7099. Purdown (93)

Sam Brentnall, Purdown, Bristol, July 2005
Sam Brentnall, Purdown, Bristol, July 2005

I have only ever found a handful of pieces by Sam Brentnall, but it doesn’t take many to make a really strong impression. There is something very endearing about this simple naïve style, so clean and crisp. I think it must have been quite recently finished when I found it, because there are no mud splashes, goat damage or tagging to be seen.

Sam Brentnall, Purdown, Bristol, July 2005
Sam Brentnall, Purdown, Bristol, July 2005

The beautiful illustration is of a man with a hat playing a guitar, and to use up the space of the concrete slab, Sam Brentnall has playfully bent the neck of the guitar back on itself, in a way that only cartoon illustrations can. Refreshing and fun.

Slavery

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An evening out

Stolen From God, song cycle

slavery stories

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by Scooj

2755. St Werburghs tunnel (143)

Yay, let’s hear it for the boys whose recent collaboration in the tunnel is full of happiness, music and soul. Last year, Face 1st and Soap went through a period of not collaborating for whatever reason, but they seem unstoppable just now with several walls that this pair have painted already this year.

Face 1st and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Face 1st and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

On the left of the piece is a nice piece of writing from Face 1st with a beautifully worked horizontal gradation through his lettering and a decent 3D effect using a vanishing point underneath. On the right is a cheerful mariachi singer surrounding the whole collaboration with happy notes from his guitar. I’m not too sure if Soap has ever actually played a guitar, but the left hand is gripping the neck in a rather awkward upside-down position. Overall a wonderful and joyful piece.

2366. Lawrence Hill roundabout (10)

I don’t quite know what Nightwayss has been taking recently, but whatever it is is seeing him become one of the most prolific artists in Bristol at the moment. I actually received a message from him to go and check this piece out, and I am so very glad that I did, because it is utterly original and rather awesome.

Nightwayss, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, July 2019
Nightwayss, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, July 2019

The piece depicts a guitar set on a gorgeous background of  plants and flowers in subtle oranges and yellows. Of course, no self-respecting Nightwayss piece is without monkeys, and this one has five of the little mischief-makers.

Nightwayss, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, July 2019
Nightwayss, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, July 2019

I am enjoying his work a great deal at the moment, and have a whole ton more pictures of recent and not-so-recent pieces to share in due course. Let’s hear it for the monkey man.

503. City Road (4)

I have known about this piece for a while, but just never knew where it was. To my huge excitement and fulfilment I found it recently, while looking for another piece nearby. This is by one of my favourite street artists, Aspire, who is better known for his amazing birds.

Aspire, City Road, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire, City Road, Bristol, October 2016

I don’t know who the subject of the piece is, but I would guess a prominent local musician or blues artist perhaps. It seems slightly peculiar seeing work by Aspire that is not a bird, but I consider it to be equally good, and I would like to see more of it.

Aspire, City Road, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire, City Road, Bristol, October 2016

The piece has been here for a while and is slightly worse for wear, but it has persisted and survived untagged…often the mark of a respected artist.

384. Upfest 2016 (28)

After seeing all of his wonderful wheatpastes in Stokes Croft whilst ‘on tour’ in the UK, it was a real treat to find this fabulous Tian work at Upfest this year. This time his work was not a paste up, but nevertheless unmistakably a Tian piece.

Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I love his work, and in this piece there is a continuation of his use of sepia tones for the main subject. The whole work shows how accomplished Tian is using different techniques and materials. I am not too sure who is in the picture, but I guess she is famous.

Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I was rather hoping that while Tian was in Bristol, he might do another series of wheatpastes, but so far I haven’t found anything. I very much look forward to his next visit.

Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Tian, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

228. Devon Road (3)

I’m still excited by Devon Road. This is an exceptional piece by the brilliant Sepr. Typical of his pieces, it is in shades of gray and features a musician, in this case a guitarist.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

The mustachioed character has a continental look about him and there is something rather peaceful about the work. I can almost hear the music.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

I think it is fairly obvious, but I am a big fan of Sepr’s work and to find this near-perfect mural in Devon Road made me very happy indeed. Imagine my surprise when I came upon another one just around the corner. More on that one soon.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, detail, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016