Tag: Street art

1981. Raleigh Road, vector (27)

How can it be that my archive is stuffed full of great art? This is a case in point, a fabulous piece of graffiti writing from Soker from back in June 2017 that I didn’t post at the time. I really ought to pull my finger out, but short of posting four or five pieces a day (which I don’t have time for), I’m not sure how to do it.

Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2017
Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2017

Should I be more selective in what I post first time round? I don’t think I can really do that, because this blog is about honesty and seeing the world warts ‘n’ all. There are other people who publish sanitised street art for the ‘coffee table consumer’, I like to think that Natural Adventures is a little more inclusive and raw (as well as documenting contemporary Bristol artists). This piece has a retro feel to it and would not look out-of-place on the New York subway. Always great work from Soker.

1980. Dean Lane skate park (186)

Another overlooked piece from my archives, this time from Elvs in Dean Lane. It is very possible that this remained on file for so long because at the time of seeing it, I didn’t know the artist and so left the picture in a folder. Because the turnover of pieces in Bristol is so high, many that I photograph never see the light of day, but on my occasional trawls through the archives I like to dig some oldies out.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016

Elvs’ skills are obvious for all to see, and the crisp lines on his distinctive writing style are a pleasure to observe, and in this one, the shading within the letters is masterful. A great piece on the bit of wall that is very difficult to photograph…as you can see.

1979. M32 roundabout J3 (122)

More archive stuff, this one from Deamze in 2016. You can be certain that it isn’t recent, because Deamze is currently in Hobart, Tasmania turning out some utterly awesome work. I am not sure if he has moved out there for good or if this is a temporary arrangement, but either way our loss is their gain.

Deamze, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2016
Deamze, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2016

I have seen this particular design and colour scheme a couple of times before from Deamze, but that doesn’t detract from it in any way. In fact it might be that the other works were from roughly the same time, which would make sense.I wonder if ‘Quick’ refers to this being a quick one.

1978. Stokes Croft, The Carriageworks (39)

You can tell this one is from the archives, not just from the date on the caption, but because it is on the wall of the Carriageworks, which for the last several months has been behind fences and screens while the building is being demolished and reconstructed for ‘affordable’ housing.

Nevla, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018
Nevla, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018

It is a quick one by Nevla, I think the last of his that I have from a while ago. It is a nice simple cartoon character, and from the look of it he was running low on paint. Nevla’s work always has a light-hearted  touch, which is refreshing really against a landscape of bile and hatred that exists in the UK at the moment.

1976. Upfest shop yard

I guess this piece by Pelmo is something of an exclusive, as it was painted on the practice wall at the back of the Upfest shop, and is therefore not on public display.

I took the picture a week or two after I had sprayed my own very first effort on this exact wall, and went back to the shop to see if it was still there. Sadly (but not unsurprisingly) my amateurish effort had been buffed over, but I was honoured that it should have been replaced by such a fine artist as Pelmo.

Pelmo, Upfest shop yard, Bristol, July 2018
Pelmo, Upfest shop yard, Bristol, July 2018

I don’t really know what the protocols are around publishing pictures from this wall, but on this occasion I think I’ll take the risk, mainly because I am a big fan of this artist’s work. His work often contains these, oversize and overweight people with a love and sensitivity that can be difficult to gauge without offending. Pelmo does this brilliantly. A wonderful forgotten piece.

Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018
Scooj, Upfest shop, 8 July 2018

1975. Devon Road (9)

Following my post of a fabulous Xenz piece in Shoreditch a few days ago, I was reminded about this old one on a garage door in Devon Road, Bristol. I had to trawl through my archives and was thrilled to find it… a task that might sound simpler than it is.

Xenz, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018
Xenz, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018

This is a simple piece, perfect for the garage, lifting it out of the bland and ordinary to become a thing of beauty as well as practicality. If only more of the carbuncles and eyesores of our city could be similarly transformed. There is a strong sense of calm in this painting and a connection with nature that I find uplifting. The bee eaters are beautiful too.

1974. M32 roundabout J3 (121)

You’ll know how much I try to avoid writing posts about artists I know nothing about, but sometimes the piece is just too good not to share. This is one such example. Some really classy writing, as part of a paint jam, which included all sorts of artists I am not familiar with. This piece I am guessing is by Debris.

Debris, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Debris, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

Of course it is possible the piece is by another artist who just happens to be writing the word ‘DEBRIS’ but it is unusual for graffiti writers to stray from their preferred letters/name. There is an energy about this one that I really admire, and I love the fiery stripe running through all the letters. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for more from this artist.

1973. M32 roundabout J3 (120)

Readers will be in no doubt that Face 1st is one of my favourite and most featured artists in Natural Adventures. This beautiful work at the M32 roundabout features his trademark faces and some incredibly sweet elephants…without ears.

Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019
Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019

It would appear that Face 1st is not to everyone’s taste and just to the right of the piece is a throw up saying ‘Face Junk’. Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t deface (literally) his work, and the quality of the ‘protest’ simply isn’t up to much, emphasising how much better the Face 1st piece actually is. You certainly have to develop a thick skin to be in this game, but I guess you wouldn’t do it if you were too sensitive. Another work from this gentleman that I can cherish.

1972. M32 roundabout J3 (119)

There are not enough great words to describe the work of Sled One. One after another he turns out the most incredible pieces that explode with colour and imagination. I have noticed that often his compositions are amalgamations of bits of ideas that all come together to create a magnificent whole.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

This piece is quite extraordinary, pulling together bird parts to form a bird skull/head stuffed with leaves and plants. Another bird wing and beak juts out of the back of the head – I am not sure what is happening there.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

The whole piece, although adorned with a cartoon smile and glint in the eyes, also for me has a darker side, but I can’t put my finger on why that might be. Even his signature is classy, a pink neon moniker a la Voyder. So Good.