Tag: Graffiti

3630. Cumberland Basin

Watching the progress of Big Hev is proving to be an uplifting experience. Her naive style is gradually becoming more sophisticated, and she is building on her themes. However, I think that she is very much at the start of her journey (one that I sincerely hope she pursues) and is learning from piece to piece.

Big Hev, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Big Hev, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021

Big Hev seems to like this spot, and why not, it is secluded and away from public gaze. Her customary portrait has fused a little with some abstract ideas and swirls and some hearts. I would consider this to be a practice piece, but all part of the formation of new and beautiful ideas.

3627. Brunel Way (96)

Because of its association with graffiti and street art, Bristol is a bit of a magnet for visiting artists and what fortune that Kane Rose paid a visit while painting alongside the No Frills crew a few weeks back. I don’t know the artist, but know that he is a tattoo artists who also paints walls, like so many of our own Bristol artists.

Kane Rose, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2021
Kane Rose, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2021

When I first saw this I wondered whether it might have been by SkyHigh, because there is a definite similarity of styles. I have to confess that I had to wait until I saw the piece appear on Instagram before I could be sure of the artist. The block letters, each with a different colour and style, on first inspection appears to spell USA, but I have a feeling it actually says UPSTART. A lovely piece.

3626. M32 roundabout J3 (309)

Ware or MickeyRaw is not an artist that I see too often on our walls, but he is part of the RAW crew and joins the team for paint jams every once in a while. His work is consistently of a really high standard, and it is a pity he doesn’t get out more often.

Ware, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Ware, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

This piece, spelling out WARE is absolutely stunning. The central green letters with fabulous fill patterning are further embellished with red blue and orange arrow decorations. The whole thing is very intricate and tight and clearly the work of a very talented graffiti writer.

3625. M32 Cycle path (120)

Footloose, Lewse or Esooltoof (Footloose – geddit?) to use her Instagram handle, is so utterly underrepresented on Natural Adventures, something I must remedy at the earliest opportunity. I have a whole ton of her work in my archives from months and years gone by, but just haven’t posted anything until now.

Footloose, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021
Footloose, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021

This is a lovely example of her style, which is usually a uniform set of letters spelling LEWSE with an associated character, often drawn from popular cartoons. The lettering is painted in the colours of a Fruit Salad chew (sweets that you could buy 8 of for a penny when I was a boy), with really nice transitions between the yellows and pinks.

Footloose, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021
Footloose, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021

The character, Disney’s goofy, is expertly painted and clearly demonstrates Footloose’s talents as an artist. Let’s view this post as a beginning and not an end, where I can showcase more of her work past and future.

3624. Stapleton Road

This is another of the columns under the railway bridge that crosses over Stapleton Road that has recently had a makeover and is by local artist Rob Wheeler. I don’t know too much about the artist other than that he is part of Graft Workshop, an outfit of street artists who take commissions in Bristol, and whose work I have featured on Natural Adventures some time ago.

Rob Wheeler, Stapleton Road, Bristol, April 2021
Rob Wheeler, Stapleton Road, Bristol, April 2021

This beautifully designed and executed piece has the symmetry and look of an elaborate wallpaper design and adds a touch of class to this column that previously had been a magnet for tags. I hope that this stunning artwork is respected because it is already much loved by the local community.

3623. M32 roundabout J3 (309)

A classic piece of Face 1stery going on here on the M32 roundabout. In times of turbulence and disruption there are rocks, sturdy landmarks, that remind us that actually everything is ok. Face 1st is one of those rocks. His pieces are painted regularly and when I see them I feel comforted and grounded.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

This is a lovely example of his work with the customarily cheerful girl whose hair is composed of the letters FACE. This time there is a pink goo highlighting the letters, looking a little bit like bubblegum, which in my experience is best kept well away from hair.

I remember once back in the 1970s I was in a smoke-filled cinema in Muswell Hill (incredible to think that smoking at the cinema was the norm). Half way through the film a discarded piece of bubblegum that had been lobbed from the circle seats landed and lodged in my 1970s hair. Disgusting. My mum had to cut it out with scissors when I got home. I felt violated and humiliated. If I ever catch the perpetrator I’ll…

3622. Stokes Croft

I drove past this about a week ago and pulled in to photograph it. The Merny (Morny) piece had slipped under the radar a bit, and I’m not too sure how long it had been there. No matter though as I am always delighted to see something new from him.

Morny, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2021
Morny, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2021

This one, along with many of his pieces, is a political piece that is critical of our current administration. Simply put ‘what a sad state of affairs’ more than adequately  presents the utter mess out country is in, not just in its appalling initial response to Covid-19 but also in its disregard for moral decision-making and corruption at the highest levels of government.  The Conservative way seems to be that as long as it makes money it makes sense, no appreciation of the consequences.

The ordinary man, maybe a cyclist or runner, is sitting to contemplate this mess. A wonderful human piece from one of my favourite Bristol artists.

3621. M32 roundabout J3 (308)

Phour is one of those artists who regularly burns his letters onto any surfaces that he fancies. Some of his pieces are quick and dirty throw-ups and some, like this one, are more polished and accomplished.

Phour, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Phour, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

Spray painting over existing graffiti without buffing the wall first means that your piece needs something special to stand out from the crowd. Phour has achieved this with flying colours (literally) in this absolute belter.

 

3620. Cumberland Basin

Since I took this photograph, which really isn’t too long ago, this wall had been painted over at least twice and it is fast becoming one of the highest turnover walls in Bristol. I’ll be heading down that way today to see what’s new.

Subtle, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Subtle, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021

This is another in a very strong series of pieces from Subtle. At last he seems to have exhausted his supply of pink paints and instead gives us this stunning beast in red. The writing is really sharp and greatly enhanced with the yellow highlights and black spots. This is a very bold and striking piece that demonstrates clearly the great skills of Subtle.

3619. Nine Tree Hill (5)

DNT has been one of those artists who has pretty much gone to ground over the last year and I have seen very little of his work. It was a lovely surprise then to find this delightful and somewhat out-of-character piece from him on the side of an eatery that has had a bit of a makeover.

DNT, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, April 2021
DNT, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, April 2021

The El Jeffe José Cubans sandwich shop is so perfect for its Stokes Croft location and it is wonderful that they have turned to a local artist to decorate its side wall, which is at permanent risk of being tagged. A great piece like this from a local artist might see it given some respect.

DNT has painted some lovely flowers on a yellow cloud background, which is far removed from his robotic-monster pieces that we are more accustomed to. This is perfect for this spot and outlet and adds some colour and brightness to this little corner of Stokes Croft.