Tag: Sparke Evans Park

4941. Sparke Evans Park (51)

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

I think I know why pieces from Sparke Evans Park sometimes get left behind in my archives. As mentioned on these pages numerous times, there is a row of mature trees that run parallel with the long wall, roughly 5 meters away from it. If there is even a hint of sun, then it is impossible to photograph anything on the wall due to dappled shading – summer or winter.

Often I will photograph the wall and be dissatisfied with the pictures, and then return some time later on a dull day to take more pictures. Because of the volume of new street/graffiti being painted each week, these second sets of pictures can get a little lost in the competition for space on Natural Adventures. By looking back through my archives I can pull out a few pieces that I feel should be posted. This beauty by Rozalita is one such piece.

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

Although last year was a relatively quiet year for Rozalita, compared to 2021, the quality of her work was outstanding, and this gorgeous piece combines her skills at painting portraits with her detailed flowers and butterfly. I am looking forward to another great year from Rozalita.

4937. Spake Evans Park (60)

Face 1st, Kool Hand and Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Face 1st, Kool Hand and Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022

I think that 2022 was the most prolific year for Bristol street/graffiti art ever. More artists joined the already large cohort, and it would seem that many of them painted more often than before. Of course, this is counterbalanced a little by the departure of some artists, and others going to ground for sustained periods. Overall, though, it was a bumper year. What this means is that there are way too many great pieces that were left ‘on the cutting room floor’, so the next few posts will be an attempt to dig out some of the pieces I simply didn’t have time to post during the year. Starting in January 2022 with this splendid collaboration between Face 1st, Kool Hand and Soap.

Face 1st, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Face 1st, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022

I have a feeling that the reason I didn’t post this at the time is that my first round of photographs were sun/shade impacted – this is a spot to be photographed on dull days. To the left is a typically happy piece from Face 1st, that really set the tone for the joy he spread for the rest of the year.

Kool Hand, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Kool Hand, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022

The middle section was painted by Kool Hand, with this really on-point crocodile holding a marker pen. I was chatting with Face 1st earlier this week, and he said that he felt that this piece really demonstrated how Kool Hand had moved up a level, and I would definitely agree.

Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Soap, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022

Finally, (and it is always finally, because Soap always paints on the right-hand side of a collaboration) we have a superbly expressive piece of writing from Soap, one of his very best, in my opinion, with stacks of movement and interest. Even if you can’t quite read his letters, he has signed the piece with his tag three times for good measure. I am so sorry you have had to wait a whole year for this one.

4781. Sparke Evans Park (59)

Face 1st, Sparke Evan Park, Bristol, October 2022
Face 1st, Sparke Evan Park, Bristol, October 2022

More joyful work from the Bristol godfather of happy graffiti art, Face 1st. Although I have seen a couple of sad Face 1st girls, I seem to remember a crying-girl Brexit piece, the vast majority are smiling or laughing.

Face 1st, Sparke Evan Park, Bristol, October 2022
Face 1st, Sparke Evan Park, Bristol, October 2022

The pink dungarees stand out next to the yellow hair and black background, and there is the faintest whiff of colour schemes used in the children’s picture book ‘Go Dog Go’. There is a freedom in Face 1st’s pieces that is both slightly anarchic and comforting all at once. The day Face 1st hangs up his boots is the day I do the same.

4741. Sparke Evans Park (58)

Jody and Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
Jody and Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022

Sparke Evans Park plays host to so many stunning collaborations, something that has developed in recent years, and I think it is favoured by artists because there isn’t much tagging and pieces tend to stay intact for a while. I have heard that the police are showing a little interest in the spot, and that spraying isn’t quite as straightforward as it has been historically.

Jody, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
Jody, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022

This pairing of Jody and Dibz has turned up a very special and captivating wall. The portrait of Goldie is by Jody, and absolutely captures the artist perfectly. It is interesting to see how Goldie is becoming quite a strong influence on the Bristol scene at the moment.

Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022

The writing from Dibz is, as you would expect, close to perfection. I am not entirely spectra in what the letters spell out, but I am sure that Paul H will be able to help me with this.

Another short one today as I am late getting my fishing gear together. 

4712. Spake Evans Park (56)

Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

Evey has been out and about much more this summer, or at least that is how it feels, and with each outing her work is improving. Her letters are large and obvious, spelling out EVEN, with a focus on the variation of fills.

Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

This one was painted as part of a collaborative wall and is notable for its horizontal fills of at least six colours. There is something not quite consistent with the drop-shadow on the stars, but that is a small detail, all in all this is a bright, fun piece from Evey.

4690. Sparke Evans Park (55)

Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

Desi continues to grow and develop, and I think that this piece in Sparke Evans Park might be one her best to date. It is great to see her painting more frequently, and with each new piece she will gain more confidence and skill.

Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

This is a really neat and tidy piece with the letters DESI beautifully filled with four horizontal colours with nice transitions. One of the additional things that works really well is the white accent dots that give the writing a bit of sparkle and depth. A Very nice addition to Desi’s portfolio.

4681. Sparke Evans Park (54)

Trafficity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Trafficity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

It says ZIOM, but I have to admit that I struggle to see it sometimes, and it looks like there is a different word sitting along the top in blue shades, which looks like MOMM or MAMM, but I think it is just an artefact of the style of the artist. The artist is Trafficity, and his distinctive pieces are consistently well presented.

Trafficity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Trafficity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

Trafficity is a member of the PAD crew, which includes Laic217 and Cort, although he tends not to paint as frequently as the others. The piece itself is composed of block letters with three discrete horizontal fills, and a little bit of extra ‘melty’ decoration along the bottom edge. Watch this space for something from my archive by Trafficity, coming soon.

4669. Sparke Evans Park (53)

Rusk, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Rusk, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

After what seems like a very long absence, Upfest apart, Rusk has been hitting Bristol pretty hard lately, perhaps encouraged by his pal Zesk, who has been visiting and with whom he has painted a couple of collaborative walls. Anything that gets Rusk out painting has to be good.

Rusk, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Rusk, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

This is an unusual and really rather beautifully designed piece from the writer. Spelling our RUSK in ‘ribbon’ letters and augmented with an abstract pink accent line, there is a great sense of proportion, colour tones and overall freshness that makes this piece an absolute classic. Not edgy, not rough and ready, but intelligent, well-thought-out and artistic. This is a next-level piece from Rusk (in my view).

4665. Sparke Evans Park (52)

Laic217, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Laic217, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

Laic217 is painting roughly every three to four weeks at the moment, which is great as it keeps a constant stream of his work in the limelight, and allows me to publish pretty much every piece I see.

Laic217, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022
Laic217, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, August 2022

This artistic piece features a chrome Satan Japanese Oni (thank you, Paul) crushing a spray can with his teeth, and some bronze paint/fumes wafting from the can in a rather stylised design. The chrome work is fantastic because it isn’t chrome at all, but looks like it. The colours used are actually black, grey, white and light blue, which used skilfully create an illusion of metal. Brilliant work from Laic217.

4629. Sparke Evans Park (51)

Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022
Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022

I feel it is only fair to myself that I explain that this week’s posts are likely to be rather short, because I am on holiday. As I write, I am accompanied by the sound of church bells ringing, which seems to happen at 9am every morning. Who needs an alarm clock?

Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022
Haka, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2022

This is a another fabulous Funnybones piece by Haka, after the genius of the Ahlbergs, author and illustrator of some wonderful children’s books. I believe this is the third Funnybones piece in this spot. I posted the second, and I have a feeling that I have photographed the first, but have yet to publish it. It is all great fun, and long may the tradition last.

Haka, Spark Evans Park, Bristol, February 2022
Haka, Spark Evans Park, Bristol, February 2022