4770. Moon Street (98)

Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2022
Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2022

On one of my favourite walls, in one of my favourite streets, by one of my favourite artists. This is a lovely piece by Face 1st, and something of a new idea, with a bit of fragmentation going on in the girl’s smiling face. As is usually the case, the hair spells out FACE.

Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2022
Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2022

This is a piece that is not only well painted, but also is full of energy and movement. It is pieces like this one that remind me how much I love photographing and following street art in Bristol, seeing and capturing talent and beauty. Time to update my Face 1st gallery, as he has been on a very productive streak lately.

4769. M32 Spot (149)

Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022
Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022

Bristol has an international reputation for being a graffiti and street art hub. Because of this, we get an awful lot of visitors, who come to paint one time, never to be seen again. I got lucky and managed to catch Cuomo, just as he was finishing off and photographing this piece. Cuomo is an Italian graffiti artist, and whether he was being evasive or whether there was a language barrier, he was reluctant to let on too much about himself. Perhaps he didn’t realise that there was little or no risk painting this board.

Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022
Cuomo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2022

Cuomo has an interesting style, often combining characters with his writing. His writing is often black, as in this example, with angular shapes. What is clear is that there is a significant difference in design to the kinds of things we are used to seeing in Bristol. Vive diversity.

4768. Frome side (17)

Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022
Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022

I first came across Whysayit (YSAE) a few years ago when he regularly collaborated with Kleiner Shames. Although I have never met him, I have enjoyed his irregular anti-graffiti style over the years, and this one under the M32 is a banger.

Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022
Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022

The organic writing is simple, spelling out ‘YSAE’ in two tones of pink. Light pink for the letters and dark pink for the drop shadow. Combine these with a black border and white highlights, and you have straightforward, quality writing which lifts nicely off the wall. Sometimes less is more.

4767. Cumberland Basin

Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

What an absolute beauty from Mote. Tucked away in a little corner of Cumberland Basin is this magnificent example of one of Mote’s monsters, and quite possibly one of his best to date.

Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

I really like Mote’s attention to detail and clean work. All of his fills are always solid and his fine lines clean. These monsters are on the opposite end of the spectrum to throw ups. Mote spends time on painting his characters with real diligence and accuracy. It is worth noting that some of the decorative dots around the bottom of the background incorporate the previous piece that Mote painted over. The finished pieces are imaginative and always bring a smile to my face. I love this piece.

4766. M32 roundabout J3 (434)

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2022
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2022

As with so many regular writers in Bristol, Corupt continues to delight us with his STICK or CORUPT writing, and this one on the M32 is a stunner. With deep 3D drop shadows that assist with lifting the piece, the letters are presented in two halves of different colour schemes.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2022
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2022

Although the division of the two halves isn’t a straight line, the top and bottom have quite different colours, but similar patterns and details. This is a bold statement piece and carries with it the gravitas of a very talented graffiti writer.

4765. Cumberland Basin

Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

It is always special to see pieces by Smak. He is an artist pretty much at the top of his game and completely in command of his outstanding work. You know that you are looking at something really classy from the effortless way is comes across from the wall to your eyes.

Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

Smak is rather keen on these colours, but actually looking back on the extensive gallery of his work, he actually pretty much uses every colour under the sun. Beautiful letters, beautifully painted, oozing class.

4763. Frome side (16)

The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022

Over the weekend, I had an hour or two to kill while the dog was at the groomers, and took the opportunity to drop down under the M32 to a spot along the River Frome, where I can’t take the dog, because it could be a little dangerous

The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022
The Mole, Frome side, Bristol, October 2022

My reward included this wonderful little column piece from Inca the Mole. It is always a great pleasure to find the Mole’s pieces, and this one was quite hidden away. The mole is decorated with little peace symbols and some simple stars add a little interest to the background. A simple idea nicely executed.

4761. Dean Lane skate park (533)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

It is incredible to think how far and fast Werm has come from when I first met him back in 2020, when he was writing under the name Eman. He has definitely switched from character pieces to focussing on his writing, so it was great to see this piece where he has combined both.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

The character is, I think, an alien from the Simpsons – I know I have seen it before… I have just Googled it, and I am correct, and it is called Kang or Kodos. The letters, spelling out Werm, are intricate and beautifully filled with superb horizontal fill transitions. This is Werm raising his game once again. Great stuff.

4760. St Werburghs tunnel (313)

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022

Another Logoe piece from his recent blitz of Bristol, this time at the entrance to the St Werburghs tunnel. I don’t know how long Logoe was in Bristol on his latest visit, but he managed to paint at least five or six pieces, and must have been churning them out at a staggering rate.

Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022
Logoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2022

One of the clever things about Logoe’s work is his colour schemes, where his selections are carefully thought out. Here he gives us a palette of yellows, greens and turquoise which work beautifully together. There are still more pieces to come from this trip.

4759. Cumberland Basin

Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

I go away for a few days and whaddayaknow, a whole bunch of walls have been refreshed, including the long wall at Cumberland Basin. There are several beauties that have gone up there, and this fine piece by Saor is right up there.

Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Saor, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022

The thing I most like about Saor’s work is that every piece he paints is immaculately turned out. The lines are sharp, the fills solid and the designs imaginative. As his work develops, there are definitely some similarities with the Bristol writer Epok, whose letter designs contain combinations of curves and geometry in harmonious balance. This is a lovely piece from Saor.