5355. St John’s Lane (4)

Werm, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Werm, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

Werm is, I feel, at last getting an appropriate level of coverage on Natural Adventures, having been somewhat underrepresented for a little while. This is a rather tasty piece painted during a not-so-recent paint jam on a clean hoarding just off St John’s Lane.

Werm, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Werm, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

As with all his recent pieces, the letters are small, and in this case painted red, in the centre of the piece. Everything beyond the letters is embellishment and artistry. This is a fine piece of graffiti writing, although perhaps not Werm’s best, in my opinion, the proportions just don’t seem to be quite right. Great to see Werm painting alongside some of the more established Bristol artists.

5297. St John’s Lane (2)

Shade One, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Shade One, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

This is the second piece I am posting from an outstanding collaborative ‘wall’ on a new hoarding in St John’s Lane. This breathtaking portrait piece is by Shade One and is significant in so much as it demonstrates so clearly how over the last couple of years he has developed his style from high-end cartoon portraits to a photorealistic style.

Shade One, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Shade One, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

The sunglasses woman is painted in greyscale, which works really well when set against the colourful cosmic, cloudy background. When working in greyscale, particular attention has to be paid to light and shade, and Shade One has done this well, particularly in the folds of the fabric of the woman’s top. This is one of several outstanding pieces painted during a high-class paint jam a short while ago.

5289. St John’s Lane (1)

Laic217, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Laic217, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

I fell in love with this piece the moment I saw it. Of course, I am an admirer of Laic217’s work, and this piece brings together so many of his themes and his talent into one place. No skeleton this time, but a flesh and blood human character holding a spray can.

Laic217, St John's Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Laic217, St John’s Lane, Bristol, June 2023

I will focus on two or three elements of this outstanding piece; The flesh tones and shading on the face and hand are exceptional, demonstrating that he is not a skeleton one-trick pony. The chain around the character’s neck is really well done and there is a sense of weight, and that it doesn’t hang perfectly shows that Laic217 is thinking one step ahead. It is the shirt, though, that really thrills me. From time to time, Laic217 dresses his characters in patterned shirts, and somehow he manages to paint in the creases and folds, with disruption tom the pattern, in this case pink smiley faces. I have seen him use this technique before to great effect, and I think it is one of the things he does that sets him apart from others. This is a truly exceptional piece on a rather nice new hoarding.

Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, September 2021
Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, September 2021
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019