7244. Frome Side (59)

Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

Finding my way back down to the Frome Side spot after it had been gated off for a while was a bit of a treat, because there were plenty of new pieces and a handful of new artists waiting for me. Ont of the new artists is Sketch, who has been fairly busy underneath the M32.

Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

This Picassoesque column piece really appeals to me. Of course the style is wholly derivative, but there is no shame in that at all, because the same could be said of most art. The features of the character are painted in black and white, set on a background of colours in the broad shape of a head. I think I met sketch a while back, and he told me he was learning and practicing, which is great to hear. As he develops, he will get bolder with his black lines, and stronger definition. I love this and celebrate this relative newcomer.

7221. Frome Side (57)

Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

I am thrilled to introduce you to an artist who is gently emerging from the bowels under the M32. I believe he signs his work ‘Sketch’ and although I have met him one time, holding a discussion over a fence, he said he didn’t really have a name as such as he was building up his profile and his work.

Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Sketch, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

This is a really strong column piece that has overtones of the work of Picasso, and both the cubist and surrealist art movements. There is a portrait here with lots of eyes and a strong presence of colours beautifully worked together. There is a ‘black book’ quality to the work, like a sketch (for example the cross-hatches and white space), which I guess is how his name has come about. Lots more to come from this talented young artist.

4370. M32 roundabout J3 (404)

Slakarts isn’t painting quite as much as I would like to see, but in this piece on the roundabout he has turned out an absolute beauty. It is almost like he has applied the Picasso cubist treatment on his stylised face, and the result is something rather special.

Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022
Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022

I am not the biggest fan of chrome, as I think it tends to dominate a piece – great for throw ups and bubble writing, but difficult to pull off with tidier pieces. Slakarts has more than pulled this off, he has smashed it with the interactions between chrome blues and white and the overall effect is stunning. Beautifully conceived and executed, this is a magnificent specimen from Slakarts.

3450. M32 Cycle path (104)

This piece has caused a bit of a stir and has attracted a lot of attention on Instagram. The reason for this is that it is so very different in style from much of what we see in Bristol and is by a new artist on the scene, Hanski.

Hanski, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Hanski, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Hanski is an art foundation student in Bristol, and I am seriously looking forward to many more pieces like this over the next two or three years. There is a clear and obvious influence from the Cubist movement and Picasso and I absolutely love it. I note that Hanski has painted another piece up at Purdown Battery and I must try to get up there before it gets over painted or tagged. A great introduction to this new to Bristol artist.

823. Dean Lane skate park (55)

This is a historic moment, for me at least. I saw this piece on a lunchtime trip to the Deaners and the paint was still wet. The artist, Lumagro, was hanging out with DC Guts and Jimmer Willmott (pictured). The reason this is history in the making is that this is Lumagro’s debut piece, and what a stunning introduction.

Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I believe the artist may be from Spain or a Spanish speaking country, and there certainly appears to be more than a little Mediterranean/European influence in this piece. I absolutely love it and want to see more of his work.

Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

Distinctive and classy, Lumagro owns this space…albeit for a short time. I think this piece shows that you can produce a sophisticated simple work without overdesigning. Just brilliant. Bravo.

 

 

Changeling

 

Capacity to

deceive, only to survive;

to see, not be seen.

 

by Scooj

 

  • This is Picasso (a name in progress) my daughter’s amazing panther chameleon.