Tag: Monkey

2337. Dean Lane skate park (233)

It feels like a pretty long time since I last saw anything by Kool Hand in Bristol, and I figured he might have moved to London because he has posted a few pieces on Instagram from there. But here is a new piece in Dean Lane, and I hope this signals a return.

Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019
Kool Hand, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019

In this piece we see a return of his monkey/orangutan character, but just the head (looking a bit fierce) this time. I love the use of bold, vivid colours, the simple single-colour fills and clean designs. I think that if I try to do characters I might try something a bit like this, but to be a fraction as good would be success.

2312. Devon Road (10)

This wall was painted my the irrepressible Nightwayss during the Easton Art Trail and can be found on a small road just off the dog-leg of Devon Road. It is a wonderfully creative piece, with a tortoise carryinga boogie box on his back.

Nightwayss, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019
Nightwayss, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019

As with all Nightwayss’ pieces there is a monkey, in fact there are two, playing with the casette door and buttons. I am thoroughly enjoying his work at the moment which is usually presented in blacks and greys with splashes of colour to lift the whole thing. He is being a very, very busy man.

2298. M32 roundabout J3 (150)

Nightwayss is on fire, not literally of course, that would be mad. His work is appearing all over the place, and not necessarily just in the more common spots. This intriguing piece is sandwiched between Face 1st and Panskaribas and depicts a monkey sitting on a bathroom sink looking in a mirror.

Nightwayss, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Nightwayss, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

I think this is brilliant and tells a story which I would like to know a lot more about. why is the monkey there is the first place? Is it metaphorical? Why is the reflection a different colour? I love this piece, there is something magical about it.

2263. Wilder Street (33)

One of the highlights of 2019 has been the emergence of Nightwayss on the streets of Bristol. Although he sprayed a couple of pieces last year he has really made his monkey mark all over Bristol this year and has become something of a regular on Natural Adventures.

Nightwayss, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Nightwayss, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019

I was fortunate enough to meet Nightwayss for the second time when he was painting this together with Laic217 (you can see laic217’s influence in the smiley faces), and he was happy to stop for a brief chat. Of course there is a monkey, sitting in a rather thoughtful pose, but it is the incredible effect Nightwayss has achieved in the face that intrigues me most, it almost looks like a chalk sketch rather than spray paint.

Nightwayss and Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Nightwayss and Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019

This was one of my favourite and most satisfying encounters this year so far, seeing two very different artists painting together and having fun. These guys really enjoy what they do and have the added joy of being really good at it.

Nightwayss and Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Nightwayss and Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019

2229. The Bearpit (181)

A lovely artist who managed to stay under my radar until last year has become rather busy of late. I refer of course to Nightwayss whose pieces seem to focus around a monkey, either as the central character of a work or by reference.

Nightwayss, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2019
Nightwayss, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2019

In this piece Nightwayss has painted a wonderful monkey hanging by its tail and gently scooping at what looks like a large flower. The monkey is set on a black ‘NIGHT’, a great way to combine writing with a character. The modest colours and size of the whole thing emphasise its delicateness in the urban bustle of The Bearpit. I love this piece – a little oasis of peace and calm.

2164. M32 Cycle path (23)

I got really lucky with this one, I was doing a bit of an evening tour of favourite street art areas, and stopped at the M32 spot. I almost couldn’t be bothered to walk along the M32 cycle path, because I had been there quite recently, but something made me go and take a look anyway. Who should I find but Nightwayss, finishing off this striking and rather brilliant piece.

Nightwayss, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019
Nightwayss, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019

This was fortuitous on two counts, firstly to be able to meet the artist, who seems to be a very nice chap and secondly to be able to photograph it as a finished piece. All too often I have work in progress photographs without a final completed piece, because by the time I return it has been buffed or tagged.

Nightwayss, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019
Nightwayss, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019

We chatted a little about his work and I asked Nightwayss why he likes to feature monkeys in his work, he told me it was because they are quite like us so we can identify with them, which I get. There is a lot to look at and admire in this piece, which is full of detail, like the dunce cap (what is that about?) and a wrist watch around the monkey’s head. An unexpected and most welcome surprise.

1910. Upfest 2018 (106)

I have only ever seen three pieces by Beep Monkey, and each of them has been at each of the last three Upfests. His work is consistently good and has a lovely cartoon style that is both witty and fun.

Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

I always look out for his work at Upfest because his wife is a colleague of mine, although it took us a couple of years to work out the connection. In this piece it looks like the monkey and the rabbit are having a bit of a disagreement. The piece almost looks animated and the three white flashes give it some movement. Another beauty from Beep Monkey.

Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Beep Monkey, Ashton Gate School, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Beep Monkey, Ashton Gate School, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

1790. Upfest 2018 (66)

Often humorous and always tinged with a bit of edge, John D’oh’s stencils can be found on walls all around Bristol (and Cheltenham) and of course at Upfest. This year’s ‘official’ piece was a double-header, the first part of which was a witty corruption of the Infinite Monkey Theory.

John D'oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The second board is another pithy pop at Brexit, featuring Noel Edmond’s Deal or no Deal as its headline. I absolutely love these topical political stencils, and look forward to his injects about the place.

Street art and Graffiti, John D'oh, Bristol, October 2018
Street art and Graffiti, John D’oh, Bristol, October 2018

Coincidentally, his new book arrived yesterday and I can’t recommend highly it enough, it is one of the best graffiti/street art books that I have read in a while, intelligently written and full of photographs and commentary on his own work. Brilliant.

1676. Dean Lane skate park (154)

The other day, just before heading off to Italy, I had a quick trawl around my favourite spots in Bristol just to get as up-to-date with new pieces as I could before missing out on a week of photographing street art. Dean Lane was fairly busy, as it was being prepped for the annual Hardcore funday that weekend. Feek was working on one of the large ramps (to follow) and I met DJPerks (a fellow admirer of street/graffiti art) for the first time. I think that we ‘hunters’ (I’m not sure if I like the tag) are almost as elusive as some of the artists. While talking to him, this green piece caught my eye.

Nightways, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
Nightways, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

It is by Nightways, a visitor to Bristol, but I am not too sure where he calls home. He sprayed this piece as a three colour challenge, and I think it has turned out rather well. His Facebook page is a little cryptic, and he seems to have a thing for bears, although looking at his Instagram it all seems to be monkeys. Whatever his thing is, I rather like this piece, and hope he comes to visit again soon.

1316. New Gatton Road (2)

The tree in front of this magnificent Sepr piece is always going to make photographing it difficult. A winter shot on a clear day is probably the best you are going to get, but ebven then a shadow of the tree is cast across the mural.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

I took several pictures of this piece shortly after it had been started, but they were polluted by the light conditions. I am not entirely sure what this is all about other than it is yet another brilliant monkey in space suit piece. Not far from this spot there is a Zase and Dekor monkey in a space suit, and every Upfest seems to throw up one or two. It is an endearing theme, and one so excellently executed here by Sepr.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

This is a deceptively large piece on a fairly irregular wall, and how well Sepr has used the space to tell a humerous story. The monkey is immediately adjacent to the beautiful turtle by Louis Masai, and there we have street art…two classics, one earnest and worthy, the other full of fun…both supreme.