Tag: M32 roundabout

4328. M32 roundabout J3 (399)

I can’t quite work something out. I have only been aware of Klashwhensober for a couple of months, and although I have seen some of his ‘Sober’, ‘Soba’, ‘Klash’ and ‘Flash’ pieces for a little while longer, he seems to be everywhere I look at the moment. Did I miss something before, or has he gone completely nuts. I think I have photographed at least ten of his pieces in my last three or four trips out.

Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Klashwhensober, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

This Sober piece is a bit of a beauty on the M32 roundabout. The letters are unmistakably Klashwhensober’s, but it is the fills that are superb, with the red and blue ‘sprinkles’ transitioning along the horizontal divide of colour. The white highlights help the piece to ‘pop’ out giving it the 3D effect. And the whole thing is beautifully finished. There is a lot to like about this piece of writing.

4325. M32 roundabout J3 (398)

I don’t see pieces from Serm all that often, so it was a pleasant surprise to come across this one a couple of weeks ago on the roundabout. The colours, I am guessing, represent the colours of Ukraine, and I imagine that this is another piece in support of the Ukrainian people suffering at the hands of the Russian dictator Putin.

Serm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Serm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

It is interesting that we have two artists with very similar names, Serm and Werm, and both like to write using these large block capitals, most likely a coincidence, but maybe there is something about the letters that lend themselves to this style. Very nice writing indeed from Serm.

4324. M32 roudabout J3 (397)

Like so many of the artists in Bristol, Varo seems to go through very busy periods and then goes quiet for a while, before returning with a burst of activity. I managed to catch up with Varo briefly just as he was finishing off this extraordinary piece. The conversation was a little fragmented, because Varo’s English is a little bit basic, and my Spanish non-existent. We discussed the surreal and crazy nature of the piece.

Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

Normally Varo’s work is quite easy to identify, but this piece is completely off the wall and had I not been there, I’m not sure that I would have been able to identify the artist. It feels like a comic-book Picasso, if you get my meaning, but to try and work out what the story is might just do my head in, so I am not going to attempt to interpret it. I prefer to stick with the ‘crazy’ descriptor. It is great to see something so utterly different and challenging.

4320. M32 roundabout J3 (396)

You can wait for ages, and then two pieces from Subtle come along in quick succession. This is the first of two recent, and really rather decent, works from Subtle. This one is on the M32 roundabout, and the other one, which I will write about in due course, is at Greenbank. Both feature Jerry from the carton series Tom and Jerry.

Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

It rather looks like this piece is a ‘love letter’ in graffiti form (Jerry definitely looks bashfully in love), but it is always so difficult to read between the lines on such things. Subtle terms this a ‘quick one’ on his Instagram account, but that is just ridiculous, how can anything so beautifully proportioned and clean and crisp be a ‘quick one’ I ask you? Great to see new work from this great graffiti writer.

4316. M32 roundabout J3 (395)

With a little bit of Angry Face peeping in from the left, we have the second piece from Maybe Paints in support of Ukraine. I have to say that I am deeply moved by the spirit of the British people (not including our despicable government), in the outpouring of support for Ukraine, a country on the periphery of our collective consciousness only a few weeks ago. My local high street is festooned with Ukrainian blue and yellow flags from top to bottom, and I am proud of that.

Maybe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Maybe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

This small and humble piece by Maybe Paints is typical of his face to face work and sometimes, with pieces like this, less is more. The tear tells us all we need to know. It is great to see Maybe working a little bit further away from his safe zone inner Brunel Way. Selfishly, I hope to see more of his work in North Bristol.

4313. M32 roundabout J3 (394)

Teao One is one of the senior writers in Bristol, and by that I don’t mean he is old, but rather is one of those that has been writing for many years, even though he only crept into my radar last year (how did that happen?), which tells me I still have so much to learn and understand about this craft in Bristol.

Teao one, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Teao one, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

There is something very distinctive about Teao One’s writing style, lots of well crafted letters in a uniform style, beautifully crisply finished. It took me a while, but the letters appear to spell out GENERAL, although I’m not too sure what that means or refers to. A banging chrome piece from a skilled writer.

4311. M32 roundabout J3 (393)

It is pretty much impossible to observe one of these classic Soap pieces and not feel a small wave of happiness wash over you. The stylised laughing mouths/skull shaped characters are a trademark mega-tag that Soap has been painting and refining for years.

Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

This piece in great bronze colours was one part of an outstanding PWA paint jam, that included Face 1st and Chill, and a guest appearance from Kool Hand. The finishing on this piece is first class and demonstrates amply Soap’s skills.

4304. M32 roundabout J3 (392)

I’m trying to be as contemporary as I possibly can be, but am still a day late – Happy St Patrick’s Day for yesterday. I accelerated this piece through my pipeline, so that I could publish it today, having photographed it only yesterday afternoon. This cheerful and very green piece is, of course, by the brilliant graffiti writer Dibz.

Dibz, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Dibz, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

The star of the show is obviously the character, who takes centre stage, and distracts a little from the squeaky clean lines and seamless fill fades of the letters DIBZ. One of the things I like most about Dibz’ pieces is that they simply ooze confidence and competence, this is someone at the top of his game.

Dibz, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Dibz, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

The character might be accused of being a little bit stereotypical, but it is a caricature the likes of which will be replicated across the world in places under the sphere of Irish influence. The pointy ears would suggest that this is a leprechaun enjoying a pint of grog. The FUA belt is a rather nice little touch. Superb work from Dibz.

4299. M32 roundabout J3 (391)

Kool Hand is an interesting artist who appears to have returned to Bristol after spending a while in London. I’m not sure if that piece of information is correct, but I base it on where he was posting his work on hisd Instagram account. Whatever, he is definitely now in Bristol and painting like there was no tomorrow.

Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

Kool Hand has been broadening his portfolio considerably lately, adding to his trademark Orangutan ‘stamp’. I believe this piece is based on an axolotl (a newt-like creature from Mexico, that you can keep as a pet). The six fronds around the head represent the gills of the axolotl. This piece certainly stands out and grabs the attention and continues the development of content for the artist. Pretty in pink.

4297. M32 roundabout J3 (390)

Chill is now a firmly established member of the PWA (Pirate Wall Art) crew, which is a very good thing indeed, and he manages to get out and paint with them as he did with this collaborative wall recently.

Chill, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Chill, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

Chill’s black and white old-school comic style characters are a breath of fresh air and quite unique. This is a lovely piece with quite a lot going on. There is reference to NFTs (Non-fungible token – a modern concept that I struggle to grasp) and the story seems to be about food and money and affordability. As ever, Chill’s artwork is outstanding and he manages to ‘draw’ his black lines with great sharpness and tone. Another fun piece from Chill.