Tag: Street art

2979. Dean Lane skate park (319)

Some pieces are so unexpected and so awesome that when you see them one is met with surprise and a little bit of confusion, and so it was for me when I came across this unbelievable geometric abstract collaboration from Piro and Epok in Dean Lane.

Piro and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020
Piro and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020

This very classy piece is what I would term a true collaboration, where it is impossible to unpick which bits were done by which artist. The piece is composed of three overlapping large triangles each with a different fill incorporating all sorts of designs, softened with a few circles. This is a really unusual piece for Dean Lane and is something one might expect to see at a street art festival. Perhaps it was created in lieu of Upfest this year. Pure joy.

2978. Dean Lane skate park (318)

For me, the best thing about the relaxation of lock down restrictions has not been my own personal freedoms… I have changed virtually nothing, but the appearance of Laic217 back on our streets with a vigour that is unparalleled. I have found five new Laic217 pieces in a fortnight, so expect more soon.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020

This vibrant red skull-face is clutching a spray can in its jaws set on a background of green cheeseplant-type leaves. I think that Laic217 needs to practice his leaf forms a little bit more (says the biologist in me) and look forward to more of this kind of background. Bold and interesting your face’ it is impossible not to see this striking piece. Bravo!

2977. M32 Spot (73)

It took two trips to this spot to be able to get any decent pictures. On my first visit, the sun was very bright indeed and a horizontal shadow was cast across the top half of the piece… my photographs were unusable.

3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020
3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020

This is a magnificent collaboration between 3Dom and Feek and one of the first to be painted since the lock down restrictions were slightly eased. On the left is an extraordinary character by 3Dom built up of five or six distinct elements: a raspberry head with a target, a geometric torso, wicker basket bottom, fractured legs and fabulous slippers. The character is balancing on a tightrope.

Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020
Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020

Opposite is a character from Feek, wearing a barrel on his head riding a unicycle on the same tightrope, a parrot nervously hanging on to the seat of the unicycle. The whole piece is a celebration of circus in a burst of colour and surreal ideas, and is the kind of outstanding piece that doesn’t come around every day.

3Dom and Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020
3Dom and Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020

Between the two tightrope acts is a beautifully painted ASK (After School Klub) written in circus-style Block script, which holds the two halves together with great skill. This is a truly exceptional piece and one that has been well worth the wait.

2976. Stapleton Road

You don’t get to see too many pieces on the street from Rowdy these days, so finding one is a bit of a treat. Rowdy is responsible for one of the most iconic characters in Bristol street art, the toothy crocodile. Anyone living in the Stokes Croft area will remember fondly the crocodile on the top of the Carriage Works that looked over North Bristol, sadly knocked down last year.

 

Rowdy, Stapleton Road, Bristol, May 2020
Rowdy, Stapleton Road, Bristol, May 2020

This somewhat smaller beast is modestly tucked away at the foot of a column under the new railway bridge on Stapleton Road, and I only found it because a Face 1st piece opposite it caught my eye as I was driving past the other day. Who doesn’t love a Rowdy crocodile?

Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016
Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016

2975. Brunel Way bridge (32)

A column piece from Face 1st under Brunel Way. Simple, joyful, playful, there is nothing here to dislike. This is the kind of throw up that Face 1st can do in his sleep, but it is not quite as easy as it looks (believe me I have tried to copy his stuff in my garden, and utterly failed every time).

Face 1st, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2020
Face 1st, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2020

The girl’s face that we have become so accustomed to is topped with a high head of hair, maybe a beehive. The way the light reflects off the chrome hair gives the whole piece a wonderful effect. Some of these smaller pieces by Face 1st get left behind in the archive, but not this one, no not this one.

2974. M32 Cycle path (61)

Sometimes artists break the mould and when they do, they can surprise us, andn that is exactly what Elvs has sone with this tight piece of writing on the M32 cycle path. Regular readers of Natural Adventures will note that this is far removed from what we might expect from the artist and is so refreshing to see. To give you some idea of what I mean, take a quick look at this gallery and you will understand what I am saying.

Elvs, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020
Elvs, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020

The five colour fill is very nicely done and the 3D shading consistent. Quite why he has changed his letters I don’t know, but it is quite commmopn for graffiti writers to do this. A nice little surprise that I wasn’t looking for.

2973. St George skate park (9)

In St George skate park, at the far end from the car park, is a tombstone of a skate ramp, looking more like the monolith in 2001: a Space Odyssey than a piece of skating architecture. This is a favourite spot for some artists in Bristol, and recently it was the turn of 3Dom to decorate this wall.

3Dom, St George skate park, Bristol, May 2020
3Dom, St George skate park, Bristol, May 2020

I think the story here is putting urban civilisation under the microscope, but to what end I am not so sure. The microscope has been brilliantly observed and painted well and reminds me of the days when I used to do some real science rather than whatever it is I do these days.

3Dom, St George skate park, Bristol, May 2020
3Dom, St George skate park, Bristol, May 2020

This is a simple and striking piece that is brilliantly suited to the wall it has been sprayed on and offers us another aspect of this fabulous artist’s talents. I feared that with the sun behind the wall I wouldn’t get any decent pictures, but I think they turned out ok.

Thursday Doors – 4 June 2020

Doors 109 – yet more graffiti/street art doors (bear with me…)

Is it really the fourth of June already? Is it really 2020? What happened to the last five decades? Time seems to be accelerating with every moment that passes at a time in my life when I would rather like it to slow down, perhaps even go in reverse.

Very busy at work at the moment so this is what you are getting – doors from 2016/17:

Copyright and Paul Monsters, North Street, Bristol, April 2017
Copyright and Paul Monsters, North Street, Bristol, April 2017
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Decay and John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Decay and John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Fiver, St Andrews Road, Bristol, December 2016
Fiver, St Andrews Road, Bristol, December 2016
Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2016
Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2016
Copyright and Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Copyright and Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2016

I realise that three of these are shutters, but shutters are kind of doors too aren’t they? The last picture is the shop and home belonging to the Artist Alex Lucas, which she decorated herself. Over the last week or two she has been making good use of the current lock down restrictions and re-painted the whole thing. One for my street art posts fairly soon I think.

May I wish you all a very happy week.

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.

 

by Scooj

 

2972. Horfield skate park (6)

Political commentary is never far away when John D’oh is around, and this recent stencil at the Horfield skate park nicely sums up the disgusting hypocisy demonstrated by Boris and Cummings. Just jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, irresponsible, selfish and self-centered behaviour. Although the headlines may have receded, the anger hasn’t. Boris has shown himself to be a deceitful and manipulative Prime Minister, and I find it extraordinary that anyone would still line up to defend him (although the reliable toadies seem to fight over this space). His odious disregard for other people is beyond staggering and the sooner he gets ousted the better.

John D'oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, May 2020
John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, May 2020

I suspect that Boris, being Boris would probably look at this stencil and feel rather flattered, I mean it is a picture of him as a Moses figure, how could he not be excited by that. Well done John D’oh once again for reminding us what a terrible person Boris Johnson really is. I will not move on.

2971. M32 Cycle path (60)

I feel just the slightest tinge of normality returning with this epic new piece from Laic217. Usually I would have posted several pieces by Laic217 during the spring, but because of the lock down restrictions he simply hasn’t been out painting, just like most of the other Bristol artists. It felt like a Christmas treat coming across this piece a week or two back.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020

We are treated not to just one or two skeletons, but nine, which must be something of a record for Laic217 in a single piece. I’m not to sre what the story here relates to, whether it is Covid-19 related or something else. I suspect the latter, because the black cross denotes ‘harmful’ and the flame denotes flammable. I suppose this could be described as an incendiary piece… sorry.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020

I can see how a bunch of skeletons skulking around might not be to everyone’s taste, but to me this is a remarkable piece and so utterly stands out from the crowd. The clothes and headwear and consistently well sprayed, difficult to do when using so few grey tones. So it might be quite a dark piece, Laic217 tends to stray on the dark side, but it is technically an assured and confident work.

Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020

I particularly like the white labels of LAIC, PAD asnd a Nike tick. The shout out to Pad (aka Cort) his painting partner is rather sweet. This is the first of several new ones from Laic217. Watch this space.