Tag: Graffiti

2542. Dean Lane skate park (260)

Slim Pickings (a name for this artist I got from I know not where) or Tes has consistently turned out pieces (most of them in Dean Lane) this year each to a really high standard as one would expect from this perfectionist. Over the year there have been subtle changes to his general design that keep his work interesting and alive.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

These letters have been painted over another piece which sadly I missed, as it looks rather unusual with Mc Scrooge or whatever his name is sitting in an arm chair. Slim Pickings’ piece once again demonstrates his great talent for finding the right colour combinations to bring out the best in his work. I’ll be interested to see how much he changes his standard letters over time.

 

 

2541. St Werburghs tunnel (107)

One of the great things about Kleiner Shames is that he keeps coming back to Bristol and when he does he usually drops one of his stunning pieces which are always most welcome. The light in St Werburghs tunnel really doesn’t do the piece justice and it would be nice to see his next piece somewhere with more natural light.

Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2019
Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2019

Kleiner Shames was one of the first writers that I really appreciated and his work led me gently into the world of graffiti writing, which I had previously not engaged with much. It is definitely an acquired taste and takes some getting used to, but it requires as much skill and technique as other forms of street art. Kleiner Shames is a master of introducing a mature designed feel into his street work. Such a shame he doesn’t still live in Bristol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2540. M32 roundabout J3 (174)

Having only recently ‘discovered’ Lobe, it seems that I am finding her work all over the place (and still have some to find). This is a lovely sunny piece at the M32 roundabout, with a rather unfortunate bit of graffiti just above it ‘viagra’ – I sometimes wonder what gets into people’s minds when they scrawl something like that.

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

Once again Lobe hits us with bold colours and strong lines and shading which is very much her style. Placing the bright yellow piece on a spotty pink background works really well. Another fine piece from Lobe.

2539. Dean Lane skate park (259)

Oh what a fabulous day – deep blue skies after what feels like a month of constant rain and a new Laic217 piece on the curved wall in Dean Lane – it just doesn’t get much better than this. Laic217 just keeps on doing it and with each piece his technique improves. This piece looks like it has been lifted straight off a sketchbook and the tones he gets in this greyscale piece are to be admired. The overall composition is really interesting and has some resemblance to a piece he painted on this wall in March last year with the words ‘Ice Ice Baby’.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

Making an appearance, a feature of so many street works, are some ‘Hello, my name is’ stickers. Now can somebody please tell me the significance of these – why do they appear so often? On these, one says Laic217, another says CortOne (one of his painting pals) and the third I’m not too sure about.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2018
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2018

2538. St Werburghs tunnel (106)

An unusual piece by Face 1st in St Werburghs tunnel, unusual because it is writing without a character. I think this is the first time I have seen this from him although he quite often does character pieces without writing.

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

Simple in its construction and tidy in his use of fills this is a rather fun piece, and it has lasted well in the tunnel where the turnover is often quite rapid. I particularly like the orange and red stripes on the ‘A’  – something for me to go away and practice. Also you might notice one of his girl faces at the base of the ‘F’. Always good to see Face 1st breaking boundaries.

2537. L Dub (7)

I have only ever seen Dun Sum’s work at the L Dub spot, but there is quite a lot of it here. I am led to understand that he doesn’t live in Bristol, which might explain his presence here on the outskirts of the city.

Dun Sum, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019
Dun Sum, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019

Difficult to photograph in the murky depths of the underpass, this piece is absolutely fantastic. It portrays a kind of monkey DJ thing going on and a whole load of nods to other artists who paint in this space. Look carefully at the character’s tail and you can make out Dun Sum’s signature. A nice piece from the L Dub specialist.

2536. Cheltenham 2019 (15)

This is an incredible piece by Fabio Petani, an Italian muralist who rarely paints at festivals because he makes his living from commissions and can rarely afford give up the time to paint ‘for fun’. So this is a rare treat and a bit of a coup for organisers of the Cheltenham Paint Fesitval.

Fabio Petani, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Fabio Petani, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

His work is symbolic of connecting people with nature, which is something of a strong societal theme these days and his sketch-like illustration, on a grand scale, brings nature to the urban setting. I think the stark and perfect yellow ring reminds us of human endeavour and how we have divorced ourselves from nature. This is a thoughtful and beautifully painted piece.

Fabio Petani, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Fabio Petani, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

I managed to snatch a few words with the artist on the Friday and on the Sunday I just happened to be there as he finished the piece and moved the scissor lift out of the way. I believe I was the first to photograph the completed work.

2535. Cheltenham 2018 (7)

Three wonderful and elaborate tags from three amigos, painted I think at the 2018 Cheltenham Paint Festival and still all looking in pretty good nick. From left to right the artists are Decay, Nol and The Agent.

Decay, Nol and the Agent, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay, Nol and the Agent, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019

Decay has been including ‘Chuck’ as a central character in most of his work for longer than I have known him. A former citizen of Cheltenham, he now lives in Bristol, but seems to paint pretty regularly in both places. Nol is a Dutch artist who will be familiar to anyone who has visited Upfest in recent years, his regular visits to Bristol are always more thasn welcome. The Agent is Bristol through and through and has encouraged his son to become one of the most inventive street artists in the city. His Minion pieces appear less regularly than they used to, but cometh a festival, cometh the man. A charming little triptych.

2534. Dean Lane skate park (258)

I was up at Dean Lane yesterday, and although this picture is from a while back, the little face by Mutatee is still there which is great news, because all too often installation pieces get vandalised or stolen.

Mutatee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Mutatee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

When I see this face it reminds me of the little toys of the 1970s called Gonks although with teeth, which I don’t think they had. I love these little curiosities that Mutatee has glued to various walls in Bristol, and I will continue to hunt them down. I do think that she needs to find a translucent glue though, as the white one used here is a little bit distracting. Always fun finding these.

2533. M32 Cycle path (35)

Around this time of year it is traditional for some street artists and crews to paint Haloween pieces although there have been few opportunities to spray recently, with so much rain. It is with not a little surprise then that this rather nice character piece by Jaksta appeared about a week ago as part of a collaboration along the M32 cycle path.

Jaksta, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019
Jaksta, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019

Jaksta is the king of characters and has appeared in Natural Adventures a number of times. This is Betelgeuse from the Tim Burton film of the same name and is wonderfully worked, especially those teeth. I have a feeling that the blond hair might be a reference to Boris or Donald, or perhaps both. I’m not sure what the Rake thing is, but I think it might be a crew name. Really nice work.