Tag: Street art

2573. M32 Cycle path (38)

Down on the M32 cycle path is thisrather nice quick one from Hypo that rather cleverly brings about some symmetry to his letters HYPO. I suggest that this is a quick one because although creative and imaginative, it is not perhaps as clean and crisp as it might be. This might sound like harsh criticism, but it is not, it is an observation only. Added to that, even pieces with a few ragged edges are hugely difficult to do and I always doff my cap in the direction of these artists.

Hypo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019
Hypo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019

Hypo, although not a regular on Natural Adventures does appear once in a while and as far as I can make out is one of the more established Bristol artists. I’m reasonably pleased with these pictures because with the overhang, the top half of pieces painted here are often in shade and I seem to have overcome that on this occasion. More nice work from Hypo.

2572. Cumberland Basin

I think I said this last time I posted a piece by Nevergiveup but I will say it again because it is still pertinent… gone but not forgotten. I discovered a new (to me) graffiti spot in the Cumberland Basin recently, and one which I think Nevergiveup also discovered a little while before he left Bristol.

Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2019
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2019

This rabbit looks like it has had a little dose of nuclear radiation, but apart from the extra eyes ears and tooth it seems to be in the rudest of health. I love the location of this rabbit and for me it really adds to the quality of the piece. Still plenty to come from #followmyrabbits.

2571. M32 roundabout J3 (179)

More great graffiti writing from Smak on the south side of the M32 roundabout on a stretch of wall he has painted many times. As one would expect his letters are beautifully designed and presented and the colour patterning really cleverly used in each one.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019

Smak really sets the bar for this style of writing in Bristol and rarely drops below this exceptionally high standard. It is the care and attention to detail that raises the quality of the piece, for example the darker colours on the background are carefully worked and in synchrony with the letters where he could have just presented the whole thing on a dark plain background. Lovely piece.

2570. M32 Cycle path 37

Ahh! Lobe with another exceptional, bold, stylised, portrait, this time of an unshaven man with spectacles and woolly hat. I have only seen a few of her pieces, but every single one of them has brought a smile and I get a real sense of excitement each time l find a new one.

Lobe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019
Lobe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2019

It is funny how different graffiti spots in Bristol can undergo peaks and troughs in terms of turnover. The cycle path has been quite dead for a while and then suddenly over the last couple of weeks it has kind of got busy again, this being one of several recent pieces. It just shows that constantly patrolling each of these favoured graffiti spots is utterly worth it.

 

 

2569. New Stadium Road (21)

Another fine collaboration, this time from Conrico and Crafty Cicada, with a strong oriental theme going on. While I have posted many pieces by Conrico, this is the first from Crafty Cicada who I can only presume was on a visit to Bristol and kindly left us this beautiful work.

Conrico, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019
Conrico, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019

The left hand side of the collaboration is unmistakably by Conrico and as always is more than just a piece of artwork because his work always has such a strong narrative, a story going on. In this piece a cartoon character is serenely sitting cross-legged, as if meditating on the back of a very large catfish – so what’s the story?

Crafty Cicada, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019
Crafty Cicada, New Stadium Road, Bristol, November 2019

The other half of this collaboration by Crafty Cicada is an altogether more stylised with a fish (of unknown genus and species), a rising sun, some bamboo and some Japanese Kanji characters. There is a peace and tranquility here, and on seeing this, I would be very interested to see more from the artist.

A lovely and unexpected collaboration on a wall favoured by Conrico.

2568. M32 roundabout J3 (178)

It took me three visits to this wall to be able to get some decent photographs of the fine collaboration from Laic217, Ugar and Cory. The solution to my photography problems was to visit the spot on an overcast day. On Autumn sunny days, there is a high risk of shadows from the trees and shrubs being cast across the wall.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

Laic217 has once again excelled with this fabulous skeleton with a boogie box over his shoulder, a common motif for his pieces. He has once again shown his mastery of painting materials and fabrics with the skeleton’s jacket. Lovely work.

Ugar, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Ugar, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019beautifully filled piece of graffiti writing.

Ugar, who pretty much always paints his name, even though I have seen a couple of character pieces some time ago, has given us characteristically brilliantly filled letters, something that he excels at.

Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Cort, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

The third piece in this collaboration is by Cort and rather like Ugar’s piece is creatively and imaginatively filled and decorated. His letters though are a bit of a moveable feast and in this instance he has spelled out CORTOS.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

From my perspective the Laic217 piece wins the day, it is simply so good and the artist just gets stronger and stronger.

2567. Dean Lane skate park (263)

When I saw this little collaboration from Tasha Bee and Stupid Stupid Meathole, my first thought was that it looked a bit old and weathered, and I wondered if I might have overlooked it on previous visits to Dean Lane… in other words I have absolutely no idea when it was painted.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

The collaboration is bookended with two beautiful faces from Tasha Bee and filled with what looks like the word ‘meat’. These two have collaborated before in the past, but not for some time. In fact I don’t recall seeing much from Stupid Stupid Meathole for quite a long while.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

I’ll always have time for Tasha Bees stylised faces and am equally fond of SSM’s rather grotesque figures. This piece of writing though is quite uncharacteristic because there is lots of colour, not just the single pink SSM usually uses. A nice low-key collaboration.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019
Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2019

2566. M32 roundabout J3 (177)

Ah, this is Mr Draws at his happy creative best. His wonderfully recognisable lettering filled with bright and imaginative colours and spme rather nice spotty patterning. Along the bottom of the writing we have some melty drips. All very neat and tidy.

Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2019

This is unquestionably a feel good piece and with the blue skies behind it reminds us that not every day is dreary and wet, even if it feels like it sometimes. The shadow effect to the bottom and left of the letters is particularly notable. Do you know what, I think Mr Draws is moving up a gear.

2565. M32 Spot (52)

This should be fairly quick and simple. Here we have a rather fun column piece by an artist called Zinso. Although I have a few pictures of his work from recent walks, he is a new artist to me and I have not been aware of him before the last couple of months or so.

Zinso, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019
Zinso, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019

Zinso seems to have a clear idea of his artwork and executes it cleanly to a rehearsed design (I am guessing), almost like a very fancy tag. Practising the same broad design builds up skills and technique. Zinso already seems well on the way to creating an identity. Look out for more from this artist.

2564. Cheltenham 2019 (19)

You just know when you are looking at a really special piece, and this chihuahua howling in the moon by Irony is an absolute blinder from this year’s Cheltenham Paint Festival.

Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Thankfully I decided to visit the festival on the Friday and the Sunday and so managed to catch Irony while he was putting the finishing touches to the piece. At least this time I knew who he was, having seen him paint his extraordinary ‘self-portrait’ piece in Bristol earlier this year.

Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

When I first saw the mural I thaought it was a wolf, but it just didn’t look right, and I know that Irony is far too good an artist to have muffed it. I knew it was a dog, but I didn’t know what kind until I saw Irony’s Instagram feed.

Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Before enjoting the rest of the pictures of this masterpiece I feel I should explain why the pictures feel so squeezed and the angles are all wrong. Of course, the row end wall faces onto a narrow back lane and so it is virtually impossible to get a long shot of the piece. The best view would be from a garden opposite (on a ladder or something like that).

Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

The moon is superb and almost feels like it is emmitting light. Without doubt a major triumph of the Cheltenham Paint Festival 2019.

Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019