Tag: Street art

5553. M32 roundabout J3 (515)

Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

As a rule, Mudra usually paints alongside other artists and it has been a long time since I found a piece that he painted alone… until I came across this one last month. The piece is carefully placed around the southern tunnel entrance on the M32 roundabout, where the River Frome emerges from its culvert.

Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

In painting around this corner, Mudra has had to remove the posters that blight this area, doing us all a favour in the process (although a quick trip to the bin might have been in order). Mudra has painted his letters in a subtle blend of colours from bronze to rose to grey/white, an unusual combination that looks quite spectacular. The centrepiece is the skull, taking the place of the letter ‘D’, which has been really well observed and recreated. Sometimes skulls just don’t look like skulls, but this one looks pretty anatomically correct from what I can see. A smoking cigar has been added for additional effect. This is an unusual and unexpected piece from the brilliantly creative Mudra.

5552. Tobacco Factory

Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023
Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023

The huge wall on the side of the Tobacco Factory, opposite Aldi, is arguably the premium wall in Bristol, curated by Upfest for some of the best artists to decorate. The last piece painted here was from Upfest 2022, and was probably reaching the end of its sell-by date. It is one of so many Upfest pieces I haven’t got round to sharing on Natural Adventures… yet.

Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023
Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023

Two of Bristol’s finest and most established artists have combined to paint this incredible tribute to the city and more specifically Bedminster, Silent Hobo and Inkie. The mural is in two distinct sections, the top half writing and frame by Inkie, and the busy scene by Silent Hobo.

Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023
Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023

Inkie painted a few pieces while he was in Bristol, which tends to happen, because he is a very busy artist, taking commissions all over the globe, and seemingly forever on the move. The words ‘Planet Local’ are beautifully painted in his characteristic style, and nicely decorated with stars, creating a perfect backdrop for Silent Hobo’s storytelling below.

Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023
Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023

There is always so much going on in Silent Hobo’s work and the way he presents the ordinary Bristol scenes is quite unique. There is an authenticity and warmth in this piece that captures relatable goings on; a boy playing with his toys, a sleeping cat, a young couple, a chef making a delivery and a young singer all occupy the left hand side of the piece.

Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023
Silent Hobo and Inkie, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, September 2023

To the right, there is more bustle and deliveries and a rather strange walking house. A hen and bee get in on the action too, and everything is overlaid on a background of classic Bristolian architecture. There is an honesty and lightness in this piece which is a perfect antidote to our everyday preoccupations and concerns, reminding us that life is beautiful and good.

5551. Dean Lane skate park (647)

Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

When Ceus moved to Bristol, sometime in 2021, it was a day to celebrate. His fresh and invigorating pieces have brightened up Dean Lane no end, and his unique style has now become part of the furniture, particularly in this spot.

Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Ceus tends to use a full colour palette, mixing and blending the colours he selects with great skill , such that they bleed from letter to letter, and by using some contrasting black and white edging creates fabulous depth. This particular piece is beautifully framed in two corners with a cloudy, white straight edge. This is an altogether outstanding piece from Ceus.

5550. Brunel Way (237)

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

Mote is another artist who appears to have taken his foot off the pedal a little bit of late, after a very busy summer indeed. Having said that, he has simply returned to a more steady flow, rather than standstill. I am not sure that this piece survived for very long, as both sides of this wall have encountered very high turnovers recently.

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

Another in the bird monster series of pieces, Mote has managed to create a humorous creation composed of five or six discrete components. The highlight of the piece for me is the decorative fill in the pink section on the bird’s back, Mote is beginning to make these patterns something of a trademark in his work. A very nice piece.

5549. Dean Lane skate park (646)

Nugmoose, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Nugmoose, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Embarrassingly, it took quite a while for the penny to drop with this piece by Nugmoose. I haven’t seen much of his work this summer, and this piece wasn’t immediately as ‘alieny’ as most of his pieces… it had me baffled for an hour or two, and then the light bulb moment.

Nugmoose, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Nugmoose, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

There are three basic elements to this piece, which come together very nicely. The white face in the centre of the piece and the cream/pink letters spelling out something in an alien language, both of which are quite flat and have solid fills. The third element, the green blobby organic matter, has both depth and movement and appears to be attracted to the writing/portrait, to embrace or consume it. Great to see Nugmoose decorating a wall after a bit of an absence.

5548. St Werburghs tunnel (388)

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023

One of the truly enjoyable facets of 2023, has been the appearance of Mr Crawls and his wacky bird portraits. Even better has been the way he has started to switch it up a little bit, with variations on a theme. For a little while at the start, there was a risk that he might get categorised as a one-trick pony, but recent evidence completely indicates otherwise.

Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2023

This piece at the farm end of the tunnel presents his gull character with horns and spikes emerging from the top of its head. Perhaps most notably, the empty eye sockets define this piece and contribute to the overall intrigue it offers. A little bit chilling and odd, the piece definitely catches the eye, and isn’t quite as endearing as some of his other pieces. This is a good thing, as Mr Crawls develops and grows.

5547. Purdown (62)

Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

Mr Klue is definitely one of those ‘peak and trough’ artists. During his productive spells, you can barely visit certain spots without seeing a new piece from the artist, and earlier this year he dominated the walls in St Werburghs tunnel. At other times Mr Klue goes very quiet for extended periods, so it was a genuine pleasure to find this small piece by him up at Purdown.

Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023

The piece carries a common motif that Mr Klue paints, of a headless character wearing a large top hat with a ticket in the band. The hat belongs to Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter. Although only a quick one, it is great to see Mr Klue out and about. Perhaps this is the start of a new productive period.

CD.TC

A gallery of fabulous toothy characters by CD.TC

Instagram: @cd.tc

All photographs by Scooj

CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
CDTC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2022
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2022
CDTC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, Daz Cat and Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, Daz Cat and Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2020
CD.TC, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2020
CD.TC, Purdown, Bristol, July 2020
CD.TC, Purdown, Bristol, July 2020
CD., St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019
CD., St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019

5545. M32 roundabout J3 (514)

 

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

I have spent the morning thus far cleaning up the moderate mess left behind after Miss Scooj’s 19th birthday party – a few friends over before clubbing. As any parent will be heard to say many times in their lives ‘where did all the time go?’. Feeling very old today.

Helping to keep me as young as I can be is the love I have for street/graffiti art, and far from being a bind, writing this blog keeps me inspired, invigorated and happy.

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023

Benjimagnetic is keeping his work ticking over with the occasional piece here and there and this recent one on the M32 roundabout is a fairly calm and modest piece. Sometimes his work is busy and frenetic, but he has gone back to basics with this one. The letters spell out BEN, although perhaps somewhat disguised, with green fills and a skilfully worked yellow border/drop shadow. The vertical lines in purple and pinks add interest, without which the piece might be unexceptional. A lovely sober piece from Benjimagnetic.

5544. Dean Lane skate park (645)

Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

Kosc seems to have slowed the pace right down recently, which probably reflects a busy time in his real life away from painting walls. It is great to see that there isn’t even the slightest drop in quality on his return, although in fairness, once an artist has reached a certain level, there is rarely a drop in quality unless constrained by time or paint.

Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Kosc, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023

The letters KOSC have an industrial, metallic sheet look, common to the artist’s pieces over the last couple of years, with occasional ‘rivets’ holding the sheet in place. Kosc has chosen some nice fills for the letters, some of which have spilled beyond the confines of the letters, giving the writing a slightly ethereal feel. Classy writing.