4424. Greenbank (44)

Another wonderful piece from Pekoe, painted during a bit of a purple patch, when she seems to be getting out and about rather a lot, which can only be a good thing. This stunning portrait was painted alongside RBF crew friends and carried the blue background theme that bound the pieces on the collaborative wall together.

Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

Pekoe has a remarkable talent for painting these portraits, which are so distinctly her work. I guess that the difference between her work, and the work of photorealists is that her style shines through, whereas sometimes it can be difficult to identify a photorealist artist. I am not sure if I have explained that very well, but in short, her work is unique. This time we have a purple face and blue and yellow hair decorated with orange and green symbols and shapes. Another fine piece from Pekoe.

4423. Brunel Way (155)

To my shame, I didn’t spot this piece the first time I passed by. At that time I was busy marvelling over a new column piece by Pekoe… it was only when I was uploading the photographs of Pekoe’s work that I spotted this small Mr Underbite piece on a wall behind the column. Of course, I had to go back to find and photograph it.

Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022

I don’t know why, but I have taken a real shine to Mr Underbite and his character Mr Underbite. There is a simplicity and a charm to these pieces that strikes a chord with me. Perhaps I feel sorry for Mr Underbite, I don’t know, but there is a clever connection there that the artist has achieved. There is more to come from Mr Underbite, which is really good news.

Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022

Pekoe piece with Mr Underbite in the background.

4422. Dean Lane skate park (489)

It has been a very long time indeed since I last saw a new piece from Jee See, and although this ‘seismic’ piece was short lived, it was a very welcome sight. My hope is that Jee See will take something positive from the experience and start painting more regularly again.

Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

It is interesting how artists will focus on a word or a theme, and then develop it over time. Jee See’s work is synonymous with the word ‘seismic’ almost obsessively so, but it has become iconic and a part of what he does. It was such a pleasure to find this one.

4421. Greenbank (43)

I have always enjoyed Bnie’s writing. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about her work I love. It might be the letters BNIE, which are so unusual (Beany?), it might be the letter shapes, fills or shadows, or possibly the combination of all of these, but there is something there that lifts her work into a different level.

Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

This piece was painted alongside some RBF crew friends all using the same background, suggesting a collaborative approach. As always, the cow spot 3D shadow, a speciality of Bnie, steals the show. A fabulous piece from a fabulous artist.

4420. Spark Evans Park (43)

It would seem that Mena and Stivs have birthdays about a week apart, and both, being popular artists, manage to rustle up a large group of artists for a birthday paintjam. These pieces were part of Mena’s celebrations.

Mena and Phour, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2022
Mena and Phour, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2022

A double hit in today’s post featuring both Phour and Mena. I haven’t posted much from Phour for a while, but lately he has been painting;g quite a lot, and this is a really nice example of his work, painted high up on the wall, with three horizontal colour fades, and some rather more animated letters than we might normally see from him.

I say the other writing is by Mena, which I think it is, but when it is someone’s birthday, their name is often the subject of other artist’s writing, so you can be tricked easily. Whoever it is by, it is nicely worked, with an interesting ‘fruit salad’ colour scheme, if you know what I mean. Happy belated Birthday.

4419. M32 roundabout J3 (407)

By the time I got to it, half of this collaborative wall had been taken out, within 24 hours of being painted, fortunately, this part by Mr Penfold survived. It can be frustrating when pieces are overpainted so quickly, but everyone who paints in Bristol knows the score.

Mr Penfold, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022
Mr Penfold, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022

The work in this piece is so obviously by Mr Penfold, and needs no signature. Nobody else in Bristol creates these amazing abstract pieces. This one is a little different from some of his work, for example there are no shadows of any of the shapes, and it all feels a little bit more random than usual. Great to look at, and although short-lived, magnificent while it was there.

4418. M32 Cycle path (174)

Since moving to Weston-super-Mare, we simply haven’t seen enough of Decay in Bristol, and his appearances are very much missed. It was therefore not only a great surprise, but also thrilling to find this piece recently on the M32 Cycle path. It was also a little disappointing to learn that I had only just missed him, according to Klashwhensober who was still there painting.

Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2022
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2022

Decay tends to create a new look each year and this time round we can see he is using his DK letters together with his little character ‘Chuck’ who has been ever present in all of his reincarnations over the years. Pink and blue seems to be a favoured colour combination for artists this year, and Decay has used these colours to great effect. A nicely worked and finished piece, making my day.

4417. Elton Street (5)

I remember the first time I met Mudra, in October 2020, it was a socially distanced conversation under Brunel Way. He had only recently arrived in Bristol and was starting to leave his mark. Fast-forward eighteen months and Mudra has become part of the furniture here, and massively developed and improved his artwork.

Mudra, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022
Mudra, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022

This recent piece is one of several, by different artists, in Elton Street and part of a rather fine public gallery. In this piece, he spells out his name in a collage style, with each letter created in a different font, and it even looks like the ‘@’ (Mudra’s trademark signature) may have been stencilled. This is a nicely done, artistic piece that sits comfortably in this outdoor gallery.

4416. Picton Lane (13)

I cannot really find the words to express just how good an artist Kosc is. His work seems to get better and better and as he progresses, he keeps raising the bar. Here we have an artist who seems to be at ease with his chosen materials and who creates outstanding work, but continues to push his boundaries.

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2022

This amazing piece in Picton Lane has a hint of the Sistine Chapel about it with two outstretched hands making finger contact set against a green leafy backdrop, including shadows cast against it. Kosc enjoys his anatomical pieces and appears to study the shape and form of bodies.

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2022

This piece feels like a study, and something that would sit comfortably in an artist’s studio, and is simply amazing to see in its location. Difficult to photograph without a wide-angle lens, but I think you can get a sense of it, and quite weird to think that there is door behind this. A supreme work from Kosc.

4415. Greenbank (42)

This piece is not bad for a tattoo artist, not bad at all, in fact it is blooming marvellous, and Etza has absolutely smashed it with this enormous floral piece, painted alongside his collaboration pal Chill. The piece is something really quite different and most arresting.

Etza, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Etza, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

Etza has created a clean and sharp flower in rich red, yellow and black colours that has all the hallmarks of a sumptuous wallpaper design. There is a strong field of floral artist in the UK, including our own Alex Lucas, and Philth, who I think works out of London. This piece would sit proudly alongside those others, and proudly so. Finding this was a surprise and a pleasure.