Tag: Tree

1985. Upfest 2018 (121)

Many years ago I recorded a Supertramp concert from the the TV, using a cassette recorder and microphone pointed at the TV speaker…it was how we did things in those days. My brother was having a small party of teenage friends on the same evening, so my recording was polluted with the sounds of a party going on in the background. When I played the recording back, I heard one of my brother’s friends exclaim ‘wow wee!’ at the start of one of the songs (he obviously liked it), and to this day, I can still hear that boy’s voice in my head, and do so every time I say wow wee. This digression is relevant only in that when I saw this brilliant piece by Peter Sheridan at last year’s Upfest, the voice in my head said ‘wow wee!’.

Peter Sheridan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Peter Sheridan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This was absolutely one of my firm favourites from the festival. There is so much to like… the composition, the colours, the perspective and the brilliant execution. Even the observation of how the bark on this particular type of tree looks (similar to a silver birch or cherry bark). An absolute belter, and for comparison, I have included his unflattering but brilliant piece depicting Teresa May (boo) and Pokeman Go in 2016.

Peter Sheridan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Peter Sheridan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

1759. Upfest 2018 (53)

In the chaotic and utterly unpredictable world of street art and graffiti, order has been created in the form of festivals. Upfest, the largest of its kind in Europe, brings artists from all over Britain, Europe and beyond to showcase their skills. The order I refer to is that rather than accidentally finding stuff, you can be certain to find artists that you like and actively seek them out.

Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Stelle Confuse is an artist whose work stands out for me from last year, and I was thrilled to see another piece this year. Again we have a tree and a message, and the message ‘plant a tree, plant emotions’ is brilliantly conceived with emoticons being borne by the branches. A nice, clear and well executed stencil from this Florentine artist.

Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Bark and bite

.

Puppy has taken

a liking to silver birch

white shreds everywhere.

.

by Scooj

1205. Upfest 2017 (115)

I first became aware of PakOne a couple of years back when I found a piece by him that he did for Upfest 2015 in the Steam Crane. Even then I was impressed with the depth he gives to his work through the clever use of shadows and perspective.

PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This year’s piece is an absolute gem and utterly beautiful, made even more so by the scattered street furniture surrounding it. A floating rock with a tree in full pink blossom, isn’t this what dreams are made of?

PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I tried striking up a conversation with the artist, but I think his English is about as good as my French, so we exchanged nods and I went on my way. This is an outstanding Upfest piece.

1133. Upfest 2017 (98)

Rob Wass took a lot of care and attention in producing this piece, and was out on both days, dodging the showers like everyone else. Some of you may remember his beautiful fox from Upfest 2015 which shares the same distinctive characteristics with this beautiful tree.

Rob Wass, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Rob Wass, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Simplicity splashed with carefully selected colours leaves us with a very pleasing piece that generates a sense of calm and connection with our environment…I think I am a fan of his work.

Rob Wass, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Rob Wass, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1041. Upfest 2017 (64)

Just occasionally at Upfest, it is impossible to write about one piece without writing about a piece adjacent to it. This happens particularly with the portrait boards, most of which were in North Street Green this year.

Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Stelle Confuse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The piece on the left is by Stelle Confuse, an artist from Florence, who is one of the most active protagonists of sticker and stencil art in Italy. Here his message is clear and simple – Plant a tree, plant peace. It is a fine stencil piece, with extraordinarily beautiful patterning and shading of the leaves.

Max Syther Oughton, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Max Syther Oughton, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The piece on the right is by Max ‘Syther’ Oughton, and artist based in East Anglia. This is another beautiful work which has an added three dimensional element in the shape of bird boxes attached to the tree.

I don’t know if it was deliberate or coincidental, but it is great to see two interpretations of trees in two very different styles. Both beautiful.

 

 

Day star

 

Brightness penetrates

through the leafy canopy;

Summer here at last.

 

by Scooj

Tanka 1

 

In late October

Westonbirt Arboretum

leafy canopies

display their red, gold and green

magnificence, for our joy.

 

by Scooj. Photograph courtesy of Scoojette.

I’ve never seen that before

 

‘Boof’ a softened thud

beside me; thirty foot fall,

a squirrel scuttles.

 

by Scooj

Long tailed tit

 

Welcome visitor

on the damson tree by the

window, foraging.

 

by Scooj