Tag: Street art

708. Moon Street (27)

I saw this beautiful piece appear in July 2016, at around about the same time as Upfest. Subsequently, I had seen some similar pieces in Shoreditch, during my six month stint commuting to London a couple of days a week. I was never quite sure who the artist was though, so have held on to this until I found out.

Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

As is usually the case, Instagram came to the rescue and I was able to track down the artist, whose nom de plume is Coloquix. You can see more of his amazing work on this Global Street Art page. I believe that Coloquix is from Sheffield, but I think he creates his work in various places in the country.

Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

I am really drawn to his work, it seems to have a simple sophistication (if that is not a contradiction in terms) and beauty, and I love the way he chooses to overlay his work on existing pieces. It is nice, at last, to write this post.

707. Moon Street (26)

Sky High is no stranger to the streets of Bristol and I have posted pieces by him in Magdalene Place and in Dean Lane previously. I think he is based in London, but it is always nice when he visits. This piece appeared at the same time as Upfest 2016, and although I am not aware that he was a guest artist at the event, he might well have come for the buzz, and left a little present for us.

SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016

Sky High has a wonderful take on wildstyle writing, which is to spell out Sky High with block lettering, each letter in a different style and colour. The overall effect is really colourful and imaginative. Definitely one for those with a designer’s eye. It would be good to see a return this year.

SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016

705. Upfest 2016 (109)

The international presence comes across very strongly at Upfest. This lovely piece by Scandinavian artist Salla Ikonen really shows how different styles, colours, subjects and influences come in to play to give a distinctiveness to work that has its origins outside the UK. Even within the UK, different parts of the country appear to have localised flavours.

Salla Ikonen, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Salla Ikonen, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I love the softness of this piece, and the calm colours, both the pink of the subject and the purples and greens in the background. There is something very appealing about this work, and it is so different to most of the street art we see in Bristol.

704. Upfest 2016 (108)

Another wonderful paste up from Losthills of Jake the dog. In this one we see Jake sporting an interesting/spooky charm necklace.

Losthills, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Losthills, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

There is something pleasing about the way Losthills sprays his pieces before he pastes them up, the dots of white paint in this instance add to the overall texture of the piece. I am rather fond of Jake the dog.

703. Upfest 2016 (107)

We were treated to some wonderfully colourful pieces at Upfest last year, but right up there with the best of them was this lovely piece by KOB, aka Kobtropikal. Kob, originally from Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, started painting in 1999.

Kobtropical, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Kobtropical, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

KOB has a rather organic approach to his work and favours painting surreal imaginary animals or plants or combinations of the two. He has a Facebook page, and interestingly has selected this piece as his avatar, so he must have been pleased with it. This piece has stuck in my mind, when many others have drifted in and out. It must have some strong elements that make it so memorable. A fine piece.

702. Upfest 2016 (106)

I love the high-end quality of the work produced by Zase and Dekor. Always highly designed and thought out, their pieces always contain a story picture and a wildstyle ‘Zase’. This magnificent wall sprayed for Upfest is no exception.

Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

It reminds me a little of a piece they did at Deaners a short while before Upfest, which might have been a fun practise run.

Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Dekor was rather quiet and focussed at Upfest, but Zase was happy to have a good chat while he was working. I asked whether he would be happy to do an interview for my blog, which he agreed to do, but of course I haven’t got round to it yet. Watch this space.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

There is something very clean about their work, and the stories contained in them really play a large part. Zase produces these amazing 3D wildstyle writing which are a little like puzzles to unravel, but once you get your eye in are really pleasing.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

They workm on a lot of commissions, which is why it is so good to see them at Upfest, and at Deaners during July.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

701. St Werburghs tunnel (11)

Well here is another weekly dose of Laic217. This piece is from a short while back and can be found at the city farm end of the St Werburghs tunnel, although turnover there is so rapid that it might have gone by now.

Laic217, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, March 2017
Laic217, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, March 2017

This piece bears some resemblance to his larger work in the Dean Lane skate park, and has something of the grotesque about it. Drug culture seems to play a large part in Laic217’s pieces and it looks like this pink individual is smoking weed. Not the most beautiful piece you will see, but all part of the broad and imaginative portfolio of this artist.

Laic217, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, March 2017
Laic217, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, March 2017

700. North Street, loft conversions

Sometimes collaborations really work well, and this beauty between Decay and John D’oh is quite a beauty. Half way along North Street, I first saw it during Upfest (it was a weekend and the shutters were down) although I don’t think it was sprayed for the festival.

Decay and John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Decay and John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016

It is a striking shutter piece and John D’oh’s stencil is rather special. I am not sure who it is of, but it works so well with the colours favoured by Decay. For me this is a special Bristol piece to be treasured.

699. Raleigh Road, vector (7)

Here is a great piece of precision wildstyle from local Bedminster graffiti artist, Dibz. All of his works have this characteristic jagged look, and ere always lovely and clean.

Dibz, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017
Dibz, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2017

I don’t see his work on the streets too often, but he has a fine black book from which photographs are frequently posted on his Instagram feed. Always nice to see one of his sharp pieces up close though.

698. Dean Lane skate park (36)

I know that there are a great many Bristol street/graffiti artists that are not yet on my radar, which seems mad after two years of writing about them. The main reason is that some don’t sign their work and or have no social media footprint and are really hard to track down, so I see their work, but don’t know who they are.

Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2017
Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2017

This is a great 3D piece by Lokey, an artist I had heard of, but whose work I had not knowingly seen. I now find I have photographed some of his work before. There is something pleasing about this piece, it is very easy on the eye, and the fillers around the lettering add a nice touch. I will be on the look out for more.