Tag: RAW

3212. John Street (3)

It is so good to see T-Rex gaining such a prominent spot for one of her fabulous dinosaurs. This is the third archway, looking from left to right, in this magnificent back-street gallery offered up by the developers of a hotel that is being built right in the heart of Bristol’s old quarter. The developers have their work cut out, because the buildings they are converting are probably the ugliest in the whole city.

T-Rex, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
T-Rex, John Street, Bristol, September 2020

I was told by John Nation that T-Rex’s piece is not one of her regular dinosaurs (unsurprisingly a tyrannosaurus rex) but a depiction of one of the dinosaurs displayed up at the Bristol Museum (so well worth a visit if you ever get the opportunity). This is a beautifully painted, clean and happy piece with very broad appeal. Perfect for a city centre location.

3177. M32 roundabout J3 (254)

Another stunner from Smak on the M32 roundabout and this time it is in beautiful gold and green colours with a slightly unexpected surprise pink and red highlighting the outer edges of the piece.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020

I found this without knowing it had been painted (always rewarding and it usually means that it is pretty fresh because it han’t appeared on Instagram). There is a kind of browny tinge all along the middle of the letters, giving the letters a bit of a 3D shiny feel to them. Belting statement piece.

3164. M32 Spot (79)

Sometimes fate plays a part in our lives. Yesterday morning I gave my son a lift to friend’s house quite early because they were heading off for a day’s fishing. On the way back I stopped off at a few street art spots, the first of which was here underneath the M32. I just so happened to turn up as Ryder was finnishing off some rather lovely of graffiti writing.

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

I stopped for a while but tried not to break his rhythm because he had to be at work for 10am and needed to finish the piece off quickly. He said that he was really pleased with this piece, it had just worked out really nicely for him and that is good to hear because in my experience street artists are unerringly self-critical. It is a bit of a stunner, and the amazing thing is he created this in a little over an hour!.

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

As he was packing up he asked if I was heading off to the Cheltenham Paint Festival, which got me thinking. I hadn’t been planning on it, our weekends are a bit precious at the moment, but now I am giving quite a lot of thought to going tomorrow (which is partly why I am writing this post yesterday, almost immediately after coming home from taking these pictures, as I might not have time today (written yesterday as if tomorrow was today)).

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

Finally, I am rather chuffed with the Scooj shout out. Little things matter, and that made me feel very happy.

3156. Dean Lane skate park (346)

This is a real statement piece of graffiti writing from Smak down at Dean Lane and amply demonstrates why he is one of the very best writers in Bristol and probably the country. His pieces are elaborate with so many interlocking parts all seamlessly brought together with clean crisp lines.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

The colour palette is similar to one I have seen him use before and works well on the dark background. There are to many elements in this piece to be able to describe them all, but consistent with several pieces by the artist you get more for your money, with two SMAKs visible in places, most obviously with the A.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

On his Instagram feed, Smak mentioned that a little kid told him he could paint jellyfish, so Smak decided to add one for good measure – that is why it is there. Another monster piece from Smak.

3148. St Marks Avenue (10)

A short while ago I posted a portrait piece by an unknown artist in St Marks Avenue, and said at the time that there was another one by the same artist that I would post perhaps once I knew who the artist was. Since then I posted the piece on Instagram and thanks to Rusk I now know that the artist is Rosalita from the RAW crew.

Rosalita, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, July 2020
Rosalita, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, July 2020

The face with clown paint reflects a lot of face-painting work that Rosalita appears to do and carries that over onto our streets. I think that this and her other portrait are masterful, sensitive and original pieces that add to the wide spectrum of street art that we are lucky enough to see in Bristol. I truly hope that Rosalita carries on with these wonderful portraits.

Rosalita, St Marks Avenue, Bristol, July 2020
Rosalita, St Marks Avenue, Bristol, July 2020

3103. M32 roundabout J3 (244)

It is always great to catch up with Rusk, a real gentleman if ever there was one. On this occasion he was joining in with the M32 paint jam that included Tizer, Inkie, Soker, Hemper and Minto last month. The sun was against me for the final photographs, but the work in progress shot shows off the colours a little better.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Attention and care are what I associate Rusk’s work with. He is always diligent and tidy with his pieces and takes his time to get things right. I can’t imagine my stopping for a chat was particularly helpful, but he didn’t seem to mind.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

The letters are typically Rusk, spelling out RUSKY and are given a horizontal tricolour fill, with some nice spots in the middle section. If I am honest I am not sure the three colours work too well, especially the bottom two as there is not enough contrast between them, but that is nit picking really, this is a fine piece of graffiti writing.

3094. St Werburghs tunnel (176)

I got lucky taking the dog for a walk a few days ago because I just caught Ryder as he was putting the final touches on this wonderful piece of graffiti writing. In the car opposite was T-Rex and their new baby… they start them young in the graffiti way in Bristol. He stopped for a chat and it was really nice to catch up – I always feel rather surprised and touched when these guys remember who I am, but I remind myself that they are all really decent folk.

Ryder, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2020
Ryder, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2020

The piece itself is a big bold chrome on pink piece of writing and is shit hot in my view. Proper writing from a proper writer painted with confidence and class. It was this piece that prompted me to publish a gallery of his work last week. Keep ‘em coming.

3048. M32 roundabout J3 (228)

Superb. But we expect that from Smak. Writing like this is something that we are privileged to see in Bristol on a pretty regular basis. There is a cohort of about 10 or so graffiti artists who are at the top of their game and Smak is at the front of the pack.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

This particular piece from a couple of weeks ago is a real stunner and is one of his more colour-rich pieces. The App reminds me a little of a piece he did on the M32 cycle path about a year ago.

Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019

3017. Frome side (2)

A recent paint jam in a spot I have struggled to get to until recently included this magnificent beast from Smak. The piece, in gentle pastel shades, is yet another example in an extensive portfolio of the outstanding talent of the artist.

Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020

What is really clever about Smak’s writing is that his letters are nearly always legible and yet the sophistication and complexity of his designs and fills is mind-blowing. To achieve such a balance is surely the work of a master at the top of his game.

3014. Frome side (1)

At last, with the help of Paul H, I have been able to access a spot where great treasures are painted. I guess that it is fitting that the first piece (of many, many I hope) from this spot is by Ryder, who has been tireless in keeping our walls fresh for as long as I have been writing about street/graffiti art, and indeed quite a while longer than that.

Ryder, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Ryder, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020

This is a very nice piece indeed from the RAW man with his customary tidy writing and faces lurking within the letters being reflected in a ‘watery’ medium beneath a thin layer of mist. Great colours and great execution and an all round winning piece.