3471. M32 Cycle path (107)

This is the latest in a sequence of new Laic217 pieces, but one that alas only lasted a few days before being over-painted. Set on a nicely prepped black background, this piece has a skeleton (of course) and some throw up writing about the place. This is quite clever, because it looks like the tagging looks like it was already there and Laic217 has planted his piece over the top of it, but it is all his work.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

At risk of repeating myself, something I do a lot of on Natural Adventures, it is the textures in the clothes and materials that Laic217 carries off so well. On this particular piece, the zip is the star of the show. If you like street art with clothed skeletons, then Laic217 is yer man.

3454. Dean Lane skate park (385)

I am very much enjoying this little pulse of activity from Laic217, and from all over the city too, what a treat. This is a tidy piece in which he recognises his PAD crew by name, and possibly represents some of them with his skeletal characters… who knows?

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021

The black and white skeletons on a magenta background almost look like charcoal sketches and are very nicely done, and he has managed to achieve expressions from expressionless skulls – very clever. His crew (or kru as he calls them) are Cort, Ugar, who seems to have left Bristol, MRB and Zios (I don’t know either of them) Zbok (followmyrabbits) and Laic217 himself. Some great Polish/Hungarian talent there.

3442. L Dub (22)

Lockdown isn’t all bad (although it is pretty bad, granted) because it seems that it triggers some activity from certain street artists, including Laic217. Since the New Year, Laic217 has been hitting walls fairly regularly and that is a great thing – I am guessing that perhaps he can’t work or has been furloughed or something like that.

Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, January 2021
Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, January 2021

This piece, close to another one at L Dub shows Laic217 at his graffiti art best, a skeleton figure in a subversive pose giving a double bird in a flaming background. As usual, the creases and folds in the hat and clothes is a speciality of his and something that seems to come so naturally these days. A fine fiery piece.

3420. Cumberland Basin

It has been way, way too long since I last saw a piece from Laic217. He had a burst of activity during our first lockdown, but after that has been fairly invisible on the streets, which is a pity. Somehow he epitomises the Bristol scene with his irreverent skull pieces. Edgy but also brilliantly painted, together with a range of textures and subjects helps Laic217 stand out from the crowd routinely.

Laic217, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, Jnuarty 2021
Laic217, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, Jnuarty 2021

This monster piece, on the long wall in Cumberland Basin, features a hoodie-wearing skeleton using a flame-bearing spray can, a theme regularly used by the artist. Simple colours and a sketch-like quality belie the skill in this piece. The bubble writing in the background belongs to this piece and spells out PAD, the crew which includes Cort, whose piece was adjacent to this one. Hurrah!

3415. Frome side (5)

The Frome side spot is marginally less accessible than most of the other regular spots in Bristol and certainly feels a little more edgy for an old codger like me, but the rewards are definitely worth the effort.

Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020
Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020

On a recent visit I picked up a whole load of new pieces, including this one from Dabuten Tronko – it is a bit of a beast. Unfortunately the light conditions weren’t favourable for photographing this wall and there is quite a lot of glare. I wonder if dusk might be a better time to visit. The skull and skeleton are nonetheless very nicely done, complete with yellow teeth.

Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020
Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020

What I assume to be guts form the letters HMR which is the crew of Spanish artists who are becoming so firmly established in the City. The thin green outline is brilliant and helps make the whole thing stand out. Another fine piece from Dabuten Tronko whose work often seems to be slightly off the radar.

Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020
Dabuten Tronko, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020

3353. M32 Spot (93)

You may recall a giant skeleton by Risco that I published on Natural Adventures a few days ago, well here is another of his rather large pieces, but this time not on a ceiling. The M32 skate spot has had something of a rebirth since the arrival of the pandemic. There have been some new DIY ramps installed and there is a buzz about the place. It also feels like there is more activity on the graffiti/street art front.

Risco, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Risco, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

This is another amazing skeleton piece, although exactly what creature it is I am not too sure (imaginary I think). Risco has worked the piece beautifully along the length of the ramp, with the rib cage bulging out from the wall. Another epic piece from this artist who is smashing it at the moment.

3347. Brunel Way bridge (77)

Over the past four months or so, some seriously epic pieces have started to appear on the ceilings under the M32 and Brunel Way. These magnificent statements are by Risco, and artist I was not familiar with before August this year.

Risco, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020
Risco, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020

This piece under Brunel Way is a full skeleton in partial foetal position and was painted round about 21 November. I suspect it’ll be here for many years to come, I mean who else is going to go to such effort to tag or over-paint it? I think that Risco must use rollers on long poles to do this and it must be back-breaking work which makes this all the more impressive. Well worth a look.

3130. Dean Lane skate park (342)

Laic217 keeps knocking it out of the park (skate park in this instance). This is a piece that was painted for the Dean Lane Hardcore event a few weeks back and captures the atmosphere and essence of the event brilliantly.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

The skateboarding skeleton is smoking and drinking and the rather tatty looking skateboard is on fire with the tricks being demonstrated. Somehow, Laic217 has managed to work the perspective of the crouching skeleton in a way that shows the movement and forces while calmly holding a beer can in his left hand.

Laic217 and Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Laic217 and Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

Next to this piece are the three rabbits by Nevergiveup that I posted a few days ago holding up score cards for the achievements of Laic217’s skater. My assessment for the artwork is a 10, 10, 10.

3117. M32 Cycle path (69)

My camera (or its operator) goofed with photographing this piece from Laic217 on the M32 cycle path. Most of my pictures were way out of focus, but I managed to retrieve a couple that were ok. This is my explanation of why I have put a close-up in the feature image, something I rarely do.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol August 2020
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol August 2020

Laic217 has always had productive patches, but I can’t recall one quite as busy as this summer. It comes as no surprise that this piece is a skeleton, nor that the fabric of his jacket is superbly painted, Laic217 is really mastering painting clothes and materials. Nice to see a little shout out to Pl8o.

3097. Dean Lane skate park (336)

Well this is just brilliant. A really clever and really well crafted piece from Laic217 who, it has to be said, has been on fire since the lock down restrictions were eased. A skeleton character taking a photograph of a piece by Laic217. It reminds me a little bit of me, although I carry a little more weight than this character.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020

The whole thing has been painted in a spectrum of shades of black, grey and white apart, that is, from the red camera strap bearing the name Laic217. This is a work of an artist really enjoying his craft and employing his creativity with freedom. On of my favourite Laic217 pieces to date.