Tag: M32

1700. M32 roundabout J3 (92)

A serendipitous meeting. I had a couple of hours to race around Bristol seeking out any new works before going away on my summer holiday in mid-August, and the last port of call before packing up the car and heading for Gatwick was the M32 roundabout.

Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018
Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018

As I approached the southern wall I could see Tasha Bee at work, which in itself was very exciting because I have recently become more aware of her work and have been keen to meet the artist. I struck up a conversation with her and could see that she was contributing to a collaboration with PWA’s Soap and Face F1st. I said that I was sorry to have missed them because I would like to meet them both, whereupon she told me that they were sitting on the grass bank right behind me. Hurrah! I stopped for a chat with them all (I hope I didn’t interfere too much with their work) and Face 1st let me have a flick through his black book which felt like a real privilege.

Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018
Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018

Soap and Face F1st had pretty much finished their pieces and were watching on and advising Tasha Bee as she completed hers. I love the way that the cross motif has been shared by Soap and FF, and I am seriously enjoying the full figure work that the latter is producing at the moment. The girl with the face is emerging and coming to life.

Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018
Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018

Sadly I never got to see the the finished piece which got buffed over within a few days, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting three lovely artists and seeing them at work. We’ll meet again…

Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018
Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018

1694. M32 cycle path (18)

Although this piece by Deamze looks really simple, it is actually a really classy bit of writing. The block letters each cast a shadow over the letter to their right, giving the whole thing a 3D effect. Deamze has used only a few colours and shades to create this burner – I can count three greens and possibly four greys.

Deamze, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2018
Deamze, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2018

The spot is one that Deamze alone seems to inhabit. I suspect that out of respect, other artists always leave this spot for Deamze. It would be interesting to see what would happen if another artist painted here.

1673. M32 roundabout J3 (91)

Unusually I find myself rather conflicted about this extraordinary recent piece by 3Dom on the M32 wall. I am such a big admirer of his work, but for reasons I cannot identify, this one doesn’t really tick my boxes. It is technically beautifully done, and the blue patterning around the outside is masterful, but there is something about the face that doesn’t work for me. It is peculiar, but I feel a little disloyal, though I don’t suppose that you can like everything all the time.

3Dom, M32, Bristol, August 2018
3Dom, M32, Bristol, August 2018

It is great to see more of his work about the place though, and this piece did manage to survive longer than the Sepr piece two to the left which had been buffed by the time I got there.

1652. M32 cycle path (17)

I really rather like this creature created by Kool Hand in the cycle path that runs alongside the M32. Technically, although a cycle path, it has been out of asction for several months now due to construction work, which probably makes spraying this particular wall a little less hazardous.

Kool Hand, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2018
Kool Hand, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2018

I’ve noticed that Kool Hand seems to favour using a white background, which really helps to bring out the contrasting colours he uses for his characters. Always crisp and clean, Kool Hand tends to use only a few bold colours, together with a little shading to create these striking pieces. This creature reminds me of primative marine life forms from earlier geological ages. Nice work.

1636. M32 Roundabout J3 (90)

This is the second of two recent pieces by the marvelous Tasha Bee. Regulars will know that I admire her work a great deal, and this piece is no exception to that. One of the things I love about her art is that I rarely go looking for it, tending to find it instead when I am out on one of my little expeditions.

Tasha Bee, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2018
Tasha Bee, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2018

In this one, which is just outside the roundabout on the St Pauls side, there are two serene figures in purple and blue facing each other. Consistent with her work, both have closed eyes and a calmness about them. I rather like the ear decorations, one is a yin yang symbol and the other a peace symbol. A lovely find.

1609. M32 Spot (22)

This is the third piece I have posted by KiKi? but I am still none the wiser about who the artist is nor indeed if they are actually called KiKi, I mean from this work it might even be Steven.

Kiki, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
Kiki, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

A sea monster probably, which reminds me in style a little of Norse carvings. There is something naive about the piece, but technically is is very nicely finished. I am on a mission to discover more about KiKi.

1569. M32 roundabout J3 (87)

I love the sunny spell we have been enjoying in Bristol except for two things. The first is that there is a water supply leak on my allotment and the Council have turned off the mains supply. That means no water, which means no vegetables and I am pretty upset about it. The second thing is the shadows cast by trees and buildings, making street art photography really tiresome at some sites.

This side of the M32 is a case in point and on the day and time I visited, several of the excellent pieces were partially obscured by dappled shade from the trees. Cameras don’t like dappled shade. This burner by Soker was only affected at the far right hand edge.

 

Soker consistently turns out incredible work and this colourful writing continues the trend. There is a lot of detail and care that has gone into this piece. Even if you are not a fan of graffiti writing, it is possible to appreciate the technical quality of work like this.

 

1551. M32 Spot (21)

I took this picture a while back, and it was rather overlooked because of my excitement at finding a fine piece by SPZero76 (adjacent) and a wonderful Sepr scene (adjacent but one). Because I didn’t know the artist who created this excellent work, the photographs languished in my archives. Now to my delight I have pulled them into the full glare of the WordPress community.

David Shillinglaw, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
David Shillinglaw, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017

When I decided to write about this piece, I still didn’t know the artist, and had to do a little research to find out that it is by David Shillinglaw. Shillinglaw is not a local artist and although I am not familiar with his work in Bristol, I think I might have seen work by him in London (another trawl through my files to come). I love his style, which is beautifully described on his (as yet incomplete) website. So what about Melon Twister? this is beautiful, colourful and surreal piece, full of symbolism (keys, locks…what’s going on there?). Check out the cigarette and smiley smoke. There is a lot to look at here and to ponder on. I am really eager to see more from this distinctive artist.

1528. M32 roundabout J3 (86)

Hurrah, another Laic217 piece containing all the things I love about the artist, but this time there is a significant shift in the style and application of the spray paint.

Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018
Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018

The whole feel of the piece is much lighter touch from his usual deeply coloured and thickly layerd pieces. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it has a watercoloury kind of effect, which I think works really well.

Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018
Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018

As this artist develops, we are witnessing an amazing versatility emerge, and the more I see, the closer I am to thinking about creating a new category for the blog, along the lines of a gallery featuring all the work of a specific artist on one post. I’ll give it some more thought.

Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018
Laic217, M32, Bristol, May 2018

Inb the meantime just feast your eyes on this talented artist’s letters and skeletons.

1527. M32 roundabout J3 (85)

Adjacent to the M32 roundabout is a little side road where I like to park when I photograph street art in the area. There are always one or two caravans parked up here too, generally occupied by homeless people. Actually this is becoming quite a big issue in Bristol at the moment, as there are an awful lot of these old caravans appearing all over the city being used as temporary homes. The homeless suituation in the UK is reaching crisis point and austerity continues to hit the marginalised hardest.

Ryder and T-Rex, M32, Bristol, May 2018
Ryder and T-Rex, M32, Bristol, May 2018

On the upside, the caravans are used as canvases for many of the street artists as the ‘owners’ really don’t seem to mind the decoration. On this one we have a rather nice quick collaboration from T-Rex and Ryder. There is real movement in that dinosaur.