Tag: RAW

1017. Stokes Croft, Blue Mountain

On the day of ‘Boogie Down Bristol’, a mini festival organised by Inkie in the Full Moon pub, a great many graffiti artists converged on this area of Stokes Croft, and RAW (Read and Weep crew) were represented by Ryder and T-Rex who created this magnificent collaboration right next door to the pub.

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

It was something of a miracle that they managed to get anything done, such was the pedestrian traffic stopping to admire the work and have a chat (including me).

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

I can honestly say that I think this is my favourite Ryder piece, it is in my view brilliant. The letters spell out Read and Weep and each one is individually crafted and filled with vibrant colours and patterns. Something of a masterclass for wannabe writers.

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

Ryder has a signature element to his style, and that is to put eyes and other features into the holes of the letters, so in this instance the first ‘E’ has eyes and teeth.

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

I also had the fortune to meet T-Rex for the first time, and having overcome the embarrassement of assuming that she was a male artist, we chatted for a while. Her work on this piece is magnificent also, with dinosaurs ‘bookending’ the writing with balance and skill.

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

The plants decorating the whole collaboration are also by T-Rex.

Coming across this piece and finding Ryder and T-Rex while they were spraying was hugely fortunate. I had actually come down to the area to visit the It’s All 2 Much gallery which was hosting a Tom Miller exhibition. I suppose in life as well as in taking in the streets, you won’t see anything if you don’t look – a recurring theme on ‘Natural Adventures’.

Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017

912. Upper York Street (8)

I’ve noticed that Ryder’s work just seems to be getting better and better lately. His use of colours and textures in his writing has gone on to a new level in recent months and this is a prime example of a classy piece.

Ryder, Upper York Street, Bristol, June 2017
Ryder, Upper York Street, Bristol, June 2017

This is a more complex design than some of his previous work and it is only just possible to make out the letters in this wildstyle piece. both the top blue and bottom yellow portions go through a colour/shade gradient vertically which creates an impressive effect. I am liking =his work more and more. Expect further posts.

911. Upper York Street (7)

There is a big reveal to come here. I met T Rex for the first time a couple of weeks back and felt very stupid indeed. Nothing too sinister, just that I have been making that terrible mistake of assuming gender, before knowing it. T Rex is a woman, and not a man as I had thought. I apologised accordingly, and she was fine about it, or so she seemed. I however, being a sensitive soul about such things, cringe with embarrassment still.

T Rex, Upper York Street, Bristol, June 2017
T Rex, Upper York Street, Bristol, June 2017

Oh well you learn each day. One of the things I am learning is just how much I love Bristol street/graffiti artists. All have been so kind and chatty and indulge me in my rather boring conversation, often trying to learn a little bit more about what makes them do what they do.

This is a rather fun piece in a neat little alcove on Upper York Street. I believe the previous piece there was by Whysayit. Just to the left of her dinosaur is a piece by her great buddy Ryder.