Tag: Street art

578. North Street Green (5)

Gemma Compton’s work is rather special, usually incorporating wildlife and in particular insects and birds. In this beautiful example she has created a series of hawk moths (death’s head?) laid out in a pattern, with her customary blue and white background.

Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016

The piece almost feels like a study or looks like something from a scientific collection. The moths are inanimate and objects to be admired, rather than thriving living insects. Another facet of her work is her great drips in this case as a sort of back wash.

Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016

The piece I posted at Wapping Wharf recently also has one of these moths and copious drips. I think both were created at around the same time. What is not to like about her magnificent work?

577. M32 Roundabout J3 (30)

This piece is the second I have posted from a Halloween session down at the M32 junction3 roundabout by the ASK crew. The first was an unusual piece from Epok and this one is by SledOne.

SledOne, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016
SledOne, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, December 2016

SledOne has incorporated a pumpkin into his wildstyle name and absolutely nails this piece, as he has a tendency to do. The colour palette matches the other participants in this session, which would appear to have been a lot of fun. My apologies it has taken so long to report.

576. St Werburghs Tunnel (5)

It has been a very long time since I last saw a wheatpaste by Kid Crayon, but thank goodness he has continued his work, albeit concentrating on his wall spraying. This is a reasonably recent piece from St Werberghs Tunnel, in collaboration with a writer I don’t know and can’t decipher.

Kid Crayon, St Werberghs Tunnel, Bristol, December 2016
Kid Crayon, St Werburghs Tunnel, Bristol, December 2016

Kid Crayon is developing and refining his work all the time, but he keeps the bold colours and curious postures/gestures in his characters. The crayon is still there hovering near the character’s mouth, cigarette-like.

Kid Crayon, St Werberghs Tunnel, Bristol, December 2016
Kid Crayon, St Werburghs Tunnel, Bristol, December 2016

Kid Crayon was one of the first street artists in Bristol I became interested in, and I love seeing new works and how he is growing in confidence.

575. St Andrews Road (1)

Recently I posted the iconic Bristol work by Rowdy and Sweet Toof on the top levels of the Carriageworks in Stokes Croft. Sweet Toof, although his early history is not clear, either came from, or spent some time in Bristol. There is quite a lot of work dotted around the city, all of it bearing the hallmark pink gums and teeth.

Sweet Toof, St Andrews Road, Bristol, January 2017
Sweet Toof, St Andrews Road, Bristol, January 2017

This piece is a small one on a garage door tucked away in Montpelier. His work is so unique, and slightly weird if I am honest. I thoroughly recommend a look at his Instagram account to see how versatile he is in the way he applies his themed approach. I will hunt down some more of his work. All good fun stuff.

574. The Bearpit (33)

Very close to the Mr Klue/Decay collaboration, John D’oh has been busy with his 2016 stencil. A great many of John D’oh’s pieces are edgy or political, but this one I think captures the feelings of a majority of Bristolians, that for many reasons 2016 was not a good year, and the Grim Reaper is welcome to it.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

I love John D’oh’s stencils as they are usually contemporary with uncomplicated messages and often replicated in several sites. Both of these were in the same area of the Bearpit, and there was at least another one too.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

I very much hope that 2017 brings more hope and joy to the city, but I suspect it won’t. I sense a rebellious undercurrent will oppose injustice in all it forms and be expressed in a typically Bristolian way. Graffiti art will play its part, and John D’oh will most likely be at the heart of it.

573. The Bearpit (32)

At the end of the south tunnel of The Bearpit is this fabulous festive collaboration between Mr Klue on the left and Decay on the right. This is a colourful coming together of two of Bristol’s best abstract graffiti artists, whose styles are markedly different  but which somehow works really well.

Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The colour schemes aren’t matching, and the angular shapes of Mr Klue  seem to be at odds with the curvy concentric rings typical of Decay, but as a whole it works, probably because the very fact that it is a collaboration offers a relationship between the pieces and even more so the artists.

Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

An outpouring of Christmas cheer from two of my favourites. Perfect.

572. North Street Green (4)

This is a special wall just off North Street, opposite the Upfest shop. The wall is a bit like the PRSC outdoor gallery, in that it is a place where street artists can show off their great works in the near certainty that it will not get tagged. The wall is respected.

Jody, North Street Green, Bristol, January 2017
Jody, North Street Green, Bristol, January 2017
Jody created this free hand piece of the Virgin Mary just before Christmas and had to battle with the elements whilst doing it, according to his Instagram feed. I think it was well worth the effort

The colours used are reminiscent of those he used to paint the hands and moth, further along North Street last year. There is something about this colour combination that is difficult to photograph, there is quite a lot of reflection, which you don’t get with the naked eye. The point being that the photographs don’t do it justice. It is a beautiful and spiritual piece, like much of his work. All good. 

 

571. Moon Street (18)

It would appear the Mr Klue has been really busy this winter. I have started to find a whole load of wonderful pieces by him recently, and this one is a real peach. His abstract style is unmistakable, and this one works well with vanishing points and perspective.

Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
This is one of my favourite walls in Bristol, something about the proportions and the isolation. I am hoping to get together with Mr Klue some time soon and get more insight into his work and that of other local artists. Meanwhile I will simply enjoy this piece. Lots to look at, and rather mesmerising.

Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017

570. Moon Street (18)

What an unexpected pleasure, not only to find a P0G0 piece in Bristol, not only to find a paste up by P0G0 in Bristol but to find TWO paste ups by P0G0 on the same day in different parts of town. I am indeed a lucky seeker.

P0G0, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
The paste up is the same one in each location and both are in street art ‘hotspots’. You will remember the amazing piece by P0G0 from Upfest, which really was one of the highlights of the festival. THe first one I found was in Moon Street.

P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
The second one is in amongst the hoardings on North Street in Bedminster, surrounded by stencil work from John D’oh amongst others. I read on P0G0’s Instagram feed that he had been in town to visit Upfest…I am guessing it migh have had something to do with the launch of the Upfest book. I love it that these artists see every visit, every wall as an opportunity.

P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

A red letter day.

569. Upfest 2016 (80)

I guess I am about half way through my posts from Upfest 2016, and I don’t think I will have finished posting them until Upfest 2017! I am becoming overwhelmed by the number of pictures I have in my archive and am not sure how best to share them with you. Less of the rambling writing might be a blessing for you and more shorter posts each day…but that could risk graffiti fatigue, and I wouldn’t want you to be bored with increased posts. I have to say though that this is quite a pleasant conundrum, which would be all the better if I didn’t have to work!

Voyder, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Voyder, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
This is a great piece by the magnificent Voyder, who was given two prominent walls for Upfest 2017, Writing his name on this one, and writing ‘Bristol’ on the other. Both were sprayed in the same style. Voyder is certainly one of the most brilliant artists in Bristol, if not the country. His work never ever disappoints, and he is constantly exploring different genres and designs to write his name. So much good stuff coming from him.