2125. St Werburghs tunnel (71)

Well it appears that Kleiner Shames has been back in town, and left us with a most beautiful FOIS at the farm end of St Werburghs tunnel. His distinctive style and colour palette seems to draw heavily on the Art Deco style combined with a kind of 1970s/80s freedom.

Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

His metallic spray paint used for the central lettering is a nightmare to photograph in the tunnel – if it is in shade it is one colour, if it is in the light another and pictured from the front it goes from dark to light. Irrespective of the trickiness of trying to get a nice picture, it is always, always great when Kleiner Shames comes ‘home’.

Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

2103. St Werburghs tunnel (70)

I have said it ad nauseam that Mr Klue is being incredibly productive these days and I guess I will continue to say it for as long as he keeps painting these wonderful pieces. This slightly smaller than usual one contains a character who appears reasonably regularly on Mr Klue’s work.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

There is the suggestion of a man in a shirt and tie wearing what looks like the Mad Hatter’s hat complete with 10/6 label. I like the smokey, wispy abstract style that Mr Klue uses and the fact theat he is constantly playing with etherial ideas. All good.

2096. St Werburghs tunnel (70)

Last night I missed meeting Subtle by a whisker. I was at the opening night of the Cannon Fodder art show at the Loose Cannon cocktail bar just off Millennium Square in Bristol organised by Jimmer Wilmott and Paul Monsters. I saw Kid Crayon and during a break in conversation went to have a chat with him. He was just saying goodbye to an artist that was leaving. I asked him who it was and he told me it was Subtle… well at least I now know what he looks like.

The art show launch was really well attended and the venue is a good one for this kind of show. There were pieces by several Bristol (and beyond) artists including: Kid Crayon, Decay, Chiba, Silent Hobo, Jimmer, Nol, Guts and Paul Monsters. The artwork was a little beyond my price bracket but actually great value. If you are in the area it is well worth popping in although I’m not too sure how long it runs for.

Subtle, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Subtle, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

Anyhow, this fine piece by Subtle is a reasonably recent one from St Werburghs tunnel and although quite simple carries all the hallmarks of his fine work. The first picture is a little blurred, thanks to my dog pulling his lead at just the wrong time… it was the only front-on picture I have of this piece.

I’m sure I will bump into Subtle before too long.

2086. St Werburghs tunnel (69)

I cannot think of a period in the four or so years that I have been writing about Bristol street art where there have been so many ‘new’ entrants into the painting scene. One such artist is Diced Mango who once on my radar only a few months ago is now producing pieces on a regular basis in several spots around the city.

Diced Mango, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Diced Mango, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

This recent piece in St Werburghs tunnel combines a character with writing, a format common amongst graffiti writers. The portrait is naively drawn with Diced Mango’s trademark coloured ‘string’ hair.

Diced Mango, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Diced Mango, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

The writing in gold is in a rather nice organic form. I think there is a lot more to come from this artist and I am looking forward to seeing how his work develops over the coming months and years.

2083. St Werburghs tunnel (68)

Well what a lovely surprise from a few days ago. I took a quick trip to St Werburghs tunnel and right next to one of the Fiva (Fiver) pieces was this fabulous Robot face by Snub23.

Snub23, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Snub23, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

I have only known Snub23 to come to Bristol for Upfest, so it was extra special to find a piece here at this time of year. Snub23 adopts two instantly recognisable styles… this one of cartoon-style robots and sci-fi scenes and his geometric patterning which is similar to the work of Bristol’s Paul Monsters. Sometimes he combines both styles in a single piece. Brilliant to find this nice piece.

2078. St Werburghs tunnel (67)

OK, so Mr Klue is on a roll and there seems to be no stopping him recently. No sooner do you discover a new piece, when it appears that he has already been out and done another one. Of course, this is a good thing, because I find his particular brand of abstract art most attractive.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

This one in St Werburghs tunnel is typical of his current preferred colour palette of blues, light greens and whites on a black background. Always great to see his work.

2071. St Werburghs tunnel (66)

Possibly the most distinctive style in Bristol belongs to Atchue and his ultra pink cartoon faces, such as this one from a little while back in St Werburghs tunnel. As with the work of Stupid Stupid Meathole there is something a little grotesque in these gurning characters.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

It is impossible to ignore a piece like this and it stands out from the plethora of burners and throw-ups that adorn the walls of this tunnel. A simple idea which is nicely painted that picks you up and slaps you around the face just to make sure you are paying attention. Nice work.

 

 

2063. St Werburghs tunnel (65)

A few weeks ago Fiva painted a fabulous piece in St Werburghs tunnel, and you know what? he’s only gone and done it again pretty much directly opposite the first. The piece is similar in that it uses the clever layering of two different scripts, saying FIVA/Fiver, superimposed on one another. The lettering has a rather crafty 3D thing going on too.

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

It is always a great pleasure seeing work by this occasional (compared to some of the others) street artist, especially as his work is so clean and tidy. I’m not too sure who the character on the left is, but the grayscale tones contrast really well with the blue and purple writing. Another great work from Fiva.

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

2059. St Werburghs tunnel (64)

There is no question about it, Soap seems to have found a new lease of life and appears to be a happy artist. His recent pieces have been an expansion of his basic form and have a sense of joy about them. This one in St Werburghs tunnel is a real beauty.

Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

As well as adding a body to the cheerful mouths, Soap has also adorned the character with hair, cleverly crafted from multi coloured tags – the white one on the left shows clearly what it looks like. He has incorporated further white motifs in the ‘hair’ which look good too. His work is really coming to life and building in sophistication and I really like it. I think other observers are similarly enjoying this journey. Keep it going.

2056. St Werburghs tunnel (63)

Zake is an artist who is really coming out of the shadows and making a bit of a name for himself. I first became aware of him last Summer but I don’t know if that was because he was reasonably new to the Bristol scene or whether I just hadn’t spotted any of his work before.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

This piece is a little bit different and has some similarities with artwork by Laic217…which can only be a good thing. A skull leaving its host through the mouth is surely an odd concept, but one which allows Zake to experiment beyond his faces. Skulls are difficult to get right, but this is not too bad at all. I love it that Zake is more mobile and seems to have teamed up with some of the PWA artists and friends. A lovely surprise piece in the tunnel.