Tag: Street art

5630. Brunel Way (244)

Fade and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Fade and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

I am in a conference all day today, so I wrote this one last night, not that it makes any difference to anything at all. As reported several times before on Natural Adventures, Dibz and Fade have been unstoppable this year, painting some incredible pieces week in, week out. This beauty was on the long wall under Brunel Way.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

As with many of their recent collaborations, it can be difficult to know where the individual work ends and the combined work begins, but broadly speaking the writing on the left is by Fade, and under his tight writing he has the words ‘From up above’.

Fade and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Fade and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

The central character looks like something out of a Marvel or DC comic, but I am not sure that I can spend hours trying to find out who, although a quick Google search has led me to the door of Dark Phoenix from X-Men. Beautifully painted… these guys really are good. The banner spells out Tru Headz Kru (THK), which I assume is the two collaborating artists.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

To the right, Dibz gives us another of his flawless pieces of graffiti writing, looking stunning in shades of green with a purple drop shadow. I can see several possible words in the letters, but most likely is DIBZ, although I can also see DARK, which would cross-reference nicely with the character. Still more to post from these two!

5629. Peel Street Green (20)

Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2023
Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2023

I remember, looking back, that a few years back I used to think of Haka as something of an ‘edgy’ graffiti writer and artist as there were sometimes quite hard-hitting narratives alongside his work, but I think I was wrong at the time, and in recent years his work has been gentle and humorous and a joy to witness.

Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2023
Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2023

This new piece in Peel Street Green is a reflection of his work over the last 20 years and features a wonderful Snoopy character sitting on a rocket alongside some cheery bright and colourful letters. His work is upbeat and fun and these days works especially well for younger viewers, as many of his references are children’s cartoon or picture book characters. I hope this one stays as long as his Garfield piece in the same location.

5628. Cumberland Basin

Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023
Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023

There are some artists who pause for a long time between pieces, and it reaches the stage where they become out of sight… out of mind. I had quite forgotten about Lokey and his outstanding anamorphic writing, so it was an extra special surprise to find this piece. The day was a good one with the thoroughly enjoyable company of Paul H who was able to get out for a few snaps.

Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023
Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023

Purple and orange always make great bedfellows in street art, and Lokey has woven the colours in the most incredible way to create the 3D depth that appears to lift the letters several inches off the wall. Such clever and skilled work. I would love to see more of Lokey’s work, but I suspect his pieces will continue to be a bit of a rarity.

5627. M32 Cycle path (235)

Sled One, Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Sled One, Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

I think I have Paul H to thank for pointing out this piece. I don’t often venture to this area because usually is is littered with tags and throw ups that I have little interest in, but this outstanding collaboration by Sled One, Karmone and Smak, proves that it is always worth taking a look everywhere.

Sled One, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Sled One, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

The piece is sited underneath the railway bridges on Stapleton Road, but cannot be seen from the road, which is probably why I missed it. To the left is something so incredible it is difficult to describe. The fire extinguisher character is Sled One at his most awesome, and it reminds me of a piece he painted way back. I’ll see if I can locate it and pop it in at the end of the post. Sled One’s complete mastery of his trade is something to admire and enjoy.

Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

Fortunately, the accompanying writing by Karmone and Smak are of such high quality that they comfortably sit alongside Sled One’s work. Both pieces of writing are of the highest quality and ooze class. Overall, this is one of the best collaborations of the year, and there is some very stiff competition indeed. Once again it makes me feel very lucky to live in a city where such talent is on display, for free, for citizens, every day of the week.

Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, June 2016
Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, June 2016

5626. M32 Spot (174)

Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023

Theartofsok is not an artist I am particularly familiar with, so when I first saw this unsigned piece I c was a little puzzled and had to do a bit of homework. I could be certain it wasn’t by a Bristol artist but by a visitor, beyond that I was stumped. It is an outstanding piece from the South Wales artist, and one of two in the area from a visit he made a couple of weeks back.

Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023

The piece is very confidently painted, with strong, sharp black outlines and assured solid fills. There is a simplicity about it, but do not be fooled, behind the simplicity lies great technical skill and know how. The expression on the character’s face and movement around him is all rather special. Theartofsok is welcome to return anytime.

5625. M32 roundabout J3 (521)

Mr Riks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Mr Riks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

This classic burner on the long roundabout wall is one of two recent Mr Riks pieces to appear in Bristol. To the untrained eye, this might look like any other chrome throw up, but have a closer look and there are signs that this piece is by no ordinary artist.

Mr Riks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Mr Riks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

The letters spell out RIKS, with a couple of comedy eyes and fingers at the top of the ‘I’, and there is a little deliberate blurring on some of the edges of the letters. It is the drop shadow, however, that gives this piece away as having been painted by a craftsman. The shadow has a vanishing point somewhere beneath the piece, and its curves perfectly match the curves of the letters. The stripes, which add depth, and orange border are really nice and tight too. The whole thing may appear modest, but is at the same time classy and masterful.

5624. Dean Lane skate park (657)

Rusk and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Rusk and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

Some collaborations are so good they simply ooze class, and any observer would be able to notice that something a little bit special is happening here. Rusk and Shade One have paired up once again in Dean Lane to give us this fabulous treat.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

The writing from Rusk is beautifully proportioned and finished to his usual very high standards. The purple drop shadow works spectacularly well with the green/grey letters. Two stand out details are the white shine running horizontally through the piece and the yellow stripes on some of the letters. Utterly outstanding.

Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

The portrait piece by Shade One on the right is, I think, a tribute piece to Shimz. The wonderful attention to detail and extraordinary capture mark Shade One as the best photorealistic artist in Bristol right now, and how different his style is from only a couple of years ago, when his characters were more cartoony. This is simply brilliant, and the combination with Rusk is a real worldie in my mind.

5623. River Avon (54)

Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023
Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023

More fun painting from the playful Pl8o. This modest piece is located on the cycle path between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads station alongside the tidal River Avon. What I like about Pl8o is the complete absence of ambiguity in his work. What you see is what you get and that is that.

Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023
Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, October 2023

It is possible that this is a Halloween piece as it was most likely painted in October and has a ghostly skull character, it is also possible that it has nothing to do with the festival and any ghostly link is coincidental. Big fat solid letters, big fat yellow fills and a cheeky character. This piece does what it says on the tin.

5622. St Werburghs tunnel (391)

Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2023
Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2023

Klashwhensober is a force of nature, and his painting is his ‘rock’ in a turbulent environment. Over the last couple of years his work has been leaning towards quantity rather than quality (painting is what makes him happy), but recently I have noticed that that balance has shifted and he is starting to turn out some outstanding pieces, but fewer of them.

Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2023
Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2023

This is a wonderful and colourful piece at the farm end of the tunnel, spelling out SOBER. The letters each have an individual colour, with quite a lot of blended fills going on. The drop shadow is tidily done and lifts the letters from the wall a little. at the right hand end Klashwhensober has painted a sword, which is cutting into the letters. It looks like Klashwhensober has spent a little bit more time on this piece and has finished it off with care and attention. I like this more focussed approach from Bristol’s most prolific artist.

5621. Elton Street (24)

Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023
Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023

On the side of the Lost Horizons Arts Centre there are some framed panels which are curated by the Centre, and I think that Bnie has a lot to do with that curation. Most of the panels were refreshed about three weeks ago, and this one from Merny is particularly fun.

Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023
Merny, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023

Merny says “jelly! Get over it!” – you’ve got to laugh, really. The jelly, which is sitting on a pink plate, is brilliantly painted, demonstrating an understanding of colour, shading and portraying translucence that few artists manage. To do it in his naive style is even more remarkable. Break-out labels finish the piece nicely, a piece which I think combines fun, mischief and talent in equal measure. Jelly – get over it!