Tag: Skate

1536. M32 Spot (20)

Right underneath the M32 in the middle of the DIY skate Park which is used by skaters in Bristol when it rains, is this unusual piece by an artist I’ve not come across before, KiKi. At least I think the signature is KiKi, and until I know any better that is what I shall call her/him. As you can see I haven’t been able to research the artist at all yet.

KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

I really love the piece, both the style of it and the subject matter. It looks like some kind of sea monster, although not too scary. What I especially like is how skilfully the artist has used the difficult space that the column affords. Stylistically the piece is also really interesting, almost seeming to have a native North American look to it (or maybe that is just me). Anyhow I am looking forward to seeing a lot more from this artist. Bravo.

1493. Horfield skate park (3)

Who’d have thought with all this lovely dry weather we are having that it is ony a couple of months ago that Bristol had its second covering of snow. I took a little trip up the the skate park at Horfield Leisure Centre to pick my daughter up and while I was waiting (I was conveniently early) I took a quick look at the graffiti around the skate park. Usually the standard is not that great, and there is a lot of tagging, but I have noticed a slight upsurge in the quality recently…maybe the reduction in spots in central Bristol is pushing artists out a bit to places like this.

Oner, Horfield skate park, Bristol, March 2018
Oner, Horfield skate park, Bristol, March 2018

Anyhow, this is a nice simple burner from my new friend Oner, possibly the first pictures I have of his work. The shading looks a bit untidy, but if you take a closer look, there is actually a lot of detail in there and it is not a quick fill. The whole piece is nice and crisp (and even). I hope to track down a whole load more of his burners.

1002. Dean Lane skate park (77)

You will notice that this recent series of posts is a bit of a catch up from archives that I have held on to, but can hold on no longer…they all have to see the light of day at some point.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017

This is a wonderful jagged bunny by Hire from way back in January, before I knew who the artist was. This piece got left behind. I think I have several more old pieces from Hire and I fully intend to get round to posting them one day.

The green rabbit on the ping background works particularly well I think. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw! The bunny looks as cold as I felt when out walking to take this picture. I am not really looking forward to the inexorable march of Winter. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw!

942. Dean Lane skate park (71)

This is a very quick one from Si2, who also paints as Hull Graffiti. He was in Bristol for Upfest, and had a troubled time spraying the railway carriage down at Ashton Gate – the weather was not kind. Indeed I never got to see the final piece, but will post what I did get in good time.

Si2 (Hull Graffiti), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Si2 (Hull Graffiti), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

Here he got some kicks by spraying a devilish head, and leaving a little Upfest souvenir. Thank you Si2. Pity it had been a bit dogged by the time I got to it.

873. Dean Lane skate park (64)

I have just been reading Skor85’s biography on the Upfest 2017 website and found out that she is of Polish origination, adding to the vibrant Polish street art community  that appears to be growing in Bristol.

Skor85, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Skor85, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016

This is an interesting piece, from one of her favourite spots at Deaners, from July last year, around the time of Upfest. Some philosophy to go with the solemn figure drowning his/her sorrows. I love her use of colour and highlight lines on the head, arms and legs. Subtle and modest, her work always interests me.

864. Dean Lane skate park (63)

Skor85 is an artist I know precious little about, but I have been finding pieces by her all over Bristol. She is not the most prolific of artists, but her work is out there and some of it I have recently discovered in my archives. Her work is usually a little understated, and frequently accompanied with some message or other.

Skor85, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017
Skor85, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017

This piece is tucked away on the back of a skate ramp, and opposite one of the main graff walls. The more I look at it the more I like it. At first is appears to be a bit crude, but  actually the layering is really good, and the fine lines creating the detail are nicely done. More to come from this artist, and best of all she will be at Upfest, so I hope to get a chance to meet her.

855. Dean Lane skate park (59)

This is a fun little piece in Dean Lane by Guts, another artist new to these pages. I met him on the same occasion as I met Jimmer Wilson and Lumagro. I have absolutely no idea what the in joke is about, but it made me laugh anyway…”Joe Habgood Rides Scooters”.

Guts, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017
Guts, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017

This is the type of childish speech bubble that absolutely encapsulates graffiti, I think. A public space sprayed and a cheeky message. Harmless but subversive. It works for me, probably because I have a tendency to be a bit childish too – just ask Mrs Scooj or the Scoojlings. Great colours and great monster face. I like this…and it is still there some weeks on.

If you want to read more about Guts or several other Bristol artists, then I cannot recommend highly enough Auntie G’s fabulous blog post on a recent Bristol exhibition ‘3 is the Magic Number’ – A superb insight into the Bristol art scene and interesting commentary on the crossover between fine art and street art.

816. Dean Lane skate park (52)

ON a recent sunny lunchtime walk to Dean Lane, I was lucky enough to meet Jimmer Willmott for the first, and I hope not last, time. A vibrant and chatty fellow, we had a great conversation about art styles and eyes in particular. He was spraying this one while we were talking, but seemed really laid back about being interrupted.

Jimmer Willmott, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Jimmer Willmott, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I’m not sure I have consciously noticed any of his work before, but as with meeting any artist for the first time, I will definitely be looking out for more of his work. On the day in question, he was hanging out with a couple of other artists enjoying the sun, DC Guts and Lumagro. Work from the latter to follow. A fortuitous walk, and wonderful eye too.

733. M32 Spot (3)

I find it difficult to believe that I have only posted one other piece by Angry Face in this blog before. My bad. I will have to rectify this over the coming weeks. His pieces can be found dotted all over the place in the city, and mostly are variants on the theme of…surprise, surprise…an angry face.

Angry Face, M32 spot, Bristol, January 2017
Angry Face, M32 spot, Bristol, January 2017

This one works particularly well on one of the concrete supports underneath the M32 motorway. Probably an under-rated graffiti artist in Bristol, I would guess due to his more clandestine approach to graffiti. I like the edge he brings to the city.

713. Raleigh Road, Vector (8)

The relatively recent hoardings (erected about four months ago) in Raleigh Road have provided an opportunity for some great displays of street/graffiti art. The appearance and disappearance of hoardings and the art adorning them is all part of the changing landscape in Bristol. At the time these hoardings appeared, the ones in Old Bread Street were taken down as development of the area began.

Cheo, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017
Cheo, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017

This is a lovely piece by Cheo, who in recent weeks has become very busy indeed on the streets of Bedminster, often spraying with his fellow ASK graffiti artist Soker.

Cheo, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017
Cheo, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017

This piece has a lot of references to street culture in Bristol, although I’m not too sure what the little octopus has to do with anything. A great piece beautifully executed – nice crisp image.