Tag: M32

3133. M32 Cycle path (71)

Unlike other artists in Bristol, Rezwonk has been relatively quiet since lock down restrictions have eased, although I am aware of a couple of new pieces in Lawrence Hill, there have only been a handful from this master graffiti writer.

Reezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Reezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020

This gorgeous piece in red, with alternating white and yellow outlines looks deceptively child-like, but is technically complex. The fill, which would have been laid down first, looks almost like crayon, a technique Rezwonk has used before. The two elements that set the piece off nicely are the red detail lines and the copious drips at the bottom of the letters. Great to see,

3123. M32 Cycle path (70)

When DazCat posted this piece on Instagram he accompanied it with the following words ‘Tried something new, perspective is tricky!’. To me though I think he did a fabulous job.

Daz Cat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Daz Cat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020

Although Daz Cat does write from time to time he is definitely better known for his cats, dogs and other animals. The perspective works pretty well in this piece, but I am slightly perplexed that I can’t properly read the writing. I’ll let you work it out for yourselves.

Daz Cat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Daz Cat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020

The cat is something altogether More Daz Catty. Propped up against the letters the rather bored, sullen or sad looking cat is passing the time drinking from a bottle (of milk perhaps?). Overall this is a nice piece, slightly understated, that should give the artist confidence to try more experimental work in future.

3114. M32 roundabout J3 (248)

This ‘ice dragons’ piece was the second painted by Tizer on his lightening visit to Bristol about a month ago. I was lucky enough to watch him for a while painting both pieces on consecutive days, and while he painted this one I had a chance to chat with him for quite a long time. Tizer likes to talk and is a really friendly guy. He also self-discloses without apology and in just a few minutes I learned a lot about his childhood and what motivated him to pick up a can.

Tizer, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Tizer, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

One of the most remarkable things about the two pieces in Bristol is that he paints freestyle, which means that the idea is in  his head, but he doesn’t follow a draft drawing or plan. The way he works is to sketch out the fills in different colours before adding hard edges in black, like reverse colouring in. You should be able to make out the letters TIZER so beautifully written.

Tizer, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Tizer, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

It is interesting to note also that Tizer seems to work from left to right in a systematic way, when many other artists will approach their work from all sides at once or by colour selection. This is a man who knows what he wants to do and just goes ahead and does it. A giant of a man with a giant heart.

3112. M32 roundabout J3 (247)

It is always nice to see a new piece from Rapt and I have become rather fond of his little motifs that he incorporates alongside his letters. In this piece he has painted a small yin-yang to the right of the letters that provides extra interest.

Rapt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Rapt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

The letters are nicely done with three horizontal layers of shading fill in varying hues of pink. Rapt has also included some nice little clusters of coloured circles and stars that I think works really well and is quite an original decoration. A fine piece of work.

3110. M32 roundabout J3 (246)

What the world needs more of in these difficult times is great collaborative happy street art like this magnificent recent collaboration from Soap and Face 1st. These PWA (Pirate Wall Art) friends have been painting together for a long while now and their work is so perfectly in tune. They have their own identities, but when they paint together the work is seamless.

Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

On the left is a classic piece of soapiness from Soap with the characteristic mouths spelling out SOAP. The squiggles between the A and the P are superbly done and the arrows just add that touch of graffitiness about it all. A very fine bit of painting from Soap.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

On the right Face 1st treats us to one of his charming cheery faces with big hair spelling out FACE. The matching colours with Soap and white highlights on the curves create teriffic read-across between the artists. A lovely collaboration.

3105. M32 roundabout J3 (245)

You will know that I have a very large soft spot for the work of Kid Crayonm, and what makes it extra good is that he is a seriously nice bloke too. I managed to catch up with him while he was painting this trpical protrait piece at the M32 paint jam back in July.

Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

We stopped for a while to chat and KC told me that this section of wall is a little tricky for him because of his height and he needs to stand on stuff to reach the top. I love the way that over the last couple of years, the party hat has become almost as much of a thing in his work as the crayon, both featured here.

Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

I have enjoyed this little spate of pieces from KC and am looking forward to hunting down a collaboration piece he has just finished with SPZero76. There are some things that have been great about this summer and this is one of them.

3104. M32 Cycle path (68)

This was a quiet one from Decay that snuck out without fanfare. It is great to see Decay experimenting with some new paint textures and ideas, such as spraying large clouds of paint on the wall as a kind of backdrop to his writing.

Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020

The white shading in the letters has a kind of distressed effect, something interior decorators were particularly fond of in the 1980s. The whole thing is high-class and exactly what you’d expect from Decay. There are two crew names on the piece that are HTM – Hold the Mustard, and LRS – Last Radical Souls, they are a loosely based crew operating all over the world since 2001.

3103. M32 roundabout J3 (244)

It is always great to catch up with Rusk, a real gentleman if ever there was one. On this occasion he was joining in with the M32 paint jam that included Tizer, Inkie, Soker, Hemper and Minto last month. The sun was against me for the final photographs, but the work in progress shot shows off the colours a little better.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Attention and care are what I associate Rusk’s work with. He is always diligent and tidy with his pieces and takes his time to get things right. I can’t imagine my stopping for a chat was particularly helpful, but he didn’t seem to mind.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

The letters are typically Rusk, spelling out RUSKY and are given a horizontal tricolour fill, with some nice spots in the middle section. If I am honest I am not sure the three colours work too well, especially the bottom two as there is not enough contrast between them, but that is nit picking really, this is a fine piece of graffiti writing.

3100. M32 roundabout J3 (243)

Taboo clearly has a great sense of fun which really comes out in his work. He is an unconventional graffiti writer using large curvy and often erratic lettering that appears to be being used by a number of ‘new school’ artists in Bristol.

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Taboo has incorporated a policeman, looking very much like an American cop, chasing after a smiley face that is scuttling away to the left of the piece. Although his work sometimes looks a bit ragged, I consider Taboo to be a talented street artist who is pushing the boundaries of convention.

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

The workmanship of the cop character is skilfully done and almost feels slightly underplayed and modest. On its own it would stand up as a fine piece of work. Looking forward to seeing where Taboo will take us next.

3099. M32 roundabout J3 (242)

Having not really noticed work by Pl8o before lock down, I now seem to see his work wherever I look. This is a rather nice one in a well selected colour scheme down on the M32 roundabout.

Pl8o, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Pl8o, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Although this piece wasn’t part of the outstanding paint jam that included Inkie, Tizer, Rusk, Minto, Hemper and Soker, it was just a little bit further along the wall and was in great company. With a few more years hard graft, I can easily see Pl8o painting comfortably alongside such artists.