Tag: MOTEL

6779. Raleigh Road (10)

Mote, Raleigh Road, Bristol, February 2025
Mote, Raleigh Road, Bristol, February 2025

Although he hasn’t been painting too much this year, Mote has certainly been cherry-picking his spots, seeming to prefer rather nice, clean virgin spots, which makes him a bit of a pioneer for others to follow. This is a nice new hoarding on Raleigh Road and the perfect spot for a bit of ‘Motism’.

Mote, Raleigh Road, Bristol, February 2025
Mote, Raleigh Road, Bristol, February 2025

Mote is a master of creating unthreatening imaginary monster characters, and this cat monster falls perfectly into his specialism. The cat isn’t quite cute, and there is some pathos about the piece, maybe it is the stitching that has parallels with Frankenstein’s monster. As ever, it is always great to find new Mote pieces.

5523. Greenbank (97)

Dog Bless the Band, Greenbank, Bristol, September 2023
Dog Bless the Band, Greenbank, Bristol, September 2023

If the writing is curiously-shaped, monolithic and coloured in earthy muted hues, then it is highly likely to be by Dog Bless the Band. If it also spells MOTEL, then it is definitely by him. This modest piece fits all the criteria perfectly.

Dog Bless the Band, Greenbank, Bristol, September 2023
Dog Bless the Band, Greenbank, Bristol, September 2023

So earthy is this piece, that it appears to have emerged from the soil beneath it, perfectly matching the undergrowth that seamlessly rolls along the ground and up the hoarding. This is deliberate and skilfully done. I like the comment “I’m 37% nettle stings”, an occupational hazard, painting this stretch of hoarding. In my view, this is a really classy piece painted in a style, touching on anti-style while just about remaining within certain conventions. Love it.

5407. M32 Cycle path (222)

Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023

Dog Bless the Band is a curious street artist I have yet to meet. I say curious because his pieces are unlike pretty much anything else in the city right now. Curious also because of his name and because of the letters he writes – MOTEL, I mean what is it all about?

Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023

The large monolithic letters have a very earthy feel about them which is exaggerated in this piece by the muted colours, especially the green dusting, which gives the appearance of algae or moss on rocks. I’m not sure if that is the effect he was aiming for, but it is how it comes across to me. To the right there is a toadstool.

Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023

I wasn’t entirely sure whether the toadstool was painted by Dog Bless the Band or by a friend alongside, but have decided it is his own work, perhaps a study, because of the same colour selection and proximity. There are no other signatures or marks that would suggest another artist, simply the surprise of seeing the toadstool. Perhaps this signifies him straying into accompanying his letters with other work.

5240. Feeder Road

Dog Bless the Band, Feeder Road, Bristol, May 2023
Dog Bless the Band, Feeder Road, Bristol, May 2023

I said in a recent post that I had come across several Dog Bless the Band pieces that were completely new to me, and this is one of them. Hoardings are a bit of a bitter-sweet feature; they provide a great canvass for our street artists, but by definition, they are temporary and have a short lifespan. I guess they reflect the ephemeral nature of street art and graffiti culture.

Dog Bless the Band, Feeder Road, Bristol, May 2023
Dog Bless the Band, Feeder Road, Bristol, May 2023

His letters ‘MOTEL’ tickle me every time I see them. As is usually the case, Dog Bless the Band has used modest pastel shades for his fills, which contrast nicely with the background pink and red spotty backdrop. Another nice piece from this productive artist.

5229. Louisa Street (1)

Dog bless the band, Louisa Street, Bristol, May 2023
Dog bless the band, Louisa Street, Bristol, May 2023

You can expect to see more pieces from Dog Bless the Band on Natural Adventures over the coming weeks, for two reasons; He appears to be painting more frequently, and I have found an area where he likes to paint that has been off my radar, and where there are several older pieces.

Dog bless the band, Louisa Street, Bristol, May 2023
Dog bless the band, Louisa Street, Bristol, May 2023

I love two things about Dog Bless the Band, his name, and the fact that he writes MOTEL – both apparently random elements, but probably with significance for the artist. This piece, all in green, is nicely put together with its super-chunky letters. The thin, and rather subtle, pink spotty 3D drop shadow lifts the piece from being ordinary, to another level altogether. It is funny how these small details can alter a piece completely.

5119. M32 Cycle path (205)

Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023
Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023

The writing says MOTEL, quite why I’m not sure, it always feels a bit random to me. The artist is Dog Bless the Band, whose name is definitely one of the more creative ones, competing strongly with ‘In the Allotment’ and Stupid Stupid Meathole (remember him?). In this piece the M reminds me of a cartoon elephant – that might just be me though.

Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023
Dog Bless the Band, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023

Dog Bless the Band always uses understated colours – muted is probably the word – almost as if he doesn’t want to draw attention to the piece. Whether this is modesty, or simply a palette preference is hard to know, but it is certainly a feature of his work. There is something rather animated about the writing, perhaps it is the patchwork style in the fills or the flowing curvy lines. The red and yellow border bring vibrancy to this quiet and peaceful piece.

4798. Leonard Lane (37)

Dog Bless the Band, Leonard Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Dog Bless the Band, Leonard Lane, Bristol, October 2022

Leonard Lane used to be a street with only a few pieces of graffiti, street art or tags, but over recent years it has become popular with writers and for paint jams, and now there is little bare wall left, although the quality of work there is highly variable.

Dog Bless the Band, Leonard Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Dog Bless the Band, Leonard Lane, Bristol, October 2022

You have to look quite hard at this one to make out the letters MOTEL which tells you that it is by Dog Bless the Band. Although the piece looks a bit messy, not helped by the un-buffed wall, it is actually rather nicely put together. Dog Bless the Band has used his usual low-key colours, with a hint of blending, for his letters and added a few ‘shock sparks’ for added interest. A nice touch is the picking out of the mortar lines in the brickwork of the wall into his letters. A nicely considered piece.

4673. Cattle Market Road (13)

Dog Bless the Band, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, August 2022
Dog Bless the Band, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, August 2022

The writing says MOTEL, don’t ask me why, but it is an interesting word to choose – perhaps it gives options for some good letter shapes. The artist has one of the best names on the scene – Dog Bless the Band – again don’t ask me where that comes from, sometimes it is better not to know these things as it takes away the mystery.

Dog Bless the Band, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, August 2022
Dog Bless the Band, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, August 2022

One of the things that is consistent with all the Dog Bless the Band pieces that I have seen is the complex fills in muted tones. These subtle patterns are a refreshing change from the often brash shapes and colours that most fills are made of. I like to think of these fills by Dog Bless the Band as ‘muddy’ but in a good way, if that makes sense. I always love finding his special and unique work.

4390. M32 roundabout J3 (405)

This subtle piece is by an artist who has slipped off the radar a little bit, Dog Bless the Band, so it was a pleasure to find it on the southern wall of the M32 roundabout recently. I feel like I have posted many more of his pieces than I actually have, such is the impression they have made on me.

Dog bless the band, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022
Dog bless the band, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022

The giveaway element, apart from his modest colour selection, is the distinctive  letter ‘M’ at the start of the MOTEL. This time he has animated the ‘O’ with a rather gentle face. There is an organic nature to his work, which has a rather calming effect. Nothing urgent and sparky. As well as having the best name since Stupid, Stupid Meathole, his style is one that I really like.

3733. St Werburghs tunnel (242)

I think that this is the third MOTEL piece that I have posted from the fabulously named Dog Bless the Band. I believe he is a relatively new entrant on to the Bristol scene, but obviously an accomplished writer, so he must have been writing elsewhere before starting up in Bristol.

Dog Bless the Band, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2021
Dog Bless the Band, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2021

I love his muted, modest colours that blend into the background. There is nothing garish or showy about his work, but that is not to say it is boring. Far from it. The large organic letters are filled with a wonderful range of blended colours and subtle patterns looking more like a watercolour than a spray painted wall. Fabulous stuff.