OK, so I know I have already posted this cheeky little rat before, but that was in North Street and this one is in my favourite Leonard Lane. I really am a bit dense sometimes…it has taken me until now to get the joke. The reference in the piece to Banksy relates to his signature rat that he used in many of his early works, and there is me thinking this was a squirrel. Thick, that’s me.
Chinagirl Tile, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2017
Chinagirl Tile really seems to get around Bristol when she comes for Upfest, which in my view is a pretty good thing. This rat is down the dingiest lane, the perfect spot for it, and will not have been seen or noticed by too many people. Still more to come from this brilliant ceramic specialist.
I don’t know how many days these pieces had been up before I noticed them, but they are another gift to the city of Bristol from a visiting artist who was here for Upfest. Dabuten Tronko is from Tarragona in Spain, which I found out from his ‘couchsurfing’ profile. The Interweb is an incredible thing!
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
These pieces can be found either side of the main road on the vertical walls of the 5102 building overlooking The Bearpit. They are something of a before and after reflection and need to be seen in conjunction to hold any real meaning.
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
The boats on the left hand side of the road (heading North) are intact and jolly, while in stark contrast, those opposite are smashed up or deconstructed. I’m not sure what it all means, but I like the concept going on here.
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
The colour scheme is quite subtle and sort of blends in with the background blue. The boats somehow feel like they have always been there or were always meant to be there. I’ll bet I’m not the first person to have missed them first time round.
This is the second piece that Xenz has sprayed in Dean Lane since Upfest (that I know of), and it is great to see his work here in Bristol. For a time he lived in Bristol and was active alongside Banksy and Inkie. According to his website, he now lives and works in London, so it is extra nice to see his work in Dean Lane…maybe he has moved back.
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
These beautiful birds perching on telegraph lines are something of a trademark in many of his works, wildstyle writing or murals. They are full of charm and character, even though they are put together quite simply.
On one of the duller walls in Stapleton Road at the M32 skate spot, a whole bunch of new pieces have appeared, of which this is one, which have really brightened up the place. This ‘love bomb’ is by SPZero76 and features the dog, so often included in his works.
SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
SPZero76’s works are always clean and tidy, often with quite a lot going on and plenty of detail to look at. He often includes his ‘stamps’ too, such as the little spray splat with ‘I love Bristol’ or the little SP with a heart. There is never any doubt about who his works are by.
SPZero76, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2017
In my limited conversations with SPZero76, I think the one overwhelming thing I take away is his extreme enthusiasm and love for what he does – it comes across in all of his work. I was pleased to find this, because I hadn’t really twigged it was there and it is always nice to make discoveries.
I am always chuffed when I see pieces by Bristol artists at Upfest. The street/graffiti art scene here is so strong and it is great for the city to showcase its own artists to visitors from Bristol itself and from further afield.
Sled One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sled One, I have said countless times on Natural Adventures, is one of my favourite street artists and was very busy at Upfest, producing two pieces in South Street Park. I caught up with him for a while and asked him how it was that he doesn’t do so much street work these days. It turns out, and I think I knew this anyway, that he is now working with the Paintsmiths and doing a lot of commissioned work. This he says adds pressure on his free time. He also said it was a different way of doing things and that working to a brief can be quite stressful.
This wonderful piece is creative and utterly bonkers. I do like reptiles in street art, somehow they work so very well. The expression on the chameleon’s face is well observed, and the eye is excellent. Hope to see more of his stuff before too long. Perhaps those nice people at The Paintsmiths could give him some time off.
One of the most distinctive collaborations of Upfest 2017 was this piece by Tymon Ferenc de Laat (who really needs a shorter tag) and Nuno Viegas. The piece was sprayed in the garden of The Spotted Cow pub and has subsequently been sold.
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
It has a high-quality finish to it and works really well as a collaboration with the particular style of each artist – the portrait by Tymon and the paper dart by Nuno – retained in the piece.
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I particularly like the amazing attention to detail in the paper dart, with the shadows cast, and the bright line along the leading edge of the wing as if it were catching the light. Very clever and skilful work.
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I’m not sure how often these artists collaborate, but for Upfest it worked a real treat.
Half way along North Street you will find Exmoor Street, with a lovely white wall, perfect for a bit of spraying. Wen2, from Brest in France, was one of two artists fortunate enough to be allocated this space.
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This piece is beautifully thought out and generates an understanding of buildings and place. It is almost like one of those children’s books that deconstructs structures and shows you what goes on behind the scenes.
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I particularly like a couple of things about Wen2 at work herte. He has been most conscientious about the street sign, coveuring it up with paper and masking tape. He has also ‘borrowed’ a chair from somewhere to use as a small step ladder. Resourceful.
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2 used a plan to create his piece which gives you a feel for what he was creating. It is interesting that he vchanged some of the colours around. What I really like, and is something he has done with other pieces (check out his Facebook page) is his signature in the style of a throw up on the garage doors. Brilliant!
This work simply made me laugh. It is by the artist Pelmo, whose piece from Upfest 2016 passed me by, which is highly regrettable. I’m not entirely convinced that this was painted on the first two days of the festival, either that or I am losing my touch and missed it.
Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I love the understated tones used for the piece and the story is there for all to see. It is a witty piece, which would appear to draw some influence from the Gary Larson cartoon style.
Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
About himself, the artist says this in the programme profile:
‘I love painting a good character, a dramatic expression or a body beaten into shape by a little too much life. I generate my ideas by sketching in pubs and paint mostly for fun with the occasional commission.’
Well this one was a little off the beaten track, only by a hundred meters or so, but enough for many visitors to Upfest to have missed it. In fact, I missed it until a friend told me about it, and I went to investigate for myself.
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, who had a premium wall at Upfest 2016, came back this year to create this architectural masterpiece, turning a fairly ordinary flat into something out of the ordinary…exceptional even.
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smyth Lane has rarely been such a desirable location, demonstrating what a bit of unbelieveably cool spraying can do for a place. The clever straight line 3D effect created on the front of the building is perfectly offset by the more organic shapes that are on the walls of the tunnel. A watery theme disrupts the hard edges and ripples appear to disperse across the piece. While on the other side, water droplets bound by surface tension, sit on designed planes that have an Escher feel to them. And the greens…just beautiful.
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June is a highly accomplished artist and this piece really has to go straight into the top ten for this year’s festival…and to think I nearly missed it. I wonder if other local residents will be offering up their properties for a makeover next year.
On the day of ‘Boogie Down Bristol’, a mini festival organised by Inkie in the Full Moon pub, a great many graffiti artists converged on this area of Stokes Croft, and RAW (Read and Weep crew) were represented by Ryder and T-Rex who created this magnificent collaboration right next door to the pub.
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
It was something of a miracle that they managed to get anything done, such was the pedestrian traffic stopping to admire the work and have a chat (including me).
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
I can honestly say that I think this is my favourite Ryder piece, it is in my view brilliant. The letters spell out Read and Weep and each one is individually crafted and filled with vibrant colours and patterns. Something of a masterclass for wannabe writers.
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
Ryder has a signature element to his style, and that is to put eyes and other features into the holes of the letters, so in this instance the first ‘E’ has eyes and teeth.
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
I also had the fortune to meet T-Rex for the first time, and having overcome the embarrassement of assuming that she was a male artist, we chatted for a while. Her work on this piece is magnificent also, with dinosaurs ‘bookending’ the writing with balance and skill.
Ryder and T-Rex, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2017
The plants decorating the whole collaboration are also by T-Rex.
Coming across this piece and finding Ryder and T-Rex while they were spraying was hugely fortunate. I had actually come down to the area to visit the It’s All 2 Much gallery which was hosting a Tom Miller exhibition. I suppose in life as well as in taking in the streets, you won’t see anything if you don’t look – a recurring theme on ‘Natural Adventures’.
Natural adventures 