Tag: Graffiti

2615. Upper York Street (18)

I love it when visiting wheatpasters come to town because during their short stay they tend to paste up several pieces, often in locations slightly off the beaten track. This is a magnificent one from qWeRT continuing the theme of love, with our little googly-eyed character standing at a podium and pointing at a chart. Look a little closer and the chart tells us that there is a growth of love on the streets. A wonderful sentiment, but optimistic at best I would say.

qWeRT, Upper York Street, Bristol, November 2019
qWeRT, Upper York Street, Bristol, November 2019

I often wonder if people who are not interested in street art ever look at things like this, even if only out of curiosity, or whether they simply walk on by without so much as a glimpse. Surely people must wonder what this thing is or why is this here or something, but perhaps not. The next obvious thought is why do wheatpasters do this, as surely they will rarely see the enjoyment/confusion their little contributions make.

Knowing that qWeRT was in the area, I have been looking out for little googly-eye and found five from this session, but there are sure to be more out there. Love this one a lot.

2614. St Werburghs tunnel (115)

No matter how hard I try, I cannot do this blockbuster by Fiva any justice at all. Stretching abut 30ft into the tunnel and with letters at least 6ft high this is a huge piece, and unlike many blockbusters that are painted with rollers and rough edges, there is real class about the form of the letters and their presentation.

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019

St Werburghs tunnel has been a rich hunting ground for Fiva’s work lately, but this is the loudest piece yet. He gives you a clue about his intentions with the words ‘Go Big’ at the left hand side of the piece. Aside from being awesome, this piece also serves a purpose, which is to help move on from the contraversial painting over of a BUZZ tribute on this wall earlier on in the autumn. His status will give credibility to using this whole length of wall for new works for all artists.

 

 

2613. M32 Spot (54)

This is a very neat and tidy ‘quick one’ from Ryder, which I suspect was painted at the same time as the recent collaboration with Decay, which can be seen in the background of the feature image.

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019

I always expect tidy writing from Ryder and this is a lovely example, I would however like to see a few more of his larger considered pieces like the ones he produces for Upfest. A hugely talented graffiti writer whose work is right up there with the best in Bristol.

2612. M32 Cycle path (43)

Yet another fine PWA (Pirate Wall Art) production from Soap and Face 1st down under the M32 along the cycle path. I think that this is quite a good wet-weather spot, because there is a small overhang to protect the wall and artists from the rain.

Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

On the left is a ‘traditional’ soap face, with two mouths agape. Looked at onother way, the shape can be seen as a kind of skull, with the mouths forming the eyes or eye sockets – that’s what I see at least.

Face 1st, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Face 1st, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

On the right is a Face 1st ‘beauty’ in a rather unseemly situation, vomiting toxic looking stuff. Now I’ve noticed that in recent weeeks Face 1st has been animating his faces with things like this, to tell more of a story than simply creating a pretty thing to look at. His faces are beginning to convey sadness, frustration, disgust, nausea and so on. An interesting development and great to see.

2611. Moon Street (78)

I like treasure hunting, especially when each time you find a treasure, like this one by Mutatee, it comes as a wonderful and fulfilling surprise. I think that hunting for and photographing street art is a wholesome substitute for trying to generate likes on Twitter or Facebook or getting that micro-buzz of endorphine every time you receive a message on your mobile phone.

Personally, few things irritate me more than people’s phones buzzing, ringing, twittering, ding-a-linging upon which they’ll abruptly end a conversation, leave the room (metaphorically), check the offensive communicator (Star Trek reference) and only then return to the conversation saying ‘where were we?’ (we?… I’ve been here all the time you idiot). You know the kind of thing. Grrrr. Ranty bit over, I’m not too sure where it came from but it felt great to get it off my chest.

Mutatee, Moon Street, Bristol, November 2019
Mutatee, Moon Street, Bristol, November 2019

Back to Mutatee – she is the bringer of my little endorphine snacks and this little charmer high up on a wall in Moon Street is one of a bunch dotted about the City – I recently spotted another one that I’ll have to photograph next time I pass by on foot – so many more to come from this creative and imaginative installation artist.

2610. Stokes Croft

Oh what a beauty… a little piece of heaven just dropped onto the wall beneath Banksy’s Mild Mild West, and it is an absolute humdinger by Hazard. Painted only last week, Hazard has smashed it out of the park (to use a modern phrase – my kids would be laughing if they read this, but not much chance of that ever happening).

Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, November 2019
Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, November 2019

I love Hazard’s work, and it is great to see that she is capable of so much more than her trademark portraits. This piece is so good in my view that I actually think it is my favourite of hers… ever. She has captured the colours and proportions of the pigeon perfectly and has somehow created an irridescence on the bird’s breast with greens, whites, yellows and purples – what a job eh? And.., the flowers, flipping heck, the flowers!

I think I might be able to call myself a pigeon fancier, at least this pigeon.

I believe that there is some explanation on the fence in front of this piece, but it wasn’t there when I took these pictures, so I can’t tell you what it says.

Happy days.

2609. St Werburghs tunnel (114)

Another visit to Bristol from Elvs and this time bringing several wonderful shades of pink. I think that this was painted as part of a collaborative section of wall in St Werburghs tunnel, but I’m not sure ay all who painted the rather fun Pink Panther on the left.

Elvs, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Elvs, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019

Elvs has such a unique style which if you look at analytically is based on a solid block of letters and a 3D edge (in black) upon which fine line detail has been added and of course a masterful horizontally graded fill. Seems straightforward, but I’m sure it has taken years to perfect. A really classy piece of writig.

2608. Dean Lane skate park (265)

Well, so long as Slim Pickings keeps churning out his magnificent TES pieces, I’ll continue to post them. As always his work is clean, sharp and he has some decent colour selections although I fear there might be just a little bit too much contrast between the letter colours and the green and yellow background.

Slim Pickings (Tes), Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2019
Slim Pickings (Tes), Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2019

I have a great many pieces by Slim Pickings in my archive and I’m just waiting for a lean period to publish them (the chance would be a fine thing). More to come in due course – maybe I feel a gallery coming on…

 

 

2607. M32 Cycle path (42)

I would hope that regular readers of Natural Adventures would recognise this sinister pair as being the work of Laic217, an artist who has appeared on these pages with great regularity and whose work just seems to get better and better.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

On the left we see a skeleton draped with themes and motifs that Laic217 has been using for some years now, such as a bucket hat with a rather animated smiley on the front, multiple sets of eyes behind the glasses, and a distorted, exaggerated mouth/jaw. This skeletal character, holding a spray can is being led to one side by… is it Satan himself?

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

The satanic character brings colour to the piece and a little menace too. He seems to be directing the hand of the skeleton, clutching a spray can, perhaps forcing him to paint the wall. Is this in some way autobiographical? or something else altogether? This is an interesting composition once more beautifully painted by Laic217. Another keeper for the gallery.

 

 

2606. M32 roundabout J3 (180)

This is a beautiful and touching tribute piece by Bnie to her late grandfather – or so I understand. I love the way that street art can accommodate such public and overt ways of recognising one’s loved ones.

Bnie, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Bnie, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019

The piece itself is beautifully painted with soft tones of green and purple, and it has a sombre feel to it. Her mastery of fading the colours acoss the letters is really improving and the 3D fill is really interesting. I am drawn to the zebra stipe decoration at the top of the piece above the A – it is a halo I think – I know that Bnie has been favouring this pattern recently and it is great to see it here.