Billy continues to utterly delight with her uncomplicated storytelling pieces. Her work is so accessible and has a deep connection with the viewer, and I imagine especially so with younger audiences. There is nothing pretentious or conceited about her work, it is full of fun and commentary that is pleasing to the eye and great for lifting the spirit.
Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
I particularly like this piece, I mean what’s not to like about dogs, birds, hats, flowers, a pencil and a lava lamp. I think that the grey background works really well with the overall presentation and the colour scheme is superb. A feast for the eyes and a triumph for Billy – one of my favourite pieces of hers so far.
This epic collaboration between Conrico, Acer and Zake, an unlikely trio of collaborators, appeared on the Greenbank hoardings about two weeks ago and is truly eye catching in its boldness and presence.
Conrico and Acer, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
I know that pairings of these three artists have happened in the past, but I don’t think I can recall that the three have collaborated together before. Starting at the left hand side, Conrico has provided a landscape backdrop, that actually runs to either side of the whole collaboration. Conrico definitely seems to enjoy painting these landscapes, and they have that paintbrush appearance that he achieves, I think by using banana caps. The mountain range and greenery is in stark contrast to the outstanding ACER writing in the prism colouring and superb letter design that Acer is painting with at the moment.
Acer, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
It has been fun observing Acer, whose central theme is geometric design, change his ‘look’ several times over the years. This latest rainbow lettering is such a strong statement, and demands to be looked at and enjoyed.
Zake and Conrico, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
To the right hand side of the collaboration is the painting of Zake and Conrico, with the latter rounding off his mountainous landscape which incorporates a rather cheesy full moon in a blue sky scape.
Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
The Zake portrait is as good as any I have seen from him, and is a reminder of just how far the artist has come over the last two or three years, especially if you look back at his column pieces at the M32 Spot. The features and shadows are outstanding in this face, and there is a movement from Zake’s figurative style towards a more realistic style… watch this space to see what direction his work goes in. What an eclectic and amazing collaboration from these three artists.
‘Milk’ seems to be such an unusual word to choose for a writer, but I guess there is plenty of scope for playing with letters, and it is certainly memorable; I would be interested to know why Wxttsart chose it. Whatever the reason, he has made it his own and Bristol is becoming a bit of a Milk city.
Wxttsart, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Wxttsart creates these script letters that feel quite organic in both the wobbliness of the letters and the fills, in contrast to some writers where it is all about straight lines or solid fills or angles etc, this somehow feels much more free and expressive. Some lovely blue drips to finish the piece off. Nice work from this LRS crew member.
Here we have yet another fabulous piece by Rozalita on the Bristol to Bath cycle track, and one that not only looks great, but tells a very important story. Rozalita passionately opposes the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC), as should we all, as elements of the Bill will give the police disproportionate powers with regard to peaceful protests and the rights of travelling people. Another ‘Conservative’ withdrawal of liberties, driven by those who live in comfort and care little for others.
Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
The piece itself tells a story of a travelling lifestyle that is lovingly portrayed, and I suspect that Rozalita has drawn on personal experience, which comes across in this tender piece.
Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita is truly spreading her wings with her artwork and her progress and development is a pleasure to witness. Kill the Bill!
This wonderful piece from Merny made me laugh a lot and offered another insight into the artist’s observational skills and ability to recreate otherwise ordinary conversations or objects and turn them into something visually special. I always enjoy his work, and the naive style lends itself to remarkable storytelling.
Merny, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
The heroine of the piece declares ‘I utterly can’t help it if I’m beautiful hun!’ And tells us so much about this rather vain and laughable, but somehow endearing character. What I like about the piece is that we all probably know somebody like this, and it is this resonance that works so well, like a good situational comedian. The woman is talking to herself in a mirror, which makes the piece even more hilarious. Great work from Merny.
So far, this year has been a good one for Billy, with her joint exhibition at the Centrespace gallery, and a series of inspirational pieces, such as this recent storyboard piece at Greenbank.
Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
The cartoon-style storyboard is split into four segments with the narrative saying ‘I don’t shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you, I throw up’. My reading of the piece is that is is a criticism of our Government and Boris Johnson in particular at the refugee fiasco and National embarrassment brought upon us by their hostile approach to people in need.
The piece is beautifully illustrated, I love the world maps on the girl’s t-shirt, and other details like that, cleverly presented in her naive style. A really great piece from an artist whose work I am really enjoying right now.
I cannot fully express how much I am enjoying Rozalita’s renaissance, and find myself simply marvelling at her work. This piece fits the formula of a few of her recent pieces with a two tone portrait framed within a floral display. One of her favoured spots is this long wall on the Bristol to Bath cycle path, and several of her pieces can be seen here in one visit.
Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
The colour tones of this piece are perfectly complementary, and help to bring out the features in the greyscale face. I’m not too sure what the blue cap is all about, but it separates the face from the background very nicely. The flowers are very nicely painted, I particularly like the one on the left, which looks a little bit like a protea. The improvements in Rozalita’s work is tangible from piece to piece, and I have a tinge of excitement each time I come across a new one.
Smak is an artist who always delivers work of the highest quality, even when painting quick ones. This piece is one half of a recent collaboration with fellow artist Sled One, whose cheese piece I posted a couple of weeks ago.
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
This is another piece in support of Ukraine, and at the top left of the piece was a board (out of shot) saying ‘no war’ on a Ukrainian flag background. It is heartwarming to see so many pieces in Bristol in support of Ukraine and soon I will be dedicating a gallery to these special pieces. Smak, as ever, has smashed it with this piece of graffiti writing, using wonderful tones of blues and yellows to decorate his name. Outstanding graffiti writing at its best.
This is the second piece from Laic217 that I have seen that is overtly in support of Ukraine, and this time the content and style is much more what we would expect from him. The masked characters, that Laic217 has been painting on and off for years, now take on a rather more sinister and relevant meaning in the context of war.
Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Set on a backdrop of a Ukrainian flag, the two characters cannot be seen, but are hidden from view by their heavy masks and headgear, rendering them anonymous. It is this anonymity (particularly of the Russian aggressors) of all that is going on in the war that contributes to our feeling of helplessness. News clips and short moments of footage, distressing interviews and reports leave us with the bare bones of a picture, and we make up the gaps in our imaginations.
This one is for Ukrainian artists and writers. Perfect.
This unusual piece from Zoe Power brings us back on topic with the most important issue of the moment, the dreadful invasion of Ukraine by the Russian dictator Putin. I am moved and humbled by the number of pieces that Bristol artists have painted supporting the Ukrainian people in their time of need – in the absence of being able to do much, showing support is a very good thing that we can all do.
Zoe Power, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Zoe Power has used the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag to paint a dove of peace and to offer some kind words, ‘Welcome Refugees’. This is a sentiment shared by a vast number of British people, but sadly not by a government who have been overtly hostile to any kind of refugees entering the UK since coming in to power twelve years ago. In this moment, a time when Europe is seeing its greatest refugee crisis since WWII, we are once again observing their true colours, playing to their xenophobic supporters who have kept them in power all this time. Shame on our government. They do not represent me. All power to Zoe Power for speaking from the heart with compassion and love.
Natural adventures 