Time to introduce another Bristol based street artist whose work I have seen dotted all around Bristol. This is a very recent piece which I found while actually looking for something else, which seems to be de rigueur in hunting down street art.
Mr Draws, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, May 2016
The artist is called Mr Draws (Nathaniel Draws) and his various biographies state that he likes 1950’s pin ups, collage and everything old and vintage. He has one of those self-fulfilling names…he could only ever have become an artist. I work in the environmental sector, and have worked with a Wren, a Raven, a Fish, a Waters…the list goes on…I often wonder how much their name shaped a bias for wildlife/the environment. I am straying from the point. I will post more about Mr Draw’s works, which are refreshingly different.
With one month to go before the referendum to decide on whether Great Britain should stay in the European Union, things are hotting up. This is an extraordinary commission from a group who are encouraging voters to remain in the EU. The wall is where the Bruno Smoky ‘burning house‘ piece was.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
I was lucky enough to see the artist working on this piece on my way to work yesterday morning. I stopped and chatted with him, while he painted. He is Felix (FLX) Braun, one of the original Bristol street artists and author of ‘children of the can‘ a seminal book cataloging the birth and growth of Bristol street art. Felix is one half of the Paintsmiths who created this tribute to Mibsy.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
We had a great discussion about the tagging that seems to be everywhere in Bristol at the moment, and he views it very much as part of the development of the whole graffiti art scene. He does a lot of work with youth groups, often from difficult backgrounds, and teaches them to spray and develop their skills. I believe he also works with art students at the University of the West of England in Bristol.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
The piece itself is a deliberately provocative and grotesque image of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing…so much crazy hair! The intention is for the image, and others like it, to go viral, thus reaching and encouraging young voters to register and vote on the day of the referendum. It is known that younger people are much more pro EU than people over 60, but are less likely to vote.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
I will be playing my part by using the limited means I have on digital media to reach as many people as possible with this message.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
Technically this is a great piece by a great artist, and although a commission, has all the hallmarks of the ‘Bristol thing’ about it. I love it.
This is a spot favoured by Eraze and his friends. As I have mentioned before the turnover of work at Dean Lane skate park is quite phenomenal. I photographed this piece at the beginning of April, and within a couple of weeks it was completely overpainted.
Eraze, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, April 2016
I think that there are quite a few similarities between the work of Eraze and Laic217, something to do with the bright colours and rough edges, combined with lettering and characters.
Eraze, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, April 2016
This is an amusing piece. I think the word spells ‘dope’… more drug references.
I caught sight of this caravan across the M32 while out for a walk last week. It had all the hallmarks of a work by Aspire, but it wasn’t until I downloaded the pictures onto my PC that I was able to see the signature.
Aspire, Caravan M32, Bristol, May 2016
When I see a piece like this, which I might add is another beauty, I am left with so many questions. Who lives in the caravan? How does Aspire know them? Was it a commission? and so on. This is an unusual and distinctive piece.
This little side street just off Stokes Croft is a very popular spot with DNT and his friends, one of whom is Mr Klue. We are used to seeing rather more abstract pieces from Mr Klue, so this seated figure with a hat would have to go down as one of the more unusual pieces by him.
Mr Klue, Hepburn Road, Bristol, May 2016
I really like the calmness of the work and it’s distinctive style. He is an artist I am really enjoying at the moment.
Since becoming aware of Laic217’s work work only a matter of two months ago, I seem to find his stuff everywhere. This is his latest piece that can be found on the staircase down into The Bearpit on the Northern side.
Laic217, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2016
The head, and the colours used in this piece remind me of ‘the Mekon‘ who was the alien villain in the Dan Dare strip from the Eagle comic. My grandparents had a set of Eagle annuals, and I would read them from cover to cover when I used to stay. I ought to add, that they had belonged to my uncles, and that I was reading them several years after their publication. I digress.
Laic217, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2016
I believe Laic217’s work is finding its place in the general order of Bristol street art, and is continually improving. He belongs to a small group of street artists that spray in both North and South Bristol. This is a good piece.
Just to make a point I guess, I thought I’d post another Deamze burner in exactly the same place as the one in the previous post. As mentioned, these pieces are all very similar in structure and style, but each time the colour selection seems to be faultless.
Deamze, King Square Avenue, Bristol, April 2016
There are more of these in my backlog of Bristol street art, but I will give you a break for the time being.
The master of wildstyle writing in Bristol is also known for his rather less elaborate burners, particularly in the Stokes Croft area. They all follow a similar structure and clearly show the ASK (After School Klub) tag. Another tag that these are often given is ‘oxygenthieves’ to which I must admit to knowing very little, although I think it has something to do with Soker, Epok and Old Hempsy – I would guess a crew, since they are all established Bristol writers.
Deamze, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2016
I love these striking burners. They have such clear, crisp lines and colour contrasts that seem to work very well together. Stokes Croft wouldn’t be Stokes Croft without a DEAM loitering out there somewhere.
Deamze, King Square Avenue, Bristol, February 2016
I have only seen one other piece by Zesk, and it is the rather lovely work on the side of the Three Tuns pub in Partition Street, near my work. This Burner contains many of the characteristics of Zesk’s work, including the stars and the colours, shading and black spots used. I guess the biggest give away though is that it says ‘Zesk’ in big letters.
Zesk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2016
This is a nice piece by a great artist. It is good to see that someone who is accustomed to doing commissions, still hits the areas where street art is tolerated rather than permitted (another way of saying not strictly legal).
Another lovely piece from the extraordinary outdoor gallery, AKA Devon Road. This cat in a deckchair is by one of the godfathers of Bristol street art – Rowdy, and contains all his hallmarks, as you can see from looking at this previous post.
Rowdy, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
I think that there is at least one other artist involved in this piece, but somewhat disconnected from our feline friend. I am not sure who the artist is.
Rowdy, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
There is something wonderfully laid back and ‘Bristol’ about the work of Rowdy. Highly accomplished, distinctive, relaxed and mildly anarchic – great stuff.
Natural adventures 