Tag: Graffiti

660. Millpond Street (1)

It seems strange that this is the first time I have posted about a piece on this landmark building…although it is possible I have written something before, but named it under M32. This is a fine collaboration – and not the first on this wall – by SPZero76 and Kid Crayon.

SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017
SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017

The building is owned by Domestic Drain Services and runs parallel to the M32. I understand, from speaking to the owners a week or two back that they invite SPZero76 and others to spray the building and in return they will pay for the spray paint.

SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017
SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017

The character on the right in the mask is by Kid Crayon and really showcases his development as a spray artist, having been something of a paste up specialist. I’m not sure what the ‘EAT’ reference is all about.

SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017
SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, Millpond Street, Bristol, February 2017

On the left hand side are a couple of great characters by SPZero76, whose work often features a raccoon and a ‘Pacific Island’ style mask. I would love to know where his influences came from to repeatedly use these motifs. This is a wonderful collaboration, and these two seem to work quite a lot together.

659. M32 roundabout J3 (32)

Is it possible to have any more really great pieces by Epok? Oh yes it is. Here is one from the jam at the M32 roundabout a couple of weeks ago. All the artists used the themed colours for the entire stretch of this wall, and Epok has made them his own.

Epok, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Epok, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

For once his hard geometric shapes are slightly softened and the lines a little less sharp, however, the piece still spells out EPOK although rather better disguised than in some of his pieces. A really fine piece form a Bristol master.

Epok, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Epok, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

658. Moon Street (23)

Moon street is a favourite haunt for Mr Klue, and since one of the best walls has had two doors screwed onto it, presumably in an effort to stop sprayers, he has simply switched to an adjacent wall.

Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017

This is yet another lovely abstract piece in the unique style of this Bristol graffiti artist. I noticed, at the time of writing, from an Instagram picture that it has now been tagged. Glad to have a nice clean shot of it.

Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017

A nice close up of the work.

657. M32 roundabout J3 (32)

At a recent gathering of crews at the M32 roundabout, there was this stand out piece. Most of the works (several to follow) were wildstyle writing, but slap bang in the middle of them this Sled One composition breaking up the pattern.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

I think that this is an exceptional work. The way the light bursts out of the anthropomorphised fridge is extraordinary. There is also a story going on, as is usually the case for Sled One’s pieces, which I think is that the man is grabbing some hot dogs from the fridge which in turn will consume the man. Or something like that.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

It has been a little while since I saw a new piece by Sled One and this has been worth waiting for. I like the nice touch of the fridge wearing a feathered cap. There is a lot to look for in this ‘cartoon’ style piece. It made me happy.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

656. North Street hoarding (6)

It seems like these hoardings have been here on North Street for years…because I think they have been. This is of course ok, because it presents graffiti artists with plenty of space to do their work.  This particular niche is a favourite for John D’oh and RIP, and here we have a philosophical piece from the latter.

RIP, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
RIP, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

The statement, positioned next to a heart reads ‘With all the battering it’s taken I’m surprised it’s still ticking’. Perhaps this lets on something about the artist’s lifestyle. I do like RIP’s work. Never too snazzy or complicated, usually a single layer stencil and often lighthearted or political. A vibrant member of SSOSVA.

655. The Bearpit (43)

Only a few days after I had taken the picture of the Decay piece in this exact spot (see previous post), Kid Crayon had overwritten it with one of his trademark faces. In recent times he has moved away from his wheatpastes (which I loved) and his faces, and tends to do more spray work, in particular in collaboration with SPZero76. So it was nice to see him revert, if only for a little while.

Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017

Although the piece looks like a wheatpaste, because of the creasing of the lining paper, it is in fact a spray piece. The blue face, great expression and peculiar proportions are what I would expect to see from this growing Bristol artist. More of his collaborative works to come soon.

654. The Bearpit (42)

In the South subway tunnel of The Bearpit there are framed areas which graffiti/street artists use to place their works. I think they were originally introduced to keep a little decorum and ‘usher’ artists to use the specified wall areas. To a certain extent it has worked, and they tend to use them to frame their works. Some of the other subway tunnels have the frames and some don’t.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

In this example, Decay has taken up two of the frames to create ‘bookend’ pieces that work really well together. It is unfortunate that although I took this picture not long after it was sprayed, it had already been tagged.

653. The Bearpit (41)

This incredibly productive spot threw up some wonderful pieces recently and this magnificent portrait by Georgie was just one of them. Those that follow these posts might recall a piece by Georgie I posted here back in November 2016.

Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017

This is a really classy piece and instantly recognisable as Michael Cain. How she managed to produce this fine work in the dim light of The Bearpit subway is a real feat. Hats off to Georgie for this great addition to these walls. Her craft is amplified by the detailing of the background that helps the portrait stand out. I love this piece.

Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017

652. King Square Avenue (3)

Such is the prolific nature of Laic217, I am having real difficulty keeping up with his work that just keeps popping up all over Bristol. It seems to be about one a week at the moment, which is kind of crazy.

Laic217, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2017
Laic217, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2017

This piece is in a quiet side road off Stokes Croft, a site frequented by Epok and Deamze, but this sits comfortably in their company. Laic217 gathers several of his regular themes into one with this piece, the acid house influence, the toking smilie, the bucket hat, the skull and the brick wall.

Laic217, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2017
Laic217, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2017

He posted his black book draft of this piece on his Instagram feed, and the only variation from the draft is the colour of the LCD display, which was lilac in the draft. Much better as green. More to come form the busy Laic217. I forgot to say how much I like this piece…there I’ve said it now.

651. Upfest 2016 (100)

This is my 100th post about the amazing Upfest 2016 which happened during July in Bedminster, Bristol. At a guess I would say that I am only about half way through reporting on the pieces I photographed. Some of the remaining images probably won’t make the cut and anyway I only have a few months left to go before Upfest 2017 will be upon us.

Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This is a really interesting stencil piece by Eins92 who specialises in micro stencils and who has already appeared in this blog for another piece he did at the festival. In this work he has created five micro stencils of the same subject but with different densities of paint and different layers. It is an interesting piece, but one that needed studying a little.

Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Eins92, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The fine detail in these tiny pictures is remarkable. I would hate to guess how long each of the stencils takes to cut. He must have the patience of angels.