Tag: Graffiti

2666. M32 Cycle path (46)

On a wall that is predominantly used for graffiti writing it was great to see this rather unusual collaborative mural appear recently by Kool Hand and Conrico. If I am honest I have absolutely no idea at all what is going on in the piece but when Conrico is involved, there is usually a story of some sort behind the piece.

Kool Hand, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019
Kool Hand, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019

On the left is a character by Kool Hand who I would more commonly associate with painting animals such as crocodiles or orangutans, but the solid fill and clearly defined outlines give this piece away as being by Kool Hand.

Conrico, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019
Conrico, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019

The rest of the piece seems to be made up of floating islands, two of which appear to be at war with one another. Unfathomable, but original and interesting. I am a big fan of Conrico’s work and am enjoying finding pieces by him dotted all over the place. More to come in a day or two.

2665. St Werburghs tunnel (127)

I’m not too sure where Panskaribas disappeared to for the second half of 2019, but I have a feeling it might have been Shanghai. As one of the most productive street artists in Bristol his weekly interventions were sorely missed, but he is back now and returning to the walls with great gusto.

Panskaribas, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019
Panskaribas, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019

In this piece Panskaribas has bookended some writing with his characteristic ‘Picassoesque’ doodled faces. The writing I think spells out RESEAU which is a word he uses to sign his works with and also uses for a loose crew of collaborators I think. Great to have him back on the scene.

2664. Dean Lane skate park (270)

Very pretty in pink and a lovely way to start the new year. Just before Christmas, Bnie and Smak got together to paint this wonderful collaboration down at Dean Lane  skate park.

Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019

On the left, Bnie has absolutely smashed it out of the park with this really tight piece of graffiti writing. The cartoon style letters are beautifully done but it is the shading of the letters that singles this out as an outstanding work. What a great Christmas present.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019

On the right, and not to be upstaged is a magnificent piece by Smak. I think that Smak has saved his best until last for 2019. I don’t have the vocabulary to describe how much I like this. It feels like he has taken the best of everything he has done during the year and pulled it all together in this piece. The colour selection for both is to die for. Outstanding work from both artists who would appear to feed off each other.

Happy New Year.

2663. Dean Lane

I have been aware of this piece for a little while, but it is only when I changed my walking pattern in the Dean Lane area that I found it. It was such a wonderful surprise to find an enormous mural like this when I wasn’t actually looking for it.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019

The artist Xenz is an absolute master at painting this kind of fantastical scene. In this piece he has painted a conventional countryside view at dawn (I think) with his trademark bee eaters (although these might be parakeets) strung out along a telegraph wire. I imagine that this was a commission, or a very nice gift from Xenz to a friend. It is sure to go down as a classic Bristol mural and one for me to upload onto the Street Art Cities app when I have a moment.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019

This piece is bound to turn a few heads as it is on a corner in the road where people will be driving slowly – it will be particularly prominent for those driving North. Xenz has a strong relationship with Bristol, I think he used to live here, so it is always a real pleasure to see his work, especially one as large and prominent as this. I am sure this will become a local landmark and is one for the street art tour circuit.

2662. St Werburghs tunnel (126)

My last street art post of 2019 and here to round things off is a very nice collaboration at the south entrance of St Werburghs tunnel from painting partners and buddies Logoe and Silent Hobo. These two have collaborated several times this year and it is good to see them both painting more regularly than in recent years.

Logoe and Silent Hobo, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019
Logoe and Silent Hobo, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019

The writing is from Logoe and in his distinctive long thin script lettering. On the right is a character by Silent Hobo – a young man who is settig fire to some cubes in his hand, they might be high-rise blocks, but it is hard to see. There is some symbolism here but I am not sure there is enough information in the piece to work it out. A nice way to round the year off.

Happy New Year folks. It all starts again tomorrow for a jam-packed blog full of street/graffiti art. TTFN.

2661. St Werburghs tunnel (125)

Tireless is the way I would describe the efforts of Face 1st. He seems to paint year-round, regular as clockwork, mainly in the north Bristol spots. Her we have a recent piece of graffiti writing in the St Werburghs tunnel, which has been something of a refuge for artists in the diabolical weather we have experienced since October.

Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019
Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2019

This piece reverts to the old-school style from Face 1st which shows a girl’s face with a FACE hairdo. It has been truly wonderful watching Face 1st switch it up this year, with a really broad range of pieces and some great experimentation. Looking forward to what 2020 will bring from him… no pressure there then.

2660. M32 Cycle path (45)

There has been a recent rush of Slakarts pieces and this one on the M32 cycle path is nicely sandwiched between Rezwok and Nightways from a session earlier on in December.

Slakarts, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019
Slakarts, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2019

Unmistakably by Slakarts, the artist has included a third eye, possibly as an afterthought, which is not painted in the same way as the ‘normal’ eyes with the blue and yellow colours and drips. This is a nicely executed piece and a welcome addition to a wall which is dominated by graffiti writing. Let’s hope 2020 brings us a visual feast as strong as 2019.

2659. Hebron Road (3)

A gorgeous paste up by Jimmer Willmott which appeared during a Bedminster session with Kid Crayon back in October this year. I think that this was my favourite from Jimmer – it is a nicely drawn surreal piece with his signature eye and is capped off nicely with a feather.

Jimmer Willmott, Hebron Road, Bristol, October 2019
Jimmer Willmott, Hebron Road, Bristol, October 2019

Having complained in the past about the lack of wheatpastes in Bristol, there does seem to have been a small resurgence in the art lately and of course this makes me very happy. I’m hoping that 2020 will see an increasing trend in Bristol wheatpasting.

2658. M32 roundabout J3 (184)

It has been a very long time since I last posted a piece by Thelocknessmonster mainly because, if I’m completely honest, I don’t think his work has been as good recently as it has been in the past. This piece down on the M32 roundabout is the first that I have really liked in ages and in my view, he seems to be getting his mojo back.

Thelocknessmonster, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2019
Thelocknessmonster, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2019

The style is really unusual, composed mainly of cartoon-like line drawings that come together to tell a story although it is often difficult to be sure what the story is. Thelocknessmonster will often use motifs and symbols such as statues and shapes. He signs his pieces with the word ‘Egotist’ and often includes ‘Splab Lads’ or ‘Splab Gang’ which I think is a crew, but I don’t yet know any other members of the crew.

Always imaginative and creative and deliberately different Thelocknessmonster occupies his own special place in the Bristol street art scene.

2657. Albert Park Place (4)

One of the first walls I found when I started doing all of this was this one in Albert Park Place. Little did I know then that it has one of the lowest turn-over rates of any wall In Bristol, and in five years, I think there have only been four pieces here so I expect this collaboration from Rezwonk and Slakarts is a bit of a keeper.

Rezwonk and Slakarts, Albert Park Place, Bristol, November 2019
Rezwonk and Slakarts, Albert Park Place, Bristol, November 2019

The central graffiti writing is obviously from Rezwonk, spelling out ‘REZER’ and the decorations on either side are from Slakarts. Rezwonk’s class shine through and the letters, fills and 3D shadings are really on point.

Rezwonk and Slakarts, Albert Park Place, Bristol, November 2019
Rezwonk and Slakarts, Albert Park Place, Bristol, November 2019

The contribution from Slakarts brings colour and interest to the piece and are re of Isabel from the design of the stylised faces. Even though Rezwonk painted the lion’s share of this collaboration, it would not be complete without Slakarts. Nice work from these two.