Tag: Mural

790. The Bearpit (71)

There is a new artist in town (to me at least), and his works have entered my consciousness since March really. It is possible he has been here all the time, but if this is the case I can only apologise. The artist signs his work with the name J. Dior, and try as I might, I am unable to find out anything about him. I know he is a he, because I did spot him creating a piece around Easter time.

J. Dior, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2017
J. Dior, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2017

His artwork embraces a naive style and usually features people, colourfully represented often in unusual positions – a touch of Marc Chagall combined with children’s illustrations. This piece doesn’t perhaps portray what I’m saying as well as some of his others. I have a fondness for these works, not because of the quality of the paintwork, but more down to the human story telling that is going on. My father, my mother – what a fine tribute to his parents. I like it, so watch this space for more from J. Dior.

750. Upfest 2016 (112)

I am feeling under a little pressure to get as many Upfest 2016 pieces posted before the end of July when the whole thing starts all over again. I think that the only way I will be able to achieve this is to shorten the narrative sections surrounding the images, which will be a Godsend for those who don’t like to read, but perhaps not so great for those who like to know a little more about the artists and the impression their work has made.

Braga Last1, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Braga Last1, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This is a wonderful piece by Braga Last1 whose owl in Dean Lane skate park I posted only a few days ago. This time he has created a beautiful rhinoceros in the school playground of Ashton Gate School.

Braga Last1, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Braga Last1, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The use of monochrome accompanied with colours spilling from the horn/tree on the rhinoceros is skilfully done, and the slight reflection of green on the head and back of the animal has been well thought through. A lovely piece.

680. North Street Hoarding (7)

This is one I have held on to for a long time, and I did so because it is a really great piece. I hadn’t published it because the artist,  Shab, has only recently come onto my radar. Of course, I am now finding his work everywhere…that seems to be the way of things.

Shab, North Street, Bristol, September 2015
Shab, North Street, Bristol, September 2015

This piece was from Upfest 2015, and managed to remain for quite some time. There are still some remnants of it there today, just. I really love this piece and the way Shab captures the figures. There is a touch of what looks like an African influence going on. A firm favourite.

665. Picton Street (2)

This is another photograph that goes back a fair old way, but I am glad to say the building has remained unaltered. This is what the front of a house looks like when the owner is a hugely talented designer…I am of course referring to Alex Lucas whose pieces can be found all around the Montpelier area of Bristol.

Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016

The building, which doubles up as a little shop, is a famous landmark in Montpelier and features dozens of floral patterns and little birds. It is reminiscent of Victorian wallpaper, with a modern twist. I have just noticed that there appears to be a ghost of ‘Smilie’ in the reflection of the window…or maybe I am just seeing things.

Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016

637. Richmond Road (4)

I came across this wall quite by accident. I was looking for somewhere to park in the Montpelier area – a challenge in itself, so that I could investigate some garages which I had checked out on Streetview.

Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, January 2017
Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, January 2017

I noticed some scaffolding and early stages of spraying of a tribute to DJ Derek, more about him here and here. The first day I visited nobody was spraying – maybe they had gone home for the day, so I returned the following day.

Deamze, Richmond Road, Bristol, January 2017
Deamze, Richmond Road, Bristol, January 2017

This time two artists were working on the piece. Obviously I stopped for a quick chat – one was Sepr, I didn’t speak to the other, but it might have been Deamze. It was good to ask about the piece, and to meet Sepr, who is, like my daughter, the owner of a panther chameleon.

Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017

The piece is a really fitting tribute to the great, and very much missed, DJ Derek by two of the very best street artists in Bristol. And what a wall too. The right hand side of the collaboration, the protrait, is by Sepr and is quite unusual because most of his work is rather more cartoon-like and creative, let’s say.

Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017

The portrait is a good likeness to DJ Derek, and I am sure it will remain here for quite some time.

Deamze, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Deamze, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017

On the left hand side, we have some very recognisable writing from Deamze spelling out the words ‘One Love’ without any wildstyle disguise. I am guessing, but I don’t know that this might have been one of many catch phrases that DJ Derek was known for.

Deamze and Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017
Deamze and Sepr, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2017

Everything about this tribute is good, the artists, the wall, the quiet location. It is great to honour important Bristol figures in this way.

 

 

636. St Werburghs tunnel (7)

This is a piece from my archives from way back in April 2016. It is a tribute piece to Buzz by the enigmatic OHMS.

OHMS, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2016
OHMS, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2016

The colour quality is poor due to the lighting conditions in the tunnel. The only way I am ever going to overcome these problems is to buy a much better camera with all the proper flash gadgets, but I have to say that is not my style. Another triumph from OHMS and the Splab Gang.

633. The Bearpit (40)

Another piece by an artist I have not come across before. This is by Skor85, who sprayed this as part of a paint jam in The Bearpit. Judging from his Facebook wall it would seem that he is a Bristol artist, and I think I might recall one of his pieces from Dean Lane.

Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

This is a nice piece, in a really poorly lit tunnel, hence the rather hopeless quality of the pictures. I’m not sure how prolific the artist is, but I’ll be on the look out for more. Bunny, dog or kangaroo? My money is on a dog.

632. Dean Lane skate park (31)

Shab was one of the first wave of Bristol graffiti/street artists along with the likes of Cheo, FLX, Inkie, 3D and Jody to name just a few. It is curious then that this is my first post about Shab’s work. It is of a very recent piece that went up in Dean Lane. I didn’t post it immediately, because I didn’t know the artist, but serendipitously he followed me on Instagram the same day, and that was that. I am a little ashamed that I hadn’t made the connection myself before, but I am still learning…every day. I have several other pieces by him in the archive so I will start posting them.

Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017
Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017

This abstract piece is fairly typical of his work and features an amazing eye, one of his ‘signatures’. The piece brings together two contrasting elements, the rounded white shapes bound with black outlines, and a multi-coloured jagged pattern – the two complementing each other perfectly. It looks like a spaceship, but probably isn’t one.

Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017
Shab, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2017

The eye is really beautiful. Looking forward to finding and posting more from this master.

627. The Bearpit (38)

Another political message and contorted body from the philosophical ObjectØØØ. The tunnels of the Bearpit provide probably the best space in Bristol for political comment as the area attracts some of the most socially deprived or uncared for people in the city. It is a place where culture and the impacts of government cuts converge in an angry outpouring and sense of injustice.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017

ObjectØØØ’s pieces always capture this sense of outrage – you are never in doubt about what he cares about. It is good that he chooses to do something about it through his artwork. This is a powerful piece, carrying the slogan ‘lucky not better’. In the piece, ObjectØØØ has painted a pained figure, a fallen angel maybe, appearing to crash to the ground. His trademark feathers and wing mark this out as one of his works. A really great piece.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017

626. North Street Green (6)

This is a rather lovely recent piece from Andy Council to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the year of the Rooster. The colours are fantastic and he has created a special Chinese take on the Clifton suspension bridge – a nice touch.

Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2017
Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2017

The piece is not very far away from the turkey that he sprayed back in November. Andy Council is probably one of the most well known street artists in Bristol, as he combines his pleasure spraying with all sorts of design commissions in the city. A popular artist who is at the heart of the Bristol street art movement.

Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2017
Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2017