Tag: Mural

184. Ashley Road (5)

It would appear that Friday late afternoon is the right time to be passing the street art hot spots. Last week I managed to catch up with Decay and Alex Lucas, today I met and watched Sled One working this practice hoarding in Stokes Croft.

Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016

I had just dropped down from Armada Place, where I had seen and photographed another of his recent works, so it was a real pleasure to meet him. What a nice guy, and an extremely talented artist. It was his work that I featured (the woody woodpecker one) a little while ago that I honestly believe to be one of the finest works I have seen in Bristol. I told him as much (he was chuffed) and he said that it was freestyled…which basically means he sprayed it off the top of his head – no plan. Below are some pictures of Sled One at work.

Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016
Sled One, Ashley Road, Bristol, 15 April 2016

You can make out the writing, it says Sled in silver and ASK in yellow (ASK is After School Klub – a group of Bristol street artists). A good afternoon’s work I would say.

182. M32 Roundabout Junction 3 (5)

It’s a bit like waiting for a bus…nothing for ages and then three turn up all at once. Well it is a bit like that with this third piece in as many weeks from Laic217.

Laic217, M32 Roubndabout, Bristol, March 2016
Laic217, M32 Roubndabout, Bristol, March 2016

The consistent themes for Laic217’s work seem to be his name decorated, but easily legible, bright carefully selected colour schemes and a character embellishing one of the letters. It is a formula I like, and one that is very distinct.

Laic217, M32 Roubndabout, Bristol, March 2016
Laic217, M32 Roubndabout, Bristol, March 2016

I look forward to stumbling on more of his works, now that I know where to look for them.

181. Trenchard Street (2)

Tucked away from the main drag in Bristol is this masterpiece by Nick Walker. This amazing stencil which dates back to at least May 2010 blends in so well with the architrave surround and brick wall.

Nick Walker, Trenchard Street, Bristol, September 2015
Nick Walker, Trenchard Street, Bristol, September 2015

The piece can be found just beyond the rear entrance, turning right out of the exit, of Colston’s Hall. It is another of those Walker pieces that have simply become a ‘part of the furniture’ that we in Bristol take for granted. I think that most, if not all of his work remains intact, which is very unusual here.

Nick Walker, Trenchard Street, Bristol, September 2015
Nick Walker, Trenchard Street, Bristol, September 2015

Taking a closer look at the butterflies reveals that they are more sinister than you might originally think. Great work.

177. Deanery Road

It has been a little while since I featured a work by one of Bristol’s finest and most famous street artists, Nick Walker. It took me a little while to find this, despite it being in the road where I work. It is a shutter piece, and the shutters are invariably up when I am at work, and down when I am not. I took this photograph on a Sunday.

Nick Walker, Deanery Road, Bristol, March 2016
Nick Walker, Deanery Road, Bristol, March 2016

The piece is unmistakably by Walker, with its pinstriped character and trademark ‘vandal’ moniker. It is indeed a treat to have so many of his artworks so close to where I spend most of my days.

Nick Walker, Deanery Road, Bristol, March 2016
Nick Walker, Deanery Road, Bristol, March 2016

It is a little neglectful of me not to have found this piece sooner, but better late than never.

176. M32 roundabout Junction 3 (3)

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I have been keeping my powder dry with this one, although I don’t quite know why. When I see a great piece of street art, I really ought to share it straight away.

3Dom, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, March 2016
3Dom, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, March 2016

3Dom is one of the most creative and imaginative of the Bristol street/graffiti artists. His works nearly all have a surreal feel to them and contain unique blends of shapes and colours that are rarely seen elsewhere. His imagination runs riot with this piece and he introduces different textures and shadings in this character. I love the green body and arm, that resemble a close-up of a spider’s leg.

3Dom, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, March 2016
3Dom, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, March 2016

The piece can be dated as having been sprayed post-Bowie’s death, as there is a mention of him and Buzz. What is pleasing about this is it is so clean, and as yet untagged. One of my absolute favourite pieces this year (so far).

173. The Bearpit (9)

It was an accident of fate that took me to this encounter yesterday. I spent my lunch break walking to the Post Office in the Galleries, and then nipped into M&S for sandwiches…a treat I don’t usually afford myself. I intended to return to work, but thought I was so close to The Bearpit, I would just see if there was anything new.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016

Better than that…a graffiti artist was spraying in one of the tunnels. The colours of paint on his trousers pretty much gave him away – red, grey, white and black – I approached him and asked “excuse me, but are you Decay“. Not a phrase I use often. It was, and we struck up a conversation.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016

Decay has only recently moved to Bristol, but it would explain the proliferation of his work around the place. I asked if he would be at Upfest 2016, and indeed he will. I will look him out. Finally I asked if he would mind if I took some pictures, and he said it was fine, but not the face. The whole experience was a bit ‘Exit through the Gift Shop’, a Banksy film I thoroughly recommend.

My first real contact with an artist in action. A good day, which only got better, as on my way home I spotted Alex Lucas working on a commission, and chatted with her too…more on that in a future post.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016

Happy.

172. Jubilee Street (3)

A beautiful sunny day in November 2015 treated me to some fabulous walls that still sustain me now. This is a well worked collaboration by Feek and Soker on the side of the Manor Scrap Company, and opposite the playgrounds of the Hannah Moore Primary School. It also appears that Deamze might have had a hand in this too.

Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015
Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015

The characters either side of the wildstyle are by Feek, and you can read the lettering ‘Sokem’ by Soker. I don’t yet know why all his wildstyle burners say Sokem and not Soker. I guess it is a bit like Deamze writing Deam, Deams or Deamze…they probably do it because they can.

Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015
Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015

I like the slightly unsettling clown and bumper car rider in this piece…there is something menacing about them. Probably not ideal opposite a school, but hey, that’s how it is.

7.5/10

171. Brook Road

Some time ago, when I was strolling around the back streets of St Pauls and Montpelier I came across this really unusual wall by Jack Dones, who is one part of the Paintsmiths, although I think he painted this as a solo piece.

Dones, Brook Road, Bristol, November 2015
Dones, Brook Road, Bristol, November 2015

It is a very clever and rather touching idea and very different from most of the street art in Bristol. It is a well known image, but I’m not sure how many people know where it is as it is a bit off the beaten track. I would have liked to seen it in its pristine condition, but I came rather late to the party.

Dones, Brook Road, Bristol, November 2015
Dones, Brook Road, Bristol, November 2015

7/10

170. Dean Lane skate park (1)

It is a strange thing with hunting down street art that you can be completely ignorant of a particular artist, and then within a few days see several of their works. One such artist is Laic 217 who I featured for the first time on 31 March 2016. Earlier this week I spotted another of his pieces in the skate park in Dean Lane.

Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016

What I like about these is the character within the burner that seems to be common to his works, and the colours he uses.

Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016

I look forward to finding more of his stuff, especially as I now know where to look.

7/10

169. West Street

I am still coming across street art that was created during Upfest 2015, and on my walk yesterday I found this wonderful piece by Gemma Compton.

Gemma Compton, West Street, Bristol, April 2016
Gemma Compton, West Street, Bristol, April 2016

Compton is an artist and fashion designer who is based in Bristol, and another graduate from UWE (University of the West of England). A lot of her work incorporates wildlife and birds in particular. She has an interesting website that shows off her extensive work. Street art is clearly not her main focus, which is a pity, as this is rather good.

7/10