NTS – Natural adventures

5094. Dean Lane skate park (575)

Saor’s unannounced visits to Bristol usually culminate in a first class production, and this recent one in Dean Lane fits the pattern perfectly. The piece is exactly as you’d expect from Saor – beautifully thought out and designed and executed with extraordinary precision.

This piece spells out SAOR and incorporates the toothy monster face that the artist refined when painting under the name Flava136. This really is a first-rate work and incorporates so many nice little touches. I love the granite-effect patterned shapes, which really add an extra level to the piece.

While he was in the area, Saor also painted this mega-tag just around the corner. I love it when artists leave behind a few ‘extras’ when they visit.

5026. M32 roundabout J3 (451)

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2023

This is another wonderful greyscale/chrome piece from Kosc, in a series of pieces that he has been working on recently. The elaborate letters spell KOSC and are presented on a KOSC printed background, a technique I have seen the artist use before. I guess he must have a roller with the letters on it, or a print block, to cover the whole wall… it could be a stencil, but it doesn’t quite look like it to me.

Once again Kosc has included his rivet theme which makes it look like the letters have been made up of metal plates welded and riveted together, which is a clever illusion, considering the whole thing is flat paint on a flat wall. A nice shout-out to the NTS crew and XXIII round off the piece nicely.

5003. Cumberland Basin

Kosc, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

This is another outstanding piece of writing from Kosc in his current series of greyscale pieces. In this piece, we have a familiar element of styling in the shape of ‘rivets’ holding the ‘metal’ pieces of the letters in place. This is a technique that the artist has used quite a lot in the past.

These letters are strong, solid and uniform, and generally have a presence – some pieces just ooze style and confidence, and this is one of them. I have to say that I am very much enjoying this greyscale series… more to come I hope.

4997. St Werburghs tunnel (348)

Mudra, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

Here we have yet another fine piece from Mudra, in what seems to be a rapid-fire series of work from him. It is satisfying, as an onlooker, to watch as he develops and improves his style and to observe his creativity and imagination. To see his development, I have linked to his gallery, which is well worth a quick look.

This piece, at the end of the tunnel, follows his template style of letters and character, mashed up into a single coherent work. The letters are connected through a common colour palette, but their shape, design and size are somewhat varied. The letters are quite concealed, although easy to find if you know what you are looking for. The little ‘d’ is probably the easiest. The character in the middle of the piece, on this occasion, is not a substitute letter, but instead just a bit of fun breaking up the piece. You’ve got to love the little floating had. There is a reference to recreational drugs and a bit of trippyness about the piece – but I am way too conventional to know about such things. More to come soon, I have no doubt.

4993. St Werburghs tunnel (347)

Kosc, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

Kosc is having something of a purple patch with his greyscale pieces that are to be found around the city. He seems to have found a new theme that he is enjoying exploring, and as an onlooker I am thoroughly enjoying seeing.

The effect that Kosc achieves, using only greyscale tones on a green-grey background, is awesome, creating a kind of metallic look, especially where the dark and light tones meet in the diagonal line across the KOSC letters. This is the work of an artist at the top of his game who appears to be enjoying his painting.

4959. Brunel Way (188)

Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2023

I suspect that I begin quite a few posts featuring Mudra’s work with the words, ‘Mudra is absolutely smashing it at the moment’ and that is probably because Mudra is absolutely smashing it at the moment.

His signature pieces, usually painted on black buffed walls, have been coming thick and fast over the last year, and this one features a walking character, smoking a cigarette, alongside the letters NTS, the crew he paints with. Mudra’s work is always easy on the eye, smooth curvy lines and soft fills – there is something quite laid back about their presentation. Many more to come in 2023 I’m sure.

4938. Dean Lane skate park (556)

Another fine piece that got overlooked in my February postings last year is this magnificent work from Saor. On a dull winter day, the orange elements of the piece really cut through and draw the eye in. The piece was painted alongside NTS crew mate Mudra.

I may have said it before, but Saor’s style reminds me quite a lot of Epok’s work (what has happened to Epok – I wonder). The concept is highly designed and very cleanly finished, almost as if it was painted with fine brushes. I particularly like the shadow behind the right-hand side of the orange letters. As always from Saor, a nicely conceived piece, brilliantly executed.

4936. M32 roundabout J3 (444)

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022

This is an absolute beauty from Kosc, who has been dazzling us all year with his outstanding craft and innovation. The stylised portrait and writing piece has overtones of American art deco about it and reminds me of the Chrysler building in New York.

The grey and white colour selection is a combination that works really well together, creating a metallic appearance through the whole piece. Set on a muddy green background, the piece is modest and yet highly impressive. Another outstanding piece from Kosc.

4910. M32 Cycle path (192)

Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2022

Quick one today – visiting relatives in Cornwall today, and a very late night last night, returning home from a Boxing Day football match in London – I am quite tired. Mudra has been firing on all cylinders this year, and you can see the progress of his work over the last few years in this updated gallery of his work.

This is another fine example of his work, with a nicely thought out colour scheme and character face between the M and U of MUDRA. I am very much looking forward to what he can share with us in the new year ahead.

4880. Dean Lane skate park (550)

Another classy piece from Saor alongside his NTS friends on the long wall at Dean Lane. His work is so on-point, always neat and tidy. He achieves this without the comfort of borders, which means that all of his lines have to be cut-in perfectly, which is a terrific skill.

The blues and yellows on a grey background work very well and are in line with the colour scheme for the whole collaborative wall. The stylised letters SAOR give way to some animation in the middle of the piece, with elements of a smiley face. This is an outstanding piece, which, to be fair, is consistent with most of his work.

	paulh121 on 5112. M32 roundabout J3 (…
	paulh121 on 5111. St Werburghs tunnel…
	Dan Antion on Thursday doors – 30 Marc…
	paulh121 on 5108. Cumberland Basin
	scooj on 5108. Cumberland Basin

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