6510. M32 roundabout J3 (636)

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

It is easy to become complacent, living in Bristol, when it comes to street and graffiti, and to take it for granted that we have something rather special, that most cities in the country or the world, simply don’t have. The graffiti sub-culture is thriving and grows both local talent and attracts artists form far and wide to get out there and paint walls. Artists like Smak, who are at the top of their game, are not a rarity, but common, such is the strength and depth of the field of artists.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

This is a beautiful combination piece of outstanding writing accompanied by a comedy cartoon skull wearing a graffiti crown. The letters, which are easy to pick out, are beautifully proportioned and designed, and painted in prime colours, which you don’t see all that often. A wonderful piece from a gifted artist.

6502. M32 roundabout J3 (635)

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

Like sentinels guarding the gate to Rivendell, well not exactly, but sentinels nonetheless painted naturally by Daz Cat. The character on the left is definitely a cat, but I am a little unsure about the creature on the right and am going to assume it is a dog. Cats and dogs are appropriate for this spot, because when it rains heavily, this tunnel floods, and you can see it is partially flooded in this picture.

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

Daz Cat has been reasonably quiet this year, but these quick ones have brought him front of mind once again. The cat painted in steel blue tones is looking a little vexed. It is great to see how much depth Daz Cat works into his characters compared to the flat cat portraits he was painting when he started.

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

The dog? portrait on the other side reflects the same colours as the cat and also has a certain amount of depth to it. This is not the first time Daz Cat has painted on either side of the tunnels here. Let me see if I can dig out a previous example…

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2019
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2019

6495. M32 roundabout J3 (634)

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

I really goofed when I photographed this extraordinary character piece by Stivs, because it was accompanied by some writing on either side, but t the time I didn’t recognise the writing. It turns out that it was all one piece with Oust providing the writing, which I haven’t included here, because the character piece stands up in its own right.

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

There is no doubt about it, Stivs is an extremely talented artist and is equally comfortable painting portrait and character work as he is with graffiti writing. This Samurai character is superbly presented, with great use of contrasting colours to provide light and shade and therefore depth. You can deconstruct the piece by looking at the blocks of solid colour, which when you stitch it altogether has an incredible effect. Very nice piece from Stivs.

6490. M32 roundabout (633)

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

I rarely post unfinished pieces, but this one from Hypo was as good as finished and only needed a few little details added, so he said when I was chatting to him about it. I asked if he would mind me photographing it in its unfinished state, and he said not at all, which was fortunate, because I don’t think it lasted much more than a day and was gone the next time I visited.

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

The dark grey letters have a deep metallic sheen, looking a little like brushed steel or something like that. The letter colours work really well with the lilac background and are picked out beautifully with the vibrant lime green border and ‘icicles’. Some small spheres or dots finish the whole thing off nicely. More great work from the hyper-busy Hypo.

6474. M32 roundabout J3 (632)

Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2024
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2024

More from the irrepressible Logoe, this time behind the bush on the M32 roundabout, where he has painted before. What is remarkable about Logoe’s most recent Bristol blitz, is that all of the pieces, and he painted many over a weekend, are really well finished, looking clean and crisp.

Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2024
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2024

This piece of script writing is in yellow shades with a deep green drop shadow, and tidy white outline. The letters spelling LOGOE could easily be mis-read if you weren’t sure what you were looking at. As with most, if not all, of Logoe’s pieces, the writing is adorned with a scattering of brown, grey and yellow oval spots, complementing the colour palette perfectly.

6466. M32 roundabout J3 (631)

 

Scrapyardspec, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Scrapyardspec, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

I am not too sure where Scrapyardspecs hails from, but he seems to be a regular visitor to Bristol leaving behind occasional characters Painted in his unique style, filling up those awkward spaces, because the versatility of his characters.

Scrapyardspec, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Scrapyardspec, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

This square piece contains a three-eyed variant of Scrapyardspec’s character, painted with the wobbly lines so indicative of his style. the zany character has a wagging tongue, another common feature of his work. All part of the spectrum of street art we are blessed to see in Bristol.

6462. M32 roundabout J3 (630)

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

I prepared today’s posts yesterday, because I am (at the time of scheduled publication) on my way to Cornwall for a few days away with a fine friend who I have been fishing with every year for more than 35 years. My posts may become a little erratic over the next few days, but with the earlier dark evenings I should have a little time to write them.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

I really don’t get to post enough work by Corupt, so it feels good when I do get round to it. This is a lovely piece spelling STICK, but this time he has taken a homonym approach and replaced the ‘I’ with a ‘Y’. The letters are blocky and rigid and beautifully filled with colourful spots, stripes and drips. The whole thing is bordered with a thick black line and then reinforced with a red outline a couple of inched further out, framing the piece nicely. It is always great to see Corupt’s work, and to chat when I bump into him, which seems to be quite frequently these days.

6449. M32 roundabout J3 (629)

Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

Klashwhensober is as busy as ever, and I only tend to post a fraction of the pieces he produces, I expect I’ll need to go back through the archives and do a couple of sweep-ups of his work in due course. Every now and then one of his pieces catches the eye, and this one on the roundabout is one of those.

Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

This modest spot is tucked away behind a tree, and isn’t easily seen without looking for it. Klashwhensober has written the word SOBER in ribbon letters, filled skilfully in blue and yellow, with a variety of well-painted patterns and features. There is some menace lurking in the form of clutching hands and fingers wafting from the cloudy background. I think that Klashwhensober’s pieces often indicate a busy and cluttered mind, and it would be interesting to see if he could create a piece of writing that was simpler in structure and could show off his skill as an artist. Unlikely to happen methinks.

6415. Dean Lane skate park (762)

Hypo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Hypo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

I am really flagging. This is a beauty from Hypo, who I met at the M32 roundabout a couple of days ago. He continues to turn out quality pieces with great regularity, and this one is so full of energy and effervescence.

Hypo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Hypo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

We talked a little of his penchant for symmetry, and chatted about Werm who is going through a phase of writing his letters with a bilateral symmetry. In symmetry lies perfection… That’s yer lot, back to bed for me.

6400. M32 roundabout J3 (627)

Kid Krishna, M32 roundabout, Bristol September 2024
Kid Krishna, M32 roundabout, Bristol September 2024

I bumped in to Kid Krishna earlier this week when he was painting under Brunel Way which was particularly nice as I hadn’t seen him for a very long while. I’m not sure he recognised me without my beard. He has been on fire lately, even venturing into The Bearpit, which hasn’t seen any action for several years.

Kid Krishna, M32 roundabout, Bristol September 2024
Kid Krishna, M32 roundabout, Bristol September 2024

This is a really unusual CRIE piece with interesting colours. Quite unlike anything else you see about the place. The two colour palettes appear to be so at odds with one another, but somehow it works really well. I am mindful that I have a whole ton of Kid Krishna pieces in my archive and probably need to dig them out.