2404. St George skate park (4)

Discovering St George skate park has been something of a revelation for me. I knew of its existence, but just never bothered to find it, that is until recently. I guess that there is a challenge for artists and ‘hunters’ alike as certain areas become gentrified such as the Carriageworks and others get closed down to artists altogether, like The Bearpit, new areas become more attractive and I think St George is one of those.

Fiva and Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019
Fiva and Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019

This is a really jolly collaboration between Fiva (Fiver) and Nightwayss on one of the ramps in the skate park. Fiva gives us some straightforward block letters with a white fill and black dots, set on a black background with white dots. Yet another fine Fiva piece.

Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019
Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019

Tucked away to the right hand side of Fiva’s work is a brilliant little story of a naughty monkey playing with a box of matches by Nightwayss. This is an engaging piece that just seems to blend in with the concrete so well and almost has a 3D effect where it looks like the monkey might just decide to wander off at any minute.

Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019
Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, August 2019

Personally I think this is one of Nightwayss’ best pieces, not so much in the artwork, but more in the narrative. A pocket-sized piece that has enough detail and credibility to feel almost real. I love this a lot. I’m beginning to think that a Nightwayss gallery might be on the cards before too long. Watch this space.

2376. St George skate park (3)

I have known about this piece by Sepr for quite a long while, but simply wasn’t sure where it was, because St George skate park has only recently come onto my circuit of regular spots to visit. You can’t be everywhere, and with a full time job and two teenage kids I do miss an awful lot of artwork in spots I don’t know about, so I am pleased at last to have discovered this one.

Sepr, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Sepr, St George, Bristol, July 2019

You can tell this has been around for a while because it is a bit tagged and looking a little worn. One of the problems with skate park art is that anything on skating surfaces becomes degraded very quickly, so you either visit regularly or have to put up with pieces not in the best condition. I’m not certain how ‘appropriate’ this piece is for a park where a lot of very young children play, because it is ghoulishly macabre, but then again perhaps it is perfect. I always have been and always will be a huge fan of Sepr’s work.

2372. St George skate park (2)

The Monday Club is really establishing itself as a tour de force in the Bristol street art scene. It is a crew made up of several artists who will get together on a Monday and paint somewhere in Bristol. This time it was the turn of Conrico, Nevergiveup and Nightwayss.

Conrico, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Conrico, St George, Bristol, July 2019

I am loving what Conrico is bringing to Bristol and his pieces tend to be comical and light-hearted. His painting style is interesting and less easily described although it all looks rather illustration derived – I’ll bet he can draw well. I haven’t seen many of his pieces yet, and one or two have eluded me altogether, but this one is a beauty.

Nevergiveup, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Nevergiveup, St George, Bristol, July 2019

I think I have said everything I need to say about Nevergiveup’s rabbits and they even turn up in collaborations like this one. Always welcome and always fun.

Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Nightwayss, St George, Bristol, July 2019

The Jewel in the crown of this little collaboration on a ramp in St George skate park is the monkey in the moon with a banana by Nightwayss. I love this monkey, and rather like Conrico’s piece, it is painted in an illustrative style, typified by the hatchings in the arm and leg. So full of cheek, humour and fun. Long live the Monday Club.

2367. St George skate park (1)

I have been meaning to get down to St George skate park for some time and finally a week or so back I made it and was rewarded with a whole ton of art that I had been aware of but thus far not seen. It was beautiful weather on the day I went to the skate park and it was incredibly busy, so I had to dodge pre-teens on their scooters, skateboards and bikes to get these pictures.

Fiva, St George, Bristol, July 2019
Fiva, St George, Bristol, July 2019

Regulars will know that I love the work of Fiva (Fiver), and although this one is a bit worn, it has all the hallmarks of a great piece from the artist. The cartoon character on the right sets the whole piece off nicely and the writing in seven colour tones ranging from green through to lilac and wonderfully worked, with an urban skyline depicted with the darkest shade of purple. A really lovely piece. I love his little shout out to Nightwayss (who has peppered this spot with pieces) at the bottom right too.