This gorgeous story piece from Conrico somehow slipped under my radar, so on one of my routine visits to the Cycle path behind the Black Swan, I was thrilled to stumble across it. The Japanese street scene is full of atmosphere and ordinary life, with a woman cuddling a cat in the foreground.
Conrico, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024
Conrico’s style looks more like a paint brush painting than anything created with a spray can, which says a lot about his application style of short bursts like brush strokes. His love affair with Japan and Japanese culture may seem at odds with Bristol culture, but is in fact a refreshing perspective and part of the amazing spectrum of work artwork we see in the city. I love this low-key piece.
Le Imposter Design, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2024
This is exactly the type of discovery I love to make, and highlights why I do what I do. The Bristol to Bath cycle path is a very busy thoroughfare for cyclists and walkers alike. The vast majority of footfall (or wheel-fall) passing the long hoarding alongside the Chocolate Factory development, will miss this little gem, and some of the larger gems here too, being more focussed on getting from A to B. Observers of the world, however’, will stop and enjoy treats like this one from another first-timer on Natural Adventures, Le Imposter Design.
Le Imposter Design, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2024
This modest design is dwarfed by the larger pieces of graffiti writing and street art surrounding it, and is easily overlooked, being at about knee to waist height. The art piece sets out a wonderful view out of a window and onto the street. There are lots of little details to enjoy, the plant and pot, coffee with a heart shape in the froth, some paperwork, and even a stall and awning on a building across the street. Wonderful calming stuff in a frenetic spot. A big welcome to Le Imposter Design, I hope to see more of her work before too long.
Camping and glamping site gate, Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Doors 225 – Some gates of Bristol
A really quick one today. I had time earlier in the week to prepare some images from my archive, and I plumped for a selection of gates. All of these gates are from Bristol, none of them particularly special, but desperate times and all that…
The first gate boasts that is it the entrance to Bristol’s only camping and glamping site – I fear that they might have over-sold it a little. I hope you enjoy today’s selection:
Farm gate, Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol, February 2019Back gate, BristolFront gate, Bedminster, Bristol, March 2020Gate and door, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2023Mind the drop. back garden gate, Devon Road, Bristol, January 2023Back garden gate, Devon Road, Bristol, January 2023
Well that concludes proceedings for another week, I hope to have something a little more inspirational next time. May I wish you a pleasant end of week and weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
It is difficult to know where to begin with this outstanding street scene by Dan Kitchener, whose work just seems to get better and better. Painted on one of the larger Upfest walls, the typical street scene features tons of smaller screens displaying Japanese advertising and anime figures cheek by jowl.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
The wall is not easy to photograph, so I have broken the piece down into sections or chunks to give a taste of the intricacy of each section. At the base of the piece, a wet street scene with a car and pedestrians holding umbrellas, is reminiscent (as I have said many times before) of the dystopian scenes from Blade Runner, a theme present in so much of Dan Kitchener’s work.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Above the street level, a bank of advertising screens and hoardings illuminate the dark street. It would be interesting to have a translations of all the writing, to understand better what is happening here.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
It is amazing to see this all as one piece by one artist, because it comes across as if each section is by a different artist, if you see what I mean. I don’t know how long it took Dan Kitchener to paint the piece, but I know he works fast, and I imagine this represents 2-3 days of painting. An utterly outstanding piece that transports you halfway across the world, if even for a short while.
This week I am getting ahead of the game and preparing over the weekend (now last weekend) some regular Bristol doors from photographs taken over the past few months – just a hotch potch of doors with no theme. There are one or two interesting ones in there which I hope you enjoy.
Happy door hunting.
Blue door beyond a blue door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
I guess this counts as a door, Bristol, May 2020
Double doors in St Andrews, Bristol, May 2020
This lane is known as ‘green garages’ and is a safe skateboarding spot for young skaters, Redland, Bristol, May 2020
Not too sure this was ever a door, but a pretty forboding bricked in space, Easton, Bristol, July 2020 – a little bit of graffiti (nut sax) just to spice it up a litttle.
Shabby-chic side gate, Bedminster, Bristol, October 2020
So there you have it – I am able to do doors other than street art doors although I suspect that is a theme I will return to before long if I struggle with time.
Have a great weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you really ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.
My favourite piece of the 2015 Upfest was the incredible geisha by Dan Kitchener on the wall of the Salvation Army shop. It was fantastic then to have DanK return to Bristol this year. His spot was slightly off the beaten track, and I didn’t find him until the Sunday when it was all a bit drizzly.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Dan Kitchener had pretty much stopped spraying for a while and was leaning over the lift and chatting to a friend when I took a couple of the pictures. He really wasn’t too impressed with the weather.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
The piece, once it was revealed, turned out to be something of a reflection of the weather in which it was produced. In fact much of Dan Kitchener’s work creates the effect of wet night time scenes viewed through a car windscreen…or that is how it feels to me.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Looking closely at the woman with the umbrella, allows you to see that part of the picture away from all the distraction around it, and it is just beautiful. Step back and add in all the bright lights and you have the most vibrant scene.
Dan Kitchener, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I am always so impressed with his work, and I could look at these scenes he creates for hours, studying all the details and effects. It is hard to believe that he paints these things with spray cans. Yet another artist at the very top of his game.
Natural adventures 