I have driven past this piece by Deamze many, many times, but never been able to stop and photograph it. At last I managed to do just that, but in the meantime I think the piece has faded a little. It has been exposed to the elements and has suffered from being on the kerbside of a busy street.
Deamze, The Black Swan, Bristol, February 2018
The piece is outside the Black Swan in Stapleton Road and is a bit of a landmark. Here we find then trademark character and writing work so typical of the endless skill of this artist. I’m not too sure who the character is, but something from the depths of my memory is saying ‘wally gator’. Of course the mind is a fickle beast and I may have this completely wrong. A nice piece.
I include this piece because it demonstrates that there is ‘graffiti creep’ happening in Bristol and where graffiti goes, so the art tends to follow. This wall is on a stairway up to Brandon Hill park and until relatively recently there was no graffiti here, but as the number of graffiti/street artists grow, and the number of walls/hoardings are lost, so the search for new walls begins. A natural succession, often brought about by gentrification.
NEVERGIVEUP, Jacob’s Wells Road, Bristol, February 2018
The bunny is easily recognisable as the handy work of NEVERGIVEUP, who seems to be a bit of a pioneer when it comes to finding new spots to spray. He is unafraid and adventurous which is amazing as he has only been in Bristol a little over a year. The Rabbit is nicely executed, as you would expect, but it is the location that makes this piece stand out.
Every once in a while a town or city will see a new piece of street art appear that becomes an iconic landmark and a part of its beating heart. Examples in Bristol are the black and yellow portrait of a girl in Stokes Croft by Stinkfish and the hanging man by Banksy just off Park Street. Well this new significant work by Jody is, I believe, going to be another one to add to the list.
Jody, Charlotte Street, Bristol, February 2018
I spotted Jody at work on this piece a couple of weeks ago, when he was on a cherry picker painting some flowers. At that point I wasn’t sure it was Jody, but his style and the method he uses to paint gave it away a bit.
Jody, Charlotte Street, Bristol, February 2018
The piece is a commission for a newly opened cocktail bar/restaurant on Park Street, called The Florist. The establishment is part of a chain called The Botanist, but as luck would have it, there is an independent bar of the same name in Berkeley Square a few meters further up the hill – so The Florist it is. Some of the interior pieces, I understand, are also by Jody and by fellow Bristol artist Gemma Compton. I will have to check it out.
Jody, Charlotte Street, Bristol, February 2018
I think this is a sensational piece and a real statement for Bristol. The wall can be seen when walking down Park Street and has a real ‘wow factor’ to it. Furthermore, it will probably stay in good condition as the wall rarely catches the full sun, making it difficult to photograph, but protecting it from bleaching. This is a feather in Bristol’s and Jody’s caps.
It is always, always good to find pieces by Skor85. She is probably one of the unsung heroes of the Bristol street art scene, occasionally turning out these extraordinary fantasy dreamlike pieces in all of the spots I like to visit.
Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
In this piece Skor85 has painted a futuristic/medieval character sitting on the ground clutching a gem in one hand and a weapon in the other. The words ‘Think truth’ give the piece an overall message…maybe it relates to gun law in America, I’m not sure.
Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Her command of the colours and tones in this piece is obvious, and I love the way she gives the effect of a pastel drawing rather than a spray can work. I admire her work a lot.
I recently saw this fabulous piece by Decay in The Bearpit only a few days after I stumbled across an identical one in Shoreditch a few days earlier. I think that this is all part of a new approach to his work in 2018, and one which will be interesting to observe.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
I am accustomed to seeing his abstract concentric rings in shades of red, grey, white and black with a small face at the centre, which I love, but I await with eagerness the direction his liberation will take.
Since Kleiner Shames moved to London I have really missed his extraordinary pieces. It would appear that he recently visited his hometown, and this is the second of his new pieces that I have found. I particularly like this one.
Kleiner Shames, Cherry Lane, Bristol, February 2018
The writing as always spellls out FOIS, but it is the cowboy hat and eyes, giving character to the S that really grabs me. I have two of his pictures hangng in my home, which perhaps indicates how much I like his work.
Situated at the end of one of The Bearpit tunnels is a nice wall, which recently has been a bit of a mess. Because of this, it is easy to miss this small piece in one corner of the wall. It is a rather nice stencil of a panda carrying a boogie box (does that date me?) on his shoulder by Bristol-based artist J. West.
J. West, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
I have not seen an awful lot of his work on the streets, but what little I have seen I like. I have said it many times before, but it is so worth keeping your eyes open and seeing what is around you…you never know you might just come across a boogie box panda.
A wonderful new collaboration between Ryder and T-Rex which was part of an informal paint jam organised by Smak. Unfortunately many of the pieces sprayed on the Saturday were sprayed over by the Sunday. I think this one remains.
Ryder and TRex, M32, Bristol, February 2018
This is quite a common format for this pair, with Ryder spelling out his name in the centre, and dinosaurs book-ending the writing. The orange and blue combination work nicely, especially on such a dull day. Ryder often inserts eyes and teeth into his letters to give them a bit more character.
Ryder and TRex, M32, Bristol, February 2018
T-Rex’s T-rexs are always fun to see, and can be found all over the city. The one on the left has been painted running down the hill towards the letters, making really good use of the site.
Ryder and TRex, M32, Bristol, February 2018
Finally the dinosaur on the right is emerging from the bushes making a stealthy attack. Altogether this is a nicely executed and fun collaboration.
Laic217 is, as regular readers will know, one of my absolute favourite Bristol artists, and his work has been going from strength to strength over the last few years. One of the things that has really improved is how he creates textures on the clothes of his characters.
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
In this piece the skeleton looks like he is wearing a fleece hoodie, with gentle folds and creases. The colour is outstanding, and lifts the whole thing…it’s in your face.
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
Skeletons clutching spray cans is a speciality of Laic217 and although he does a lot of them, they are all quite different and it is difficult to tire of them. I think it is the combinations of colours that sets this piece apart from others.
Laic217, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
I first saw this piece piece in Instagram but couldn’t work out where it was. The cycle track that runs alongside the M32 has been closed off while construction work is going on, and this particular spot has become a bit of a cul-de-sac, which I only occasionally visit. I had to ask another photographer where it was…something I don’t like doing too much…it is a pride thing.
I said in a recent post that Biers has been busy recently, and this is a second piece of his from Dean Lane in a very short space of time, and he has done at least one more somewhere else since
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
I am not sure who the character in this piece is, ought I to know? Biers has gone for a large one here, taking up much of the long wall at Dean Lane, of course it is gone now, but I was pleased to be able to catch it. In my view this is one of the best pieces I have seen from Biers, the colours and contrasts are good and he has lovely clean lines around the piece.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
I think one of the things I really like about his work is the style of his lettering, there is something unique about it, the B and the S being particularly special. I can’t really pretend to know too much about such things, but I know that I like this work. Now who is that gorilla-like character.
Doing a little bit of a Google search has led me to the character probably being from the Nintendo Wii game ‘Punch-out’. Not one I ever played. Glad I sorted that out because it was beginning to bug me. No Frills.
Natural adventures 