Tag: Smak

1275. M32 roundabout J3 (63)

This is a cracking January piece by Smak of Read and Weep (RAW). Alongside a nice piece from Elvs, this fabulous example of wildstyle writing really showcases the technical art involved to create great graff.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

With a little bit of training you can read the work SMAK, but it is all tghat surroubnds the letters that makes this piece stand out. the two predominint colours alternating through the piece, freat shadows and shading and a pleasing symetry to the whole work. One of Bristol’s best writers.

1189. M32 cycle path (10)

There is quite a lot of development work going on around this spot, and the cycle path has been diverted. As a result, this spot has become a bit of a backwater recently, but it is always worth taking a quick look.

Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017
Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017

On one of my visites, I came across thuis wonderful Smak piece, that personally I think is really classy. I know that wildstyle writing is a fairly acquired taste, but the more you look at it and the more examples you find, the more absorbed you become. The skill needed to create pieces like this I think is vastly underestimated by the casual passer-by, indeed, many consider it messy and unartistic. I do not count myself amongst those people. I love this piece.

1081. Upfest 20127 (81)

I have been mulling over the best way to present the Read and Weep (RAW) wall at Upfest this year, because there are six artists involved in the whole thing. I could have written one post about the whole collaboration, but regular readers will know that I like to concentrate a little on each artist…it is the way I do this blog. So here is the first of the RAW wall from left to right – Smak.

Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This is a fabulous piece of wildstyle writing, and I have been trying to decypher it. Obviously, the first thing I would look for is SMAK, but I just can’t see it, so my guess is that it says RAW, which is a little more visible in the image above.

Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The colour scheme was pretty much observed by all six artists, and the bright blue background really set off all the pieces brilliantly, particularly in the changeable weather over the three days. This long wall really was one of the highlights of Upfest 2017.

RAW wall, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
RAW wall, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1034. Dean Lane skate park (78)

I think I originally archived this one before I had become familiar with the work of either of these artists. The picture, from January 2016, was taken on one of my earlier and infrequent (at that time) sorties south of the river.

Sled One and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Sled One and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

I like this collaboration between Sled One and Smak, but it is a partnership that I don’t recall seeing too often. The unusual colour palette is shared by both the artists and works well across the whole wall. Obviously I like the Sled One writing, he can do little wrong in my eyes.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

The Smak piece is interesting in that I suspect it is the first of his pieces that I consciously photographed, even though I was not familiar with the artist. I also noticed that I didn’t do a very good job, cropping the edges off either side. I am becoming more familiar with Smak’s work and like what I see. For some unknown reason I was a late adopter with his work.

900. The Bearpit (79)

This is described by Smak as a ‘quick after school dub down the bearpit’, which was sprayed round about mid June 2017. I believe the piece is still there. Smak belongs to the Read and Weep (RAW) crew which includes Rusk, Ryder and T Rex amongst others. This is the first of his pieces that I have posted  and other than this Bombing Science blog post, I don’t know much about him.

Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017
Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017

Of course with all things like this, having seen one of his works, I have started seeing them around the place and in my archives. Expect more from Smak on this blog. He is clearly an accomplished writer and has a nice style with his letters. I particularly like the way he has filled the letters here, with an almost cosmic feel. Great stuff.