4254. M32 Cycle path (164)

You can expect to see a few pieces creeping into Natural Adventures over the coming works by the artist Klashwhensober. I met him for the first time in St Werburghs tunnel last week, and what a pleasure it was too. He told me that he writes Klash, as in this piece, but also Flash and Sober. I have seen many of his pieces around the place, but this is the first one I have posted.

Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2022
Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2022

It is clear that Klashwhensober is an accomplished writer, and his pink letters here are unusually shaped, but nicely done. They remind me a little of Claro_qhe_sssnoh’s lettering style. Look out for more from this artist in coming weeks.

Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2022
Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2022

UPDATE – I forgot to include his character that was alongside the writing of one of the Rugrats cartoon family – was it the father? Very nicely done whatever.

4240. M32 Cycle path (163)

If ever Altered Images wanted a new album cover for their outstanding LP Pinky Blue, this piece by Face 1st would definitely fit the bill. I know I have said it before, but I will never tire of Face 1st’s work, and although sometimes it is a little rough at the edges, it nearly always raises a smile.

Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

This piece is perfect for the location and somehow just seems to have a great feel good factor about it. The colours set on the green background look fabulous and together with the 3D shading on the bottom of the letters lift the piece off the wall. More great stuff from Face 1st.

4235. M32 Cycle path (162)

What a wonderful surprise this gorgeous portrait piece was, when I walked along the M32 cycle path shortly after my return from a week away from Bristol. I don’t think I have come across the artist, Syone MTF, before, but if this is anything to go by, I would be keen to see more.

Syone MTF, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2022
Syone MTF, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2022

In a blue-scale colour palette, this modestly sighted portrait certainly grabs the attention. It is a nicely worked piece moving in the direction of photorealism, but not quite there yet. I would love to see more from the artist and sincerely hope this isn’t a one-off. Eye-catching.

4228. M32 Cycle path (161)

This is another piece from Dybe, part of a spate of No Frills crew collaborative efforts painted in recent weeks. I am trying to make amends for the terrible underrepresentation of Dybe’s fine work in Natural Adventures. I feel an archive trawl coming on sometime.

Dybe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022
Dybe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022

The most noticeable thing about Dybe’s work is that his simple letters (full caps) are always really crisply and neatly finished. Nothing here is rushed or slap-dash, and although I have never met the artist, it is clear from his work that he is conscientious. The brick wall is nicely done, but it is the white highlights that give Dybe’s letters that 3D effect and lift away from the wall. A really nicely presented piece.

4199. M32 Cycle path (160)

I have found it a little difficult to identify some of the little characters in Biers’ pieces recently, but there is absolutely no mistaking this grey man, former Prime Minister John Major. A long time ago, when I lived in Godmanchester, I used to see John Major and Jeffrey Archer drinking together in my local pub. Goodness knows what plans they were cooking up.

Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022
Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022

So Biers has portrayed John Major brilliantly peering out of the ‘0’ in WD40 with his laser stare. Major must be wondering what on earth is happening to his political party at the moment, they are such a rotten lot, and the Johnson defenders, by lining up behind him, are hanging themselves. It is the quiet ones we have to watch (Sunak, Gove, Hunt).

Biers is favouring the wobbly border at the moment, something that the PWA crew were playing with a little while back. This is a lovely piece painted during a rich vein of form from the artist.

4198. M32 Cycle path (159)

Ah! A real beauty from Benjimagnetic splashing bold and solid colours onto the long wall on the cycle path. I have really been enjoying the adjustments he has made to his style over the last few months and although his rather ephemeral style previously was his USP, I genuinely think that this is an improvement.

Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022
Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022

With lashings of colour, this BEN piece of graffiti writing ticks an awful lot of boxes for me. The colour palette works really well and has a childlike vibrancy about it. The fills are neat and tidy and the boundary lines clean. A well-worked and perfectly presented piece from Benjimagnetic.

4191. M32 cycle path (158)

The LRS crew have really increased their profile in Bristol over the last year or two with Decay, Werm, 3F fino, and Sitka leading the way, and this is a wonderful recent collaboration for 3F fino and Stika (Apex_alloy) on the M32 cycle path.

3F fino, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022
3F fino, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022

Although this was a collaborative wall, the two elements are discrete and stand-alone. To the left is an interesting piece from 3F fino, with a pair of embracing characters, keeping their identities hidden with head/face scarves, which is a theme to be found in many of the artist’s pieces.

Stika, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022
Stika, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2022

The other half of this wall is a fabulous Calvin and Hobbes piece by Stika, and what a brilliant piece it is, really showcasing Stika’s versatility. There is something really touching.no and heartwarming about this cartoon duo and Stika has captured that warmth perfectly in this piece. An absolutely cracking collaborative wall with two fine pieces.

4190. M32 Cycle path (157)

You will have gathered from the gallery I posted last week that I am enjoying the work of Mest at the moment. His aesthetically pleasing letters work well with graffiti writing and he constantly tries to switch up the fills and patterns in his fairly uniform and consistent letter shapes.

Mest, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2021
Mest, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2021

In this piece he has incorporated a little extra intrigue with some orange-yellow wisps drifting across the letters. From the look of it he might have been using the dregs of that colour, because the fill is neither solid nor is it cloudy, it is more the kind of fill you’d get on a quick throw up. Nonetheless it is a handsome piece.

4188. M32 Cycle path (156)

The number of Rezwonk pieces appearing about the place has definitely dipped in the last 18 months or so, and I can’t help thinking that his painting pal Decay moving out of Bristol, might be a part of this reduction in frequency, along with other projects he has been working on.

Rezwonk, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2021
Rezwonk, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2021

Even if the number of pieces is not what it was, there is a certainty about the quality. You know that Rezwonk will always produce tidy pieces with carefully considered colour palettes and designs, of which this is a good example. We are blessed in Bristol to have so many graffiti writers who paint at such a high level.

4180. M32 Cycle path (155)

Oof! I am absolutely loving these script writing pieces that Mena painted in the late autumn, and the departure from her customary blocky letters is inspired. It is so good when writers experiment with new styles, and this is a winning formula in my opinion.

Mena, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021
Mena, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021

Painted alongside fellow RBF artists, this is a real stunner. Looking like a neon sign, the clever horizontal fills are really effective. Also the sharp lines are so skilfully done. All in all a really classy piece.