Tag: Swiss cheese plant

6158. Cumberland Basin

Abbie Laura Smith, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Abbie Laura Smith, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

There are two important elements to a great wheatpaste, which are; the quality of the artwork and the location. Abbie Laura Smith has nailed it on both counts with the Swiss cheese plant cut out portrait pasted onto one of the old bollards alongside the river – an immediate impact piece for those with their eyes open.

Abbie Laura Smith, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Abbie Laura Smith, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

The black and white portrait drawing, makes great use of two-tone light and dark and is superimposed onto the leaf, before being cut out. It was so much to find this piece and some of the others she has pasted up in the area, and I hope that it encourages her and others to do more of this kind of stuff.

6099. Brunel Way (273)

Abbie Laura Smith, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2024
Abbie Laura Smith, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2024

In recent weeks, Abbie Laura Smith and I exchanged a few messages, discussing some posts about her paste ups that I had written. During the course of the conversation, I asked whether she would be pasting up any more, as I hadn’t seen any new ones for a while. She said yes… imminently, and true to her word she released a bunch more. This is the first in her recent series that I came across.

Abbie Laura Smith, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2024
Abbie Laura Smith, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2024

The art of wheatpaste work is a two part process, the first part is the creation itself, usually carried out at home or in a studio, and the second part is to find the right spot to paste it up. Abbie Laura Smith manages to do both very well. This piece features a couple of portraits constructed in part by script writing, perhaps quotes or thoughts, I haven’t yet tried to untangle the words. The portraits are set on a leaf, which looks like a Swiss cheese plant leaf to me, a common motif used by artists. There is a lot of emotion in this piece, and maybe one day I’ll get to know the backstory.

 

 

3943. Upfest 2021 75×75 (62)

In Dean Street, which has always been ripe as a street art spot, is this new piece by Zase for Upfest’s 75×75 event, sits opposite the fine Ments piece I posted a few days ago. Zase is an artist whose large murals, especially around the St Paul’s area, are local landmarks and part of Bristol’s DNA.

Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

This is a lovely piece of 3D writing has been given a bit of rainforest treatment with the Swiss cheese plant leaves and a toucan. Usually this artist writes ZASE, but in this particular instance it is really rather cryptic, but if you look behind the big red stripe, you can make it out.

Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Zase has a bit of a fascination with Swiss cheese plant leaves, and they have featured in his pieces before. Perhaps he has one in his home, and they are always front of mind. He is not alone, lots of other artists paint them too. The drips on the leaves add a little extra graffiti credibility too. A wonderful, vibrant and beautifully painted piece.

3230. John Street (6)

On Monday this week I posted a gallery of Zase’s work in Bristol and it certainly caught the attention of many visitors to Natural Adventures. This is his archway piece in John Street and it is an absolute beauty.

Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020

I think that Zase is the only artist who has used the archway to create a kind of depth effect, almost like a trompe l’oeil piece. The plants are beautifully painted, a swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) and I’m not too sure about the red leaved one (Note to self – do a cheese plant special). Plants featured in his recent collaboration piece with Silent Hobo and it would seem to be something Zase is having a bit of fun with at the moment. A really classy piece.