6538. Cumberland Basin

I was aware that Abbie Laura Smith had pasted up some new artwork recently because she told me via Instagram messenger, so of course, I had to get out and try and find them. I managed to find three, of which this is the first. I expect there are more that I didn’t locate.

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

This wheatpaste was looking a little forlorn as the top half had become unstuck in the damp weather and folded over itself. I had to try and replace it and quickly photograph it before it peeled down… it took me several attempts. The style and content of the piece fits snugly into Abbie Laura Smith’s repertoire with a black and white portrait of a woman with words woven into her hair.

If I spent a little longer, I could probably pick out all the words, but I think it is a sorrowful piece, as I can see the words ‘grief’ and ‘the loss’. More to come from our resident paste up specialist soon.

6537. Sparke Evans Park (104)

Nips, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Nips, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

Regular readers will know that I have a bit of a thing for Nips’ work. Her letters are uncomplicated and unpretentious and what sets her apart from other letter writers is her constantly evolving and creative fills.

Nips, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Nips, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

Whether intentional or not, Nips has created a perfect autumnal piece. The blue background speaks of those wonderful high-pressure blue sky days (we have had a few of those lately) and the gold of the letter fills picks up the autumn leaves scattered at the base of the wall. The fills are a beautifully blended palette of four brown and yellow shades, and are further augmented with some complementary squiggles and dots. The tittle (dot on the i) is a little character face, something Nips does with most of her pieces. The whole thing is nicely finished with white highlights to help the letters pop. This is a fine piece of work from Nips.

6536. Purdown (81)

Jest Soubriquet, Purdown, Bristol, November 2024
Jest Soubriquet, Purdown, Bristol, November 2024

This is something a little different from Jest Soubriquet up at Purdown. Obviously this was a Halloween piece featuring Frankenstein’s monster, accompanied by some creepy landscapes, including a church, crows and a pumpkin hanging from a tree.

Jest Soubriquet, Purdown, Bristol, November 2024
Jest Soubriquet, Purdown, Bristol, November 2024

If this piece hadn’t been signed (Likes) I don’t think that I would have had a chance of identifying the artist as it is so different from his regular style. By chance, the telecommunications tower behind this wall looks a little bit like an extra bolt emerging from the monster’s head. A nice festival piece.

6535. Frome Side (39)

Quale, Frome side, Bristol, November 2024
Quale, Frome side, Bristol, November 2024

At first glance I was fooled into thinking that this piece was by Conrico, mainly based on the subject matter, but also a little o the style, but it didn’t quite feel right. It turns out it is by visiting artist Quale, as part of a chapter 17 World Wall Stylers paint jam challenge with the theme Ninja Scroll. Ninja Scroll is a 1993 Japanese animated jidaigekichanbara film written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri – who knew?

Quale, Frome side, Bristol, November 2024
Quale, Frome side, Bristol, November 2024

This piece (sorry about the glare, this wall is difficult to photograph) is stunning. It is so full of movement, and little pastiches from the film. I don’t know anything about Quale, but hope to see more in Bristol in the future.

6534. Ikea Wall of Fame (1)

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

Something big happened in Bristol over 17-20 October in the Ikea car park, just off junction 2 of the M32. Goldie, a British music producer and DJ who is also an accomplished graffiti writer and whose work has appeared in Natural Adventures several times, organised an international paint jam to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his record label Metalheadz. In doing so, he invited artists from the New York-based Tats Cru to join a selection of Bristol artists, and some others from the UK and beyond.

The challenge was to paint a themed collaboration – the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz (more on this another time) on this enormous wall. In doing so a new wall of fame was created, and one which I hope will host further such productions. This is the first in a series of photographs from the wall, starting at the left-hand end.

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

In this first section, The writing is from Fade, who is no stranger to Natural Adventures, and he is accompanied by the rather gory witch character by Nicer, some floral decoration, running through the entire production, by Zaki Dee and a section of New York skyline by BG183.

I will be posting more from this incredible paint jam in due course, and hope to provide some sense of scale of the production.

Thursday doors – 21 November 2024 – Exeter doors

Doors 287 – Doors from Exeter, Devon – Part IV, October 2023

My doorscursion in Exeter from October 2023 continues with this selection of doors primarily from the Exeter Cathedral area of the city. Of course, I have focussed my attention on some of the older and more characterful doors of the city, but unlike other places, there is quite a high proportion of these special doors. I am a little busy this morning, so my introduction is brief, but I hope you enjoy today’s offering. I think there are one or two very special doors here:

Exeter Cathedral doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral central door surrounded by dozens of stone statues, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral central door surrounded by dozens of stone statues, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral side door (North side), Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral side door (North side), Exeter, Devon, October 2024
White door and black frame, Number 1, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
White door and black frame, Number 1, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Blue doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Blue doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Arched double doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Arched double doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
10 Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
10 Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024

This last door at number 10 Cathedral Close is a carved oak door from the 16th or 17th century. The studded door has a small postern door to allow pedestrian access, without having to swing the heavy weight of the main door open. This is special.

Well, that’s it for another week. Still more doors to come from the wonderful city of Exeter next time. Have a great weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

Thursday Doors 2024 logo

6533. Cumberland Basin

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

Neddy Ned Neddy is one of those artists who paints from time to time in Bristol, but never enough to grace the pages of Natural Adventures all that often. It is always a pleasure to include his work, though, because his writing style is quite special and beautifully executed.

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

In most of his pieces, the vanishing point for his drop shadow is located centrally behind the letters, which gives the illusion that they are hurtling towards you from the background. The flaming colour selection works well against the blue, and this is an all-round stonking burner.

6532. Dean Lane skate park (779)

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This post is written in haste. By the time I publish it, I will be in the Derbyshire countryside looking at a beaver release scheme. The reintroduction of beavers in the right places is a huge asset for local communities. The dams create wetlands, slowing the effects of flooding downstream, and during droughts the water retention where beavers live create oases where all around has dried up and withered, and for the nature lovers, who doesn’t love having beavers back in the English countryside?

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This outstanding piece, by Stivs, is another of his epic character pieces. I don’t know who the character is, and a Google search has thrown up nothing. The character is painted in beautiful colours and has come together perfectly, with some sideways on perspective too. Alongside the robot (is it a robot?) are the words ‘Kill all humans’ which isn’t very friendly. The piece has survived pretty well, on a wall with a high turnover, and was still there when I last checked a couple of days ago. Great work from Stivs.

Wonderland

.

Clickety clacking 

through this English countryside 

silver snow blanket

.

by Scooj

Two-hour event

.

Excited children

snow falling hard in Bristol

settled then melted

.

by Scooj