Tag: M32 cycle path

3484. M32 Cycle path (110)

I often use the word ‘modest’ when describing Hemper’s work, but I use it in the sense that he turns up and paints with the minimum of bluster. His graffiti writing is always outstanding and often very showy, like this one, but somehow he just gets on with it and keeps a low profile. That he doesn’t have an Instagram account probably reinforces my perception of his modesty.

Hemper, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2021
Hemper, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2021

This is a special piece, painted next to and at the same time as a Benjimagnetic BEN that I posted a few days ago. Each letter is discrete in colour and decoration, but there is a stylistic flow that carries through from left to right. The letters spell out HEMS and splash this wall with colour and joy. This is high-end graffiti writing at its beat.

3481. M32 Cycle path (109)

Over the last six months we have been fortunate enough in Bristol to witness some absolutely world-class street art and graffiti writing and it is something of a privilege to see, but the highlight of that period for me has been the emergence of a new generation of artists, at the start of their journey, full of the vigour and hope. Some will dabble and then fall by the wayside, others will hit the scene hard and progress and develop over time into firm regulars, others will develop into established and top drawer artists. I am enjoying that emergence of talent, it all starts somewhere, and Big Hev is one of those that makes what I do so worthwhile.

Big Hev, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Big Hev, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Although her work is quite naive, there is a definite style that is hers and hers alone. The portraits are brightly coloured and the lips full and eyes large. Big Hev already has a good understanding of shading and the contours of the face are blended really nicely with layers of three colours of blue bringing out the features. This is going to be a hugely enjoyable journey as we watch it unfold.

3478. M32 Cycle path (108)

As gentrification marches on apace, there is a bit of a squeeze on the number of walls that artists can paint, and in North Bristol this is has been exacerbated by the loss of The Bearpit, which has become an inert, dead urban space that people pass through. Utilitarian and functional, but perceived to be safe, and the homeless people have been moved on to be homeless somewhere else. I have a feeling that the discredited Rudi Giuliani, who was praised at the time, moved the ‘bums’ out of Manhattan, without actually addressing the issue of homelessness. Perception is everything for politicians. Smoke and mirrors.

The point I was clumsily trying to make is that the M32 Cycle path is unlikely to be developed any time soon and has become more popular than ever for street artists and graffiti writers, whit a much higher turnover than a few years ago.

Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle pth, Bristol, February 2021
Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle pth, Bristol, February 2021

This is a very nice piece by Benjimagnetic, which has replaced a rather ordinary throw up that had trashed the Halloween piece from Smak last year. Benjimagnetic has been turning out pieces with alarming regularity lately and I am struggling to keep up with posting them, but at least I can now read them (I think) because mostly they say BEN. Always good to find a new Benjimagnetic piece.

3471. M32 Cycle path (107)

This is the latest in a sequence of new Laic217 pieces, but one that alas only lasted a few days before being over-painted. Set on a nicely prepped black background, this piece has a skeleton (of course) and some throw up writing about the place. This is quite clever, because it looks like the tagging looks like it was already there and Laic217 has planted his piece over the top of it, but it is all his work.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

At risk of repeating myself, something I do a lot of on Natural Adventures, it is the textures in the clothes and materials that Laic217 carries off so well. On this particular piece, the zip is the star of the show. If you like street art with clothed skeletons, then Laic217 is yer man.

3467. M32 Cycle path (106)

It is those PWA boys again working their magic, this time along the M32 cycle path. Always happy and always brightening up our lives, and let me tell you our lives need brightening up these days.

Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Soap and Face 1st tend collaborate by painting their separate pieces joined by a colour palette and some decorative features. This time thy have gone for pinks and purples and Soap, spells out SOAP with some lovely fills and a rather fetching bone across the A.

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

Face 1st brings us a laughing girl with FACE for hair, and carries across the same colours and some similar fills. This is yet another great collaboration from this pair.

3466. M32 Cycle path (105)

There are a great many artists in Bristol that I could label ‘old faithful’ and Biers is definitely one of them. His style is very recognisable with irregular letter sizes, but a ‘house-style’ font that is very much his own.

Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

I was pleased to see this piece appear and the others with it because this wall had remained stagnant for far too long. In my view it is one of the best walls in Bristol, but the turnover tends to be quite low, and so anything new is always welcome. This is Biers at his best, clean and crisp with decent fills and nice white accents to create a 3D feel. classic Biers.

3450. M32 Cycle path (104)

This piece has caused a bit of a stir and has attracted a lot of attention on Instagram. The reason for this is that it is so very different in style from much of what we see in Bristol and is by a new artist on the scene, Hanski.

Hanski, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Hanski, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Hanski is an art foundation student in Bristol, and I am seriously looking forward to many more pieces like this over the next two or three years. There is a clear and obvious influence from the Cubist movement and Picasso and I absolutely love it. I note that Hanski has painted another piece up at Purdown Battery and I must try to get up there before it gets over painted or tagged. A great introduction to this new to Bristol artist.

3446. M32 Cycle path (103)

There is no doubt about it, Rosalita is on a roll, and I can’t help thinking that her friend 3F Fino has had something to do with encouraging her to get out and paint more, because they have recently collaborated and their pieces are appearing in the same places at the same times. This is all good news as far as I am concerned.

Rosalita, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Rosalita, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Rosalita has a very interesting style, full of bright colour and carnival themes, with a strong focus on life and death. In this piece Rosalita has painted a representation of Mictecacihuatl, the ‘lady of the dead’ from Aztec mythology. This piece would sit very neatly with the Day of this Dead celebrations in November… something to look forward to later on this year? Rosalita has painted a beautiful skull, a difficult thing to do, and the flowers around the outside are stunning. I love this piece and look forward to more.

3432. M32 Cycle path (102)

I love this recent piece from 3F Fino. It is bright and arresting and cries out to be looked out. I particularly like the way that the bottom of the character and signature spills out onto the pathway. This is a piece that can’t be ignored.

3F Fino, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
3F Fino, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

I have been following the work of 3F Fino closely since I first found a piece of his in the Cumberland Basin, and have to say I am enjoying the journey. The character face is done nicely with some interesting contrasting colours and cool little shadings/highlights in blue. A nice neon orange ‘fino’ to boot.

3428. M32 cycle path (101)

Yet another in the series of Turoe pieces expressing the awful 2020 that now is thankfully behind us. I goofed when photographing this and forgot to take a picture of both words together. It says Shite Times, and confirms the experience that most of us had last year. (I shan’t get into the utter balls-up that Brexit always was going to be and alas is becoming – that’ll be a shite decade at least).

Turoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020
Turoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020

Another font style and some lovely creative touches like the clouds of colour along the bottom make this a classy piece. The letters are nice and clean in chrome with black highlights and the chrome works very nicely with the purple outline and background.

Turoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020
Turoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020

Turoe is definitely making up for lost time after a year during which ill health prevented him getting out from some time. I think we will look at these ‘Shite’ pieces as ones that define 2020 both for the artist and for the nation.