Tag: Graffiti

415. Upfest 2016 (42)

There were several highly memorable pieces at Upfest this year, and this photorealistic colour negative by Takerone was in my view one of the best. Takerone, who comes from Hungary, tries to make his art photo real, but makes an effort to retain a natural look.

Takerone, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Takerone, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

If, like me, you are wondering what the positive image looks like, then definitely take a look at Takerone’s Facebook page which has a brilliant film clip with positive and negative versions of his work side by side. Just a great idea and incredible execution. I have tried to cut an image from his video below:

Takerone, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Takerone, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

414. Upfest 2016 (41)

23Magpies is an artist I have admired for sometime now. Although she has already featured in one Upfest 2016 post already, her ‘official’ work, I couldn’t resist including some of her ‘extras’.

23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

These extras are often left behind by street artists during a festival and wheatpastes in particular seem to appear all over the place. 23Magpies leaves these treats for people like me to find. Often she pastes them onto utility boxes and lamp posts.

23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Generally to get a good look and photograph one needs to stoop somewhat drawing strange glances from passers-by. Of course if you don’t look, you won’t see. Some will never see beyond their next text message.

23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
23Magpies, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

23Magpies is known for her wildlife and environmental themes in her work and with this cat and mouse pair she doesn’t sdisappoint. More 23Magpies extras in a future post…I promise.

413. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (17)

The arches at the Carriageworks in Stokes Croft probably have the highest footfall of any street art location in Bristol, so when you create a piece there it always makes an impression, especially when it is as bold and exciting as this one by 3Dom

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016

I don’t know what happens in 3Dom’s mind, but he seems to have a fertile and creative imagination. A snail and a pagoda…what is that all about? Lots of symbolism or a story perhaps.

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016

3Dom has an amazing ability, not only to create extraordinary scenes and characters, but also to spray all sorts of different textures. For example the amazing slime trail dangling from the snail. Another outstanding piece in the heart of graffitiland.

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2016

412. Upper York Street (4)

Another Bristol writer with a distinctive style is Whysayit. His work appears all over the place and he often collaborates with other writers and appears as a pair of works in the same colour regimes but differing styles.

Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, September 2016
Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, September 2016

This cheeky little piece is in the doorway between two larger walls favoured by Bristol writers such as Epok, Deamze and Kleiner Shames. Whysayit shortens his style for throw-ups by just spraying the letters YS. Really worth taking a look at his Instagram account.

411. Moon Street (11)

There is something comforting about seeing Laic217’s work. He tends to paint in two forms: writing of his name with a character incorporated or an acid-house melting face.

 

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016

This is the third of these melting faces that I have come across and it is a great addition to the series of which the first and second have both been posted on this blog.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016

I like his work and see how it is getting sharper with each new piece I come across. Laic217 is a prolific artist and appears to favour Moon street and the M32 roundabout for his work. I love his stuff, and I think it really epitomises the Bristol scene – raw, edgy and fun.

Laic217 and 3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016
Laic217 and 3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2016

410. Backfields Lane (1)

It has been quite some time since I last featured a piece by Decay, but I came upon this one quite by accident recently whilst seeking out a large mural by Kleiner Shames.

Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016

I love the radiating geometry and colours that Decay uses in his work and love it that nearly always the pieces are uplifting and fun. Sometimes edgy and political, but always good to look at.

Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016

Since moving to Bristol about a year ago, Decay has really made his mark on the graffiti art scene. He is now part of the furniture here, and that is a good thing.

409. Wilder Street (7)

I’m trying to work through some of the pictures I have been meaning to post for a while…there is just too much talent in Bristol.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016

This is a subtle little piece by 3Dom on a small side path off Wilder Street, which I photographed back in June, long before all the Upfest excitement. The unusual work has an emphasis on mushrooms – what kind we can only guess, but the whole piece has an hallucinogenic quality to it.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016

3Dom is utterly brilliant – there is little more to say really.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, June 2016

407. Upfest 2016 (40)

One of the most striking pieces at Upfest this year was this incredible portrait by Title. There is something about this work that simply draws you in to take a closer look.

Title, Upfest, Bristol, July2016
Title, Upfest, Bristol, July2016

Title, emerged from the hip hop and graffiti writing culture in Birmingham in the eighties before moving onto canvass work in the ’90s and studying  computer graphics and digital art.

Title, Upfest, Bristol, July2016
Title, Upfest, Bristol, July2016

Thankfully, he has returned to the streets with enthusiasm and appears to be enjoying himself returning to his first passion. It is difficult not to be intrigued by this piece. The face seems to be that of a young man…there was a #Alfie on the image on his website, maybe it was him.

An aside – a great many pictures by street artists seem to feature spray cans – the tools of the trade – note to self…write a special on spray cans.

406. Upfest 2016 (39)

I posted about this collaborating pair only a few days ago when I wasn’t sure who the artists were. Now I know who they are, I feel that I can write about them with a little more confidence. The work, which was one of the many in South Street Park, was a subtle collaboration between Serge KB and Simian Switch, surrounded by highly colourful and eye-catching pieces.

Serge KB and Simian Switch, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Serge KB and Simian Switch, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I loved the artwork in this, in particular Serge KB’s ‘deer’ which was extremely similar to the one he sprayed at the M32. Perhaps he was practicing for the festival? Simian Switches ‘octopus’ grappling with spray cans brings an element of humour to the piece too.

Simian Switch, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Simian Switch, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Both artists left ‘extras’ in the area which I will post about when I get through a little more of my ridiculous backlog of photographs. Street artists stop for nobody.

405. Upfest 2016 (38)

During Upfest 2016 there was agreat deal of activity in Luckwell Road. The hoardings, which the seem to have been there forever, were getting a makeover with a series of portraits, the southern-most of which was this beautiful work by Philth.

Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I was lucky enough to see Philth at work on both the Saturday and the Sunday and to photograph the completed piece on the Monday.

Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Philth, Philip Blake, is a graphic designer and illustrator who favours painting ‘hot chicks’, using spray paints or paste ups. I recall a lovely work by him from last year’s Upfest that I will post about some time. That location now has a beautiful Caro Pepe work in its place.

Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Philth, Luckwell Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I love these two tone works with splashes of colour – Karl Read produced the same effect although with completely different techniques. Really great work.