The minute I saw this piece from Daz Cat, I thought to myself ‘classy’, and I still think it now. It is a rather modest work, tucked away in the darkness of the tunnel but its quality really packs a punch.
Daz Cat, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2021
The base colours of purple and orange are offset by the detail worked out in red and white. The piece looks more like an engraving than a spray-painted wall and has a moody quality to it. I can’t put my finger on it, but this cat I would consider to be one of his best (and what a vast collection to draw on). Blink and you could miss it.
Both of these artists have had a very busy year in terms of throwing paint at walls. Benjimagnetic and Hemper are not artists I would normally pair up, but they have painted together in the past and continue to do so from time to time. Benjimagnetic’s style is much more consistent, whereas with Hemper, each piece is incredibly individual.
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
On the left is a fascinating piece from Benjimagnetic spelling BEN, which is much less frenetic and busy than his usual offerings. The yellow outline, where you can make out his letters, is sitting over a blockwork pattern, and the whole efect is compelling. Two little speech bubbles state: ‘Stand in the balance’ and ‘Hold your head up’
Hemper, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
To the right Hemper has created a sensational piece of writing spelling out HEMS in beautifully curvy letters which are filled to perfection with various colourful shades and bubbles. The whole thing is set on a very atmospheric green background with a few subtle shout-outs. ‘Free assembly is a right… …not a privilege’ is a sentiment very close to many Bristolian hearts at the moment. Kill the bill.
Slakarts has been ever so busy in recent months and I have enjoyed meeting him a couple of times lately. I think it says so much about my age that street artists, like doctors and teachers, seem to be so very young. In my mind’s eye I expect them to be so much older and am always surprised when I meet them. DFC1848 is a rare exception to this perception.
Slakarts, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
In this piece in the tunnel, Slakarts has reverted to his front face projection rather than three-quarter profile that he has been painting a lot lately. This character has crazy hair, maybe he is waiting for the barber’s to reopen, and rather dodgy teeth. Not the most attractive, but nicely done.
This is an outstanding tribute piece from Rosalita for a friend’s mother and grandmother. ‘We all carry inside us the people who came before us’ is the beautiful quote that accompanies this piece along with ‘rest in power’. It is a moving and powerful gesture and speaks volumes to the kindness and thoughtfulness of the artist.
Rosalita, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
On the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel, this piece has been respected for a while, which is quite right in the circumstances. The dark reds and floral patterning work well with the two portraits contained within the border. This was the second set of photographs I took. The piece was actually painted in February, but the shadows cast on my first visit rendered my pictures unpublishable. More to come from Rosalita, who has found her wings and is soaring.
I was looking in my archives for something specific a few days ago and within moments was absorbed, sucked in, to folders from years ago. There are so many good and interesting pieces I have photographed over the years that have never made it into the blog. The next few posts are an attempt to adjust that imbalance, just a tiny amount.
Conrico, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Starting with this one from Conrico in the tunnel back in 2018, which I think might even pre-date the first piece of his that I posted. I’m not too sure what this character is or represents, but he seems to be enjoying his smoke. Colourful and tidy work from Conrico, whose style while being quite unconventional is most compelling.
Another nice piece from Mr Draws whose work creates a drumbeat for the whole graffiti art scene in Bristol. If Mr Draws isn’t painting then things must be very, very bad indeed. I don’t post all of his work, simply because with only two posts a day on Natural Adventures I have to be selective with all artists. Anyhow, in my retirement I’ll have hundreds of images in my archives to post, so all is not lost.
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2021
The entrances to St Werburghs tunnel are so much easier to photograph than the interior, and the colours are so much truer. This is a classic Mr Draws piece, with a deep black shadow and some decent fills with yellow accents. Mr Draws marches on.
Obviously I am thoroughly enjoying Zoe Power’s enhanced presence on the streets at the moment, with her recent collaboration with Mr Penfold, her work in progress under the railway bridge on Stapleton Road and of course, this lovely collaboration with Rtiiika in the tunnel.
Zoe Power and Rtiiika, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2021
I had heard that she was keen to do more street work but was nonetheless surprised to stumble on this collaboration so soon. I have seen two or three Rtiiika pieces around Bristol, but this definitely raises her profile. Their styles are complementary and the bright colours work well. Zoe’s characters continue to remind me of Matisse and Rtiiika’s character also has a touch of modernism about it. I love this and want to see a whole lot more from these two.
This is the first of two outstanding recent collaborations by Andy Council and Acer One. What a great combination these two make… their very different styles have come together in this piece in an extraordinary way and it feels as if they were made for each other.
Andy Council, St Werburghs, Bristol February b2021
On the left is a superb ammonite or nautilus by Andy Council, with the coiled shell appearing to be stitched together with thick thread. The body and tentacles in rich and vibrant blues extend across the piece and weave their way into the lettering from Acer One. It is incredible how Andy Council can draw together inorganic components and create organic creatures. He is a master of this.
Acer One, St Werburghs, Bristol February b2021
The right hand side of this collaboration is yet another stunning piece of designed writing from Acer One, who is definitely going through a golden period in my eyes. Here he spells out ‘Acer’ with his geometric lettering. There is an optical think going on here where the patterns can be seen either as flat designs or as 3D images. Very clever stuff.
Andy Council and Acer One, St Werburghs, Bristol February b2021
An outstanding collaboration from these two and a little warm up for another one at Templemeads Station.
There are some artists whose work is capable of lifting a mood, and for those fleeting moments while I am looking at their work I am transported away from my troubles. Billy is one of those artists. Bright, simple and colourful her work usually carries a message which gives depth and meaning to the artwork.
Billy, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2021
This piece ‘what a mess’ was painted alongside Merny’s truck piece, the pair often paint together, and helped to lift this spot into a blaze of brightness. I don’t know if the ‘mess’ relates directly to the subject of the piece or whether it is deeper than that and describing the state of our country. On either level it works.
Morny and Billy, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2021
Sadly this piece along with Merny’s didn’t last too long, and the aggressive tagging that partially covered them over was annoying to say the least. I just don’t get some people.
Right, let’s get down to business. Merny, or Morny as I call him, because that is how he signed himself once in the past at a time when he first appeared on my radar, is an artist I really like. His naive style, with children’s crayon-like scribbles is so unique and refreshing and adds a wholesome and entertaining aspect to our walls.
Morny, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2021
In this piece Mo(e)rny gives us a super truck to marvel at. Irregular wheels and a curious child-like perspective add to the interest of the work. Sadly it didn’t last very long, and there are some taggers who appear to have a particular dislike of Morny’s work, which is a little ironic, because the stuff they slap over other people’s work is usually pretty shoddy. Is it jealousy? Or just wilful nastiness? Who knows, but I hope it doesn’t discourage Morny from continuing to create these lively vibrant pieces.
