It isn’t all that often that you find graffiti writing by 3Dom, and I had to do a double take when I saw this piece to remind myself what his writing looks like. One of the very first pieces I posted by 3Dom was a piece of writing not unlike this one.
3Dom, Greenbank, Bristol, December 2024
The letters spell out the artist’s moniker and are elaborately filled with intricate patterns and incredible detail that 3Dom specialises in. The colour palette is nicely chosen and cleverly distributed within and around the letters. A wonderful surprise on one of the last walks I had before going off on my holiday.
Klashwhensober gets a lot of practice with painting walls, which directly leads to improvements in his work. Over the last few years he has managed to develop his style, which has gradually developed into a sophisticated blend of writing the letters SOBER with animated fills that ooze out from them.
Klashwhensober, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024
This piece illustrates really clearly how the fill tells its own story, or has its own place, and you could almost imagine a scene unfolding, but you only get to see that scene within the confine of the letters. There is always a lot crammed into Klashwhensober’s work, perhaps an indication of a busy mind. This is a nicely executed and finished piece.
When the Greenbank hoarding is eventually dismantled, I wonder what will happen in the other spots. Will turnover increase, or will some new hoardings become an oasis for graffiti/street artists? I, for one, will miss this place and its colourful gallery. Daz Cat has painted a few memorable pieces here, but this one is a little bit special.
Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024
As with many of Daz Cat’s larger pieces, there is a story unfolding here. A girl, wearing a bird costume, is sitting on a log in a wood, and beside her is a cat spirit. I don’t know what the conversation they are having is about, but it feels earnest and important. There is a lot of spirituality in this colourful and beautifully illustrated piece.
With this magnificent piece, we welcome back Subtle, who has been away from our streets for far too long, indeed the last piece I posted by the artist was way back in March 2022. He has marked his comeback with a really strong statement piece… no need for fancy embellishment or fiddly bits. This burner is far from subtle.
Subtle, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024
The chrome letters SUBTLE sit boldly on a dark background, and although there is a drop shadow, it is almost as dark as the background and difficult to see (more so in the photographs). I sincerely hope that this isn’t a one-off and that we get to see more of his work, and just to remind you what his work looks like, here is an updated gallery for you to enjoy.
Street art takes many forms, and encompasses so much more than graffiti writing and spray-painted portraits, characters or scenes. It is a broad church that encompasses murals using spray paint or other painting materials, paste-ups and installations large and small. Hardcore followers like to stick with spray paint work, but I like to find and write about all forms of street artwork, and this wonderful toadstool piece by Le Imposter Design is a perfect example of a modest hand-painted tiny mural.
Le Imposter Design, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2024
I have posted all the Le Imposter Design pieces that I have found (three so far), because I feel they help to represent this vast spectrum of street art in Bristol. Most of her work features plants or fungus, and this is a particularly nice example, with a purple-capped toadstool and some rather pretty ground plants and flowers. She has added some little stars, to add a little bit of context and atmosphere. The piece is small and low down on the hoarding. Blink and you would miss it. More to come from Le Imposter Design.
With this character piece, Omie is demonstrating his versatility. We would normally associate his work with graffiti writing that isn’t tied down to any particular pattern or style, but here he has painted something altogether different, a robot.
Omie, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
I think that the character is the Iron Giant from the animated film released in 1999, and a popular subject in street art and youth culture. In this nicely crafted and tender piece, the giant is holding a spray can, ready to do some decorating. A fine departure from Omie.
I tend to get quite excited when new artists begin to make a mark with their work, especially when you can see a style develop and confidence grow with each new piece. Astrea, who when I first encountered her operated under the moniker of HNH, is one such artist, and I am enjoying the challenge of finding her work in a variety of Bristol spots.
Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Astrea’s abstract style is different and refreshing. It looks like she has used paint brushes in this piece to be able to get such sharp lines. The overall effect is aesthetically pleasing with curved lines framing the whole thing nicely. The two-tone colour selection is very effective, although I think that the circle at the top should have been filed with the brilliant white used for the rest of the fills. Excellent and original work from Astrea.
I recently met Nice One for the first time, although he said that we had met before (I think that must have been before he was painting as Nice One), which I felt a bit bad about, because I like to try and remember these things. We had a great chat about all sorts of things, and I was able to tell him how much I was enjoying his work, and the superb way he combines his writing with characters and scenes – this piece being a perfect example of what I mean.
Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
This piece wouldn’t look out of place in a gallery, but here it is for the citizens of Bristol to enjoy. The concept is beautifully executed, a landscape with moody clouds above a tree-lined lake, and the letters, in Times New Roman font emerging like monoliths from the horizon. This is a fascinating piece that demonstrates Nice One’s modest talent. One of the most memorable pieces of the year in my view.
There are several graffiti writers in Bristol who simply write their letters in a broadly similar style and format from piece to piece. Nips is one of these artists, and her forte is in the colours and fill patterns she chooses.
Nips, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Photographed late afternoon on a rather sunny day, the photographs have a bit of glare and probably don’t do the piece justice. Nips has used yellows, oranges and pinks, and blended them skilfully throughout the piece. Some contrasting squiggles and fabulous white feature lines finish what piece well. I am an admirer of her work, and have yet to meet the artist… it is simply a matter of time.
One of the functions of Natural Adventures is to document contemporary street art and graffiti writing in Bristol, where I might differ from others who do what I do, is that I like to show the full spectrum of artists, and not only cherry-pick the high-end stuff. This way, readers get to see everything that goes on in the city, warts and all, rather than seeing it through rose-tinted spectacles. New and emerging artists play an important role in the street art culture of the city. Some will give up, while others will keep at it and improve and some will become celebrated artists in timer, and it is good to be able to trace their work back – Natural Adventures is a place where that can happen.
Roma, Greenbank, Bristol, September 2024
This piece is by Roma, whose work has been appearing from place to place all around Bristol. I am always a fan of red/green combinations, and Roma has thrown in some purples into the fills for good measure. ROMA are fine letters to work with, pleasing on the eye and easy to remember. While there is a rather nice drop shadow, it is interesting to note that there are no borders in this piece, which is unusual with writers. Personally, I quite like borderless pieces (my own personal prejudice, because I find them impossible to paint). The white highlights give the piece a little lift. Expect to see more from Roma
Natural adventures 