6403. Brunel Way (291)

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024

This is a rather curious and abstract piece of graffiti writing from Mr Draws, who I know is always looking at ways to redefine his work, and likes to push boundaries. Sometimes Mr Draws will inject one of his ‘experimental’ pieces in the middle of a series of more customary work, and it is great to see.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024

In this one, there are some parallels with the style of Benjimagnetic, providing hints at the letters in amongst the decorative work. The ‘D’ and ‘R’ are clear but the ‘A’ and ‘W’ are more fused together. There is a nice cosmic feel to the whole piece and I like what I see. Keep pushing boundaries I would say.

6122. Greenbank (123)

Mr Draws, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2024
Mr Draws, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2024

I find myself sounding like a stuck record all too often when it comes to posting about Mr Draws’ work, in part because he has been an ever-present on Natural Adventures and continues to paint his unique style of writing and his diverse street art pieces, and I have found myself repeating myself a little, which in no way detracts from his wonderful work.

Mr Draws, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2024
Mr Draws, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2024

There is a freedom and joy in Mr Draws’ graffiti writing in which he concentrates on his fills, usually with hard edges between colours rather than blended transitions. He has used his customary deep drop shadow, and the whole thing is bordered with a clean white line. A fine archetypal Mr Draws piece that is a key part of the continuing culture of the whole Bristol street art and graffiti writing scene.

 

 

6068. St Werburghs tunnel (427)

Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2024
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2024

I would truly love to post all of Mr Draws’ pieces, but unfortunately, like so many others, I simply don’t have the bandwidth to do so, and many remain in my archive. I think that the only solution is to have ‘sweep up’ posts in which I trawl through unpublished pieces over the last few months and create a mini gallery in a single post. It is a tactic I have used for posting Klashwhensober’s pieces, because of his extraordinary productivity rate.

Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2024
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2024

This is a nicely presented classic Mr Draws piece, written in his easy and familiar style. A chrome fill dominates, with yellow and lilac patterning. The red drop shadow is very neat and tidy as is the yellow border. The final additional touch is in the form of tly disrupting the form to add interest. Nice stuff from Mr Draws.

6036. Dean Lane skate park (717)

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2024

I think that it is fairly common knowledge that ACAB is a subversive acronym derived from the phrase ‘all cops are bastards’. I am guessing that it was coined in North America, because we don’t generally use the word cop in the UK, preferring the terms Police, bobby, old Bill, ‘pigs’ or even ‘copper’ but rarely cop. ACAB is used liberally in street/graffiti art, and this piece on the curved wall by Mr Draws, has a humorous take on the letters.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2024

Firstly, I would say that this is a really attractive piece by Mr Draws, who continues to gently push his boundaries all the time whilst retaining his style and identity. The design is great, the letters are nice and tidy and the fill colours work surprisingly well. Mr Draws has softened the tone of the acronym so that it reads ‘all cats are beautiful’, and has added in a cat character for good measure. Perhaps one could term this piece ‘fluffy subversion’.

6009. M32 roundabout J3 (572)

Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

This is something a little different from Mr Draws, and I really rather like it. The colour scheme that he has selected works really well with the verdant spring growth at the base of the wall and the trees behind set on a stunning blue sky (something of a rarity this year).

Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

The character hand and letters combination looks really good and is nicely proportioned. This is so typically Mr Draws, and I can’t fully explain why, but his whole approach to graffiti writing is unconventional, which is great to see, as there is quite a lot of ‘Samey’ stuff out there. I love the hand, and I think that it is something he should bring into his work more often. A great piece from an artist I really like.

5927. St Werburghs tunnel (416)

Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2024
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2024

I haven’t been posting nearly enough pieces by Mr Draws as I ought to have done, especially as I consider him to be one of a small band of artists who represent the beating heart of the Bristol street art scene. My archive is full of unposted work by Mr Draws, and I might have to do a trawl and put them all into one post.

Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2024
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2024

This recent piece from the tunnel is really typical of his work. Some nice big letters, filled with a camouflage pattern and colour palette bounded by a thin yellow border. There are some nice white highlights with drips for good measure. A cracking piece from an artist who just keeps on plugging away.

5790. Cumberland Basin

Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024

Mr Draws is one of the most enduring and endearing artists in Bristol. His writing is familiar, albeit unconsciously, to any Bristolian who keeps their eyes open, and has been for several years. This large piece in Cumberland Basin is a cracker, which reminds m a little of a koi carp.

Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024

This is a very nice piece of writing from Mr Draws, with his typical letter shapes, a nice deep drop shadow and some nice fills. The gold ‘A’ draws the eye, and I have noticed a few pieces lately that have contained a gold letter… perhaps it is a thing. This is a fine piece from a fine artist.

5603. Brunel Way (243)

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

Mr Draws has been working really hard to push the boundaries of his work and producing more of these art pieces alongside his familiar writing. This Pumpkin piece was painted recently to celebrate Halloween, and captures the atmosphere of the festival perfectly. Mr Draws does like to celebrate festival dates, such as Halloween and Christmas.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

This newish technique or presentation style by Mr Draws creates an atmospheric background as a ‘canvas’ for his subject, in this case the pumpkin. It is effective and fits Mr Draws’ rather unconventional style perfectly. I am led to believe that we can expect many more pieces like this by Mr Draws in the future.

5537. Brunel Way (234)

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

I am not 100 percent sure that this piece by Mr Draws is quite there, but I fully admire what he is doing and that he is stretching himself, moving into new and challenging territory. He tells me he is going to be doing more of this environmentally themed work in future, although he will also still be creating his unique writing.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

The inspiration for this cow piece came from a picture by George Stubbs, an artist who Mr Draws has recently come across. The cow-zebra drifts in and out of the green background that has a kind of aurora borealis look to it. An interesting and unusual style that I am assured we will be seeing more of from Mr Draws.

5532. Brunel Way (233)

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

Mr Draws appears to have found a new energy this summer, which is great to see, and he has been painting both his writing pieces and some interesting studies, mostly linked to nature. This is a colourful piece, notable mainly for its wonderful patchwork of fills.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2023

If I were to categorise Mr Draws’ work I would call it right out of the ‘Bristol School’ of street art. His style and that of others, like the PWA crew and RAW, is a stamp that, while not unique to Bristol, definitely belongs in Bristol. The colour fills appear to be random, not following any particular pattern, but have a freedom that lightens any intensity. A piece that is easy on the eye and full of positive vibes. Off to catch some more fish today.