Tag: Mural

567. Upfest 2016 (78)

This was one of the larger pieces from Upfest, and I have just spent 20 minutes looking for some other pictures that I took of it once it was completed, but can I find them…? It is quite an unusual piece by Fin DAC, and I have to say I think it is brilliant.

Fin DAC, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Fin DAC, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I particularly like the way the chimney stack has been incorporated into the work (which of course, you can’t see from these crappy pics) – I love it when street artists use the environment they are painting in to enhance the work. Fin DAC is an artist from Ireland but who now resides in London. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this before, but it has some real overtones of Japanese culture in it, which I don’t think is common to his other work. Maybe that is just me. Really nice piece.

Fin DAC, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Fin DAC, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

566. Upfest 2016 (77)

This rather nice large, clean piece by 45RPM, one of Bristol’s finest street artists, captures the theme of the festival ‘Mr Men’ (and little Miss) with a new addition of Mr Paint? I’m not sure what he is called, but it is a witty piece painted in the spirit of the event.

45 RPM, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
45 RPM, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The wall though is a complete bugger to photograph. It would seem that the parking bay in front of it is reserved 24/7 for white van man (although in this case a Range Rover)! I can’t count how many times I have been to north street to photograph this piece, and there it is…some bloody van. So I will calm down, and you will just have to put up with van pollution in my pictures. To help me retain my poise, I offer two other pieces by 45RPM – an owl, and an anteater…ahhhh that’s better.

565. Upfest 2016 (76)

2016 was a highly charged year on the political front, and many artists who came to Upfest presented various viewpoints and commentaries on the major issues of our time. One of the most compelling was this incredible portrait of Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition.

Andy O'Rourke, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andy O’Rourke, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
The quote next to the portrait reads:

‘When you cut out a man’s TONGUE, you are not proving him a LIAR, you’re telling the world that you FEAR what he might say’

This was a view supported by many on the left of the Labour Party, and is a nice quote. The portrait itself is really stunning, and captures the man extremely well. right down to the beige suit.

Andy O'Rourke, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Andy O’Rourke, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I like O’Rourke’s entry in the Upfest programme which reads…‘Born to dabble. Wannabe polymath. Jack of all trades, master of nuns. Photorealism, anamorphic illusions, trompe l’oeil, cartoons, calligraphy, digital stuff, itchy feet.’ Great biog.

563. Raleigh Road, Vector (4)

Alongside works by Voyder, Deamze and Soker sits this unusual and rather good collaboration by two great graffiti artists – Beastie and Decay. The Decay element is easy to identify, displaying all his concentric shapes and tones although this time in blues, rather than the usual reds, greys, whites and blacks that are his favoured colours.

Decay, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016
Decay, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016

Had the piece not been signed, it would have taken me a little while to identify Beastie’s contribution on the left. Some will remember his mischievous cat in Stokes Croft that had been tagged, but has now been resurrected. Because I only see occasional works by Beastie, I haven’t properly ‘got my eye in’ with his stuff, and his style is rather more broad than some other artists.

Beastie, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016
Beastie, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016

This is an interesting collaboration with a rather solemn message, but i think they have carried it off really well. Such a pity about the black line through the piece, but you have to be quick these days.

562. Richmond Road (2)

I took a stroll in Montpelier a little while ago and visited some streets I have not been to before, and some others that I haven’t been to for a long while. I was very pleased to find this Tom Miller piece on Richmond Road, and although it has been quite heavily tagged, it still conveys loads of movement and emotion in the world of Miller’s ‘imaginite’.

Tom Miller, Richmond Road, Bristol December 2016
Tom Miller, Richmond Road, Bristol December 2016
It is a pity I didn’t get to see this when it was clean, as I love this fine artist’s street work. I love the way Miller’s works spew out colours in all directions – an enjoyable confusion. As an observation, you can see that one of the tags is by Whysayit, a local graffiti artist.

Tom Miller, Richmond Road, Bristol December 2016
Tom Miller, Richmond Road, Bristol December 2016

559. St Werburghs tunnel (4)

I have really grown to like the work of OHMS as it is markedly different from anything else on the Bristol graffiti art scene. I still haven’t tracked down the artist or crew, but will find something before too long I hope.

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

The work of OHMS usually appears to have an artistic theme based around the letters OHMS. They range from a ‘jungle‘ theme to a ‘cartoon space‘ theme for exmple. Always the filling of the lettering is ornate and colourful, and often includes artistic motifs. In this work an ancient Egyptian theme runs through it.

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

As the pictures were taken in a tunnel, they don’t really convey the vibrancy of this piece, but is is very good. Looking forward to loads more from OHMS as 2017 unfolds.

557. Picton Lane (7)

Tucked away in this little lane in Montpelier is this nice work by Jee See. Here he combines his ‘seismic’ writing with his stencil favourite of a military style girl, both of which can be found separately in Bristol.

Jee See, Picton Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Jee See, Picton Lane, Bristol, September 2016

The colours of this piece are what really make it stand out from the other graffiti in the area. Jee See is an artist with a different and interesting style and is starting to make his mark in this incredible city.

Jee See, Picton Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Jee See, Picton Lane, Bristol, September 2016

556. New Gatton Road

It is always great to see one of Louis Masai’s works close up, and this is no exception. I have actually visited this work several times recently, but the pictures have not been too good, mainly because of the shadows cast onto the wall from the tree in front of it. Hwever I got there in the end on an overcast day.

Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016
Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016

The messages that Louis Masai brings to his work chime for me, and I like the way he draws attention to some of the world’s more pressing issues relating to the environment and wildlife. To do so with such brilliant artwork is a rare talent. I hope his work turns a few heads and perhaps encourages people to take action, in whatever form that might take.

Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016
Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016

Louis Masai has produced dozens of these animal quilt pieces recently, and they seem to work so well, bringing together the organic and inorganic and injecting life into them. This particular piece is well worth a look, and can be found just on the edge of St Werburghs at the end of Mina Road.

Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016
Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016

 

555. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (21)

Without question this is the most iconic graffiti view in Bristol. These two have been side by side at the top of the Carriageworks building for as long as I can remember. Any street art fan that has visited Bristol is more than likely to have this shot.

Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016
Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016

The crocodile on the left is by Rowdy, many of whose works can be found in nearby Montpelier and which I have featured on this blog before. Remember this cat for example? The skull on the right is by the very famous Sweet Toof who along with Rowdy is one of the original Bristol street/graffiti artists. It is incredible, but I think this is the first piece by Sweet Toof I have featured here on the blog – I am losing my touch. I will dig out some other of his pieces. If you cannot wait for that, I recommend his very active Instagram account @thesweettoof or take a look at his rather nice website.

Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016
Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016

When you pull back from the closeups, you can see how high and large these pieces are, and for the observant among you, you will also notice the FOIS letters by Kleiner Shames on the bottom right. Welcome to Bristol.

554. M32 Roundabout J3 (29)

Taking a quick look back to Haloween last year and a gathering of several street artists from the ASK crew, who produced several pieces with ghoulish themes. This one is from Epok and unusually for him included a rather good character of Frankenstein’s monster.

Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016
Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016

The colour selections are up to his usual high standards and the letters mistily disguised, which is a bit of a departure from his trademark strong shapes and sharp lines. I like this piece very much as it demonstrates the range of Epok’s work. I am just sorry that I didn’t have time to post it last year.

Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016
Epok, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016