Hurrah, for this cheeky piece of graffiti writing by Evey created during a paint jam organised by RBF (Resting Bitch face Crew) for Wispa’s birthday. Regular observers of Natural Adventures will note that this is not the first time Evey has used this idea, and given its popularity, she has created it again.
Evey, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
The saucy letters – EVEN – contain a bottom and fishnet stockings to make up the ‘V’. The whole thing is full of fun, which some characterisation of both of the ‘Es’ thrown into the mix. A spiky orange surround and ‘confetti’ round off this party piece. Great wok from Evey.
Something happened to Daz Cat while he was travelling in Southeast Asia over the winter. It is almost as if he had an epiphany after which his art has moved on to a new level. A glance at this gallery of his work shows how much he has developed over the years, but this transformation is a bit of a step change.
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
Daz Cats work was already becoming more sophisticated, but since returning to the UK there is more fluidity in his work, which is more three dimensional, and he is trying out new things, such as the profile portrait of the girl in this piece. This is an exceptional and original piece of street art, and I think it might be my new favourite by Daz Cat. Whilst I was photographing it, a passer-by who was walking his dog, singled out this piece and said how much he admired it. Keep it up Daz Cat, this is special.
This is an absolutely classic example of Laic217’s work. Technically and stylistically superb, the piece features two skeletons, one of which is DJing with a twin turntable and the other apparently having a great time.
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2024
The artistry in the greyscale piece is outstanding, with the story playing out really clearly. The decorative shapes bursting around the piece add a sense of movement and energy coming from the music, and the two gold touches, on the DJ’s hand and a tooth, are classy additions. I love the additional touch of LAIC217 appearing on the record label, rounding the whole thing off nicely. This is a truly fabulous and energetic piece from Laic217.
I am taking a little break from Upfest now to concentrate on the street and graffiti art that happens every single day in Bristol, the lifeblood of the urban art culture in the City. One of the stalwarts of this culture is Biers (a name I use because this is what he used to write when I first encountered him – he goes by several other names these days, including Jimothy Slip).
Biers, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
This is a very neat and tidy WD40/character combination piece, although I have had trouble identifying the character peering out of the ‘0’. The fills in the letters are nicely worked and the thick white drop shadow lifts the letters nicely above the lime green background. A nice piece from Biers.
Ra is an occasional and always very welcome visitor to Bristol, and his choice of wall to paint this beautiful piece is interesting. This wall used to be the home of a fabulous mural by Michele Curtis and the Paintsmiths celebrating Roy Hackett, a Jamaican, who arrived in Britain in 1952 and became co-founder of the Commonwealth Co-ordinated Committee (CCC) which was started 1962. Unfortunately the wall was re-rendered, painted and then subject to the tagging and bombing that walls like this are subject to. This piece by Ra is the best piece, in my opinion, to adorn the wall since.
Ra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2024
The stylised and beautifully decorated blue hand is in a pose with the middle finger and thumb touching is, I believe a mudra that represents energy and health, and it provides us with a feeling of balance. Certainly this piece feels in balance, with a complementary background and some flashes of light surrounding the hand. A wonderful spiritual piece which is beautifully executed.
Michele Curtis and the Paintsmiths, Byron Street, Bristol, May 2019
Sometimes you come across a great piece of graffiti writing without having the faintest idea about who the artist is or where they are from, and this piece by Urge is one of those. I think I only found out who Urge was by doing some investigation using Instagram, but other than finding an Instagram account, I am not much wiser. I do know that he isn’t from Bristol.
Urge, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2024
The graffiti writing itself is really beautifully presented and from the hand of a skilled writer. The letters, in a graded series of slate grey tones, spell out URGE and are emphasised with a splash of pinks exploding out from the edge of the piece. Classy stuff from the visiting writer.
I am always excited when I find street art by Bloem. She is, as far as I can see, a very friendly and talented artist who has a quirky and distinct style that draws you in. Her use of bright primary colours creates a striking contrast in her work that is rather compelling.
Bloem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2024
Bloem’s work is often peppered with recurring themes that drift in and out of her creative designs and in this piece we have the familiar hand with sharp, pointy nails and a pair of devil cherries, one of which is melting in the hand. These motifs almost fall into the category of a brand, but I suppose in street art terms we would call it a style. Anyhoo, her work is fantastic and always a pleasure when found.
I have been aware of 3GV’s work for a little while now, but this is the first piece I have posted on Natural Adventures, which I photographed back in January this year. It has taken me a little while to post because I wasn’t too sure who the artist was, and whether this was a one-off or not. I have since seen several more pieces which I will try to feature in future posts.
3GV, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2024
3GV has an interesting combination style, which incorporates characters and his letters 3GV. While his work is quite undeveloped and raw, he has something about him, and with plenty of practice, I fully expect to see his work in some of the more prominent spots before long. The Fred Flintstone character is recognisable, and the rest of his artwork comes together to create something quite eye-catching. Practice on his technique and finishing #will lift his work from ‘good effort’ to outstanding – let’s see where this goes.
Regular visitors to Natural Adventures might have noticed that I am posting three street art pieces a day more frequently than I used to, as if I were a man in a hurry. The truth is, I am. The sheer intake of new artists in the city, and the large number of established ones, means that there has never been such a high turnover of art in Bristol before, and I have never had more wonderful pieces to share. An added complication is that we are in the midst of the Upfest 2024 paint festival, and there is a huge influx of international artists whose pieces I’d like to share. This is a great first-world problem for me to have, but also means I have to post more often, and leave more pieces languishing in my archives.
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2024
This outstanding piece is from one of the best graffiti writers around, Hemper, and quite frankly is pretty much perfect in every way. Spelling out HEMS, the multicoloured fills are utterly sensational, blending and bleeding through the piece with consummate ease. Hemper is a master of his craft, and I can only stand back and admire the rich depth of this masterpiece.
Here we have some more calligraffiti writing from Stivs, who appears to have had a bit of a rebirth lately and is painting furiously all over the place. I use the word ‘furiously’ deliberately because the words he is choosing to write recently are on the bluer end of the scale and play into the passive-aggressive arena, contrasting the beautiful writing with the potty mouth language.
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2024
I believe this piece says KLAPE or KLAPY, which I think is just another way of saying CRAP, although I might be mistaken. The writing is, as ever, very neat and tidy, and has a sparkle about it, helped along with the little starbursts at the top of each letter. Much more to come from Stivs, and I am struggling to keep up as it is.
