I have been a little bit slack when it comes to posting recent pieces by Smak. I feel I have rather taken his amazing writing a little for granted, and I know I have several of his pieces from last year lurking in my archive. My bad.
Smak, Montpelier Park, Bristol, December 2022
Here is a lovely recent piece over in Montpelier Park, that looks incredibly weathered, but I think it is the effect that Smak wanted to convey, rather than that it is weathered, if that makes sense. Subtle colours and lots of lovely drips, interrupted only by a few tinges of red, blue and pink. There is something almost Miroesque about the final work, which is a real beauty.
Smak and The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
The pavilion in Cheltenham is an absolutely perfect place for long wall pieces and collaborations. Set on the edge of a football field, the building plays host to some of the most memorable pieces from the Cheltenham Paint Festival over the last few years. This year, Smak and The Art of Sok painted this awesome collaboration.
Smak, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
To the left is a remarkably tight piece of wildstyle writing from Smak. The sensational colour scheme combined with a crisp design, delineated with white and black borders, contribute to an outstanding eye-fest of colour and form, clearly the work of a super-talented graffiti writer.
The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
I haven’t come across The Art of Sok before, but I am guessing from the dragon on the character’s chest that there is a Welsh connection. The piece itself is outstanding, so clean and crisp, full of character and movement. The blocked-out colours are very stylised, presenting a highly designed feel to the work. Overall, this is a superb and compelling collaboration. Bravo!
It is always special to see pieces by Smak. He is an artist pretty much at the top of his game and completely in command of his outstanding work. You know that you are looking at something really classy from the effortless way is comes across from the wall to your eyes.
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak is rather keen on these colours, but actually looking back on the extensive gallery of his work, he actually pretty much uses every colour under the sun. Beautiful letters, beautifully painted, oozing class.
It is great to see another Smak piece, here under Brunel Way, this one complete with a rather fun character. I have a feeling that the character is a rather well know one, used in graffiti, which probably comes originally from comic books, as so many graffiti characters tend to.
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022
As you would expect from Smak, both the character and the letters are outstandingly well painted and look great on the prepped red wall.
Weirdly, I had a dream last night about a massive street art festival (walls only), and I had been invited to participate, and Ryder, or was it Smak, was helping me to select a wall and offering advice for how I should go about it. This was brilliant, until it occurred to me that I had left all my paints at home and would have to go and get them. A this point my sub-conscious kicked in and explained to me that I couldn’t possibly go home, because I was on holiday. Alas, my chance to paint a large wall disappeared. Strange things dreams.
It is not only the quantity of graffiti and street art that is being painted in Bristol at the moment, but the outstanding quality of some of it that is quite mind-boggling, and you know that when Smak, Sled One and Ments get together that you are going to be in for a treat.
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
On the left of this triptych Smak has absolutely smashed out his letters with extraordinary class and style in what I can only describe as a very Smacky way, which I hope makes sense. Although quite well disguised, once you get your eye in you can clearly see the letters SMAK. Great colours and a confident piece.
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
A surreal and utterly bonkers elephant character by Sled One is in the middle section of this collaborative wall. Alongside 3Dom, Sled One is the leading character artist in Bristol and his weird creations are always something to look forward to. It is his details and textures, tones and depth that makes his work completely stand out from the crowd.
Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
To the right is a fabulously etherial piece from Ments, who seems to reinvent his style on an annual basis while always maintaining an organic and rather abstract nature with his letters. This piece feels almost more like a canvas study than a piece of graffiti writing. Superb skills all round, this is a wonderful collaborative wall.
Smak is an artist who always delivers work of the highest quality, even when painting quick ones. This piece is one half of a recent collaboration with fellow artist Sled One, whose cheese piece I posted a couple of weeks ago.
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
This is another piece in support of Ukraine, and at the top left of the piece was a board (out of shot) saying ‘no war’ on a Ukrainian flag background. It is heartwarming to see so many pieces in Bristol in support of Ukraine and soon I will be dedicating a gallery to these special pieces. Smak, as ever, has smashed it with this piece of graffiti writing, using wonderful tones of blues and yellows to decorate his name. Outstanding graffiti writing at its best.
In case you hadn’t guessed by now, I am on holiday in France skiing, having an incredible time. I wrote most of this week’s pieces in advance, but this one I am writing in our cosy chalet with a cup of apres ski tea (I kid you not). Why tell you all this? Well the truth is that I am not feeling very inspired to write, mainly on the back of being exhausted. This is a lucky thing, because today’s piece is by Smak, and I don’t need to say too much more than ‘Brilliant, fantastic, wonderful, tight, classy.’
Smak is without question one of the best writers in Bristol, and just in case you need reminding, here is an updated gallery of his work. His letters have an ephemeral quality that almost look like they have been dusted onto the wall, such is the skill and quality of Smak’s workmanship.
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
The colour selection is typically brilliant and clicks perfectly. On his Instagram feed, Smack describes this piece as a ‘scrappy one’ which perhaps gives you some idea of the high standards he sets for himself. To my way of thinking, there is nothing scrappy about this at all.
There are about eight panels of graffiti writing at Peel Street Green, and I have to confess that there are several by artists that I don’t recognise, which only goes to show that there is a great deal For me still to learn. No mistaking this lovely piece of writing, which is by Smak.
Smak, Peel Street Green, Bristol, January 2022
The colour palette works really well, and Smak does have a really good eye for his colour combinations. Spelling SMAK, there is a whole lot of movement in the piece, which is dynamic and full of interest. Swapping the base blue and orange from letter to letter is cleverly done, resulting in a complex piece that is easy on the eye. The work of a craftsman.
I haven’t really left myself enough time to write very much about today’s wonderful piece by Smak. For some this might be a blessing… consider it an early Christmas present.
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
I have neglected Smak for far too long, and haven’t posted anything by him for months. The reason is simple, there is so much great and new stuff being created out there that the competition for space o Natural Adventures is as high as it has ever been. This is classic Smak wildstyle graffiti writing. Subtle colours, great design and lovely tight artwork. Standards are still high in the Smak camp.
Natural adventures 