miss posting anything by Hire if I can help it, so I was surprised to find this outstanding piece from this gifted artist in my March archive. On the upside, I guess, I am sharing it with you now. Even though I am currently going through an unpublished back-catalogue of street art, there is at least 50% still unpublished, which gives me a minor panic attack.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022

The striking colours used in this piece are divine and the writing itself, spelling HIRE, is outstandingly painted. The fine lines cutting through the middle of each letter is what elevates this writing from the good to the exceptional. This is an absolute belter of a piece from a lovely artist.

4939. M32 roundabout J3 (445)

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

I simply fail to understand how I managed not to post this absolute cracker by Face 1st back in February 2022. It has been lurking in my archive, screaming to be released and shared, and now at last is liberated, and just look at how happy those girls are.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

I definitely noticed that nearly all Face 1st’s work last year was overflowing with joy, and this piece early on in the year certainly set the tone. To me this is brilliant, and one of my favourite Face 1st pieces ever. The colours are sensational, and the positive and mischievous energy flying off the wall is a pleasure to observe. What an absolute blast!

4938. Dean Lane skate park (556)

Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022

Another fine piece that got overlooked in my February postings last year is this magnificent work from Saor. On a dull winter day, the orange elements of the piece really cut through and draw the eye in. The piece was painted alongside NTS crew mate Mudra.

Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022

I may have said it before, but Saor’s style reminds me quite a lot of Epok’s work (what has happened to Epok – I wonder). The concept is highly designed and very cleanly finished, almost as if it was painted with fine brushes. I particularly like the shadow behind the right-hand side of the orange letters. As always from Saor, a nicely conceived piece, brilliantly executed.

4936. M32 roundabout J3 (444)

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022

This is an absolute beauty from Kosc, who has been dazzling us all year with his outstanding craft and innovation. The stylised portrait and writing piece has overtones of American art deco about it and reminds me of the Chrysler building in New York.

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022

The grey and white colour selection is a combination that works really well together, creating a metallic appearance through the whole piece. Set on a muddy green background, the piece is modest and yet highly impressive. Another outstanding piece from Kosc.

4935. Picton Lane (15)

Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022
Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022

I love a good mural every now and again, and I was pleasantly surprised by this lovely piece by Conrico hidden away in Picton Lane. I haven’t visited the lane in quite a while, so am not sure when this was painted, but I hadn’t been aware of it on social media at all.

Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022
Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022

Taking up the whole side wall of a building, the tranquil; piece depicts a railway passing through a small settlement and disappearing into the purple mountains in the distance. The artwork has a naïve style with a little bit of flexibility on perspectives and so on.

Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022
Conrico, Picton Lane, Bristol, December 2022

Overall, the mural is a ray of sunshine, breathing life into a wall that would otherwise be rather dull. Conrico has been busy with commissions this year, which can only be a good thing for him and for us.

4934. St Werburghs tunnel (336)

Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022
Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022

I think that it is probably safe to say that Klashwhensober has had a great year and that he is likely to have been Bristol’s most productive graffiti writer in 2023. I have been doing a bit of a trawl through my archives, and will shortly be sharing a host of pieces by Klashwhensober that never made it into this blog.

Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022
Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022

This recent piece in the tunnel, spelling SOBER, is a stunner in which Klashwhensober has gone for a vertical split with the colouring (that faithful combo of pink and blue), and a smoking ‘volcanic’ rift between the two halves of the piece. This is beautifully painted and presented and offers real depth and movement. Fine work indeed. Look out for a Klashwhensober post in a few days.

4933. Cheltenham Road

Kid Krishna, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2022
Kid Krishna, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2022

It would seem that Kid Krishna ‘owns’ the walls either side of Boston Tea Party on Cheltenham Road, as there are pieces by the artist either side of the entrance, and both of them are character pieces, rather than the stylised writing we are more familiar with. This piece is to the left of the entrance, and is a bit of a stunner.

Kid Krishna, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2022
Kid Krishna, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2022

Of course, there is more than just a passing nod to Vaughn Bode’s Cheech Wizard character in this piece, with the addition of some curious camera or lens in the middle. This is a beautifully crafted piece and one of my favourites from last year.

I am really confused about one thing, though. One time I drove past this piece when it was being painted, I saw a woman painting it, or at least I thought I did. I might have been mistaken, and my eyes aren’t getting any younger, but if I am right, then Kid Krishna might be female. Either Paul H can put me straight, or I will just have to find Kid Krishna at work.

4932. Nelson Street (17)

Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022
Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022

It was dark, and I was Christmas shopping when I passed by this shutter piece by Taboo in Nelson Street. I haven’t seen the piece in daylight since, so I don’t really know if the colours are a true representation in these pictures.

Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022
Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022

Taboo does paint rather a lot of shutters, and it would seem that he enjoys it, although it can’t be easy to do them, because of the textured surface. In common with several of his works, Taboo has incorporated a trippy Mickey Mouse character into his unruly letters. There is always so much to look at and admire in Taboo’s work, and I love the smiley peeping the first letter and the long ghoul-like fingers. I have been bamboozled by the letters, and am not too sure what they spell, APOS or OPOS maybe? A nice piece nonetheless.