6235. Brunel Way (282)

Dibz, Jody and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Dibz, Jody and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

If ever you want an example of the perfect triptych graffiti writing/character portrait piece then look no further than this magnificent piece by Dibz, Jody and Fade underneath Brunel Way bridge. As always, these three have smashed it, and I just don’t know how many more ceilings they can break with their work.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

To the left, Dibz’ writing in black and pink is reflected on the right-hand side by Fade, where their writing is almost becoming indistinguishable except to the most experienced eyes. The key difference is that Fade’s letters tend to be ever so slightly softer than Dibz’. Both have created something special and finished it off with a splash of ‘liquid’ gold running behind the collaboration.

Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

Sitting pretty between the graffiti writing is this outstanding skull painted by Jody. One of the great benefits of Jody joining these writers over the last couple of years is that we get to see so much more of his work on the streets, which I dare say we wouldn’t see so much if he was painting alone. When I see Jody’s work, I am still baffled how he manages to get such extraordinary detail and texture using a spray can. A trio at the top of their game.

Thursday doors – 1 August 2024, Manchester

Doors 273 – Doors of Manchester, UK, November 2023 (Part II)

Life is speeding up. It is already 1 August, the days are getting shorter, and so far 2024 has been a blur – it would be nice to be able to slow things down, at least for just a little while. It is probably my age, and a realisation that every moment is precious, but why would that make time go by faster? I am sure there must be studies on this kind of phenomenon, but I don’t have the time to seek them out and read them!

These doors were photographed last November while visiting Manchester with my daughter, who is currently travelling in Laos some 5,678 miles away from home, a stark contrast with Manchester, apart from the rain.

We are often our own worst critics, and I would say that there is only one ‘special door’ in this selection – I wonder if you can guess which one I think that is. Enjoy.

Royal Exchange Theatre doors and vaulted doorway, Manchester, November 2023
Royal Exchange Theatre doors and vaulted doorway, Manchester, November 2023
Three doors and grand doorway - Corn/Produce Exchange/Grocery, Manchester, November 2023
Three doors and grand doorway – Corn/Produce Exchange/Grocery, Manchester, November 2023
Not really a door, but just liked the view, Manchester, November 2023
Not really a door, but just liked the view, Manchester, November 2023
Shuttered door and wonderful tiles at Arthur Kay & Bro, Manchester, November 2023
Shuttered door and wonderful tiles at Arthur Kay & Bro, Manchester, November 2023
Green door, red tiles and an unintentional doorfie, Manchester, November 2023
Green door, red tiles and an unintentional doorfie, Manchester, November 2023
Ornate wooden scrolls and steps up to this door within an archway, Manchester, November 2023
Ornate wooden scrolls and steps up to this door within an archway, Manchester, November 2023

That’s all for this week. Happy August.

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

6234. Purdown (72)

Peanutsdeli, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024
Peanutsdeli, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024

The Purdown Anti Aircraft gun emplacement is a wartime relic which these days doubles up as a goat enclosure and graffiti spot, giving this monument a second life of sorts. Visiting this spot is always a bit of a lottery because turnover is usually pretty slow, and sometimes there is nothing new to look at, and other times (because visits tend to be infrequent) pieces can be quite badly tagged, or damaged by the goats!

Peanutsdeli, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024
Peanutsdeli, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024

On my last trip, a couple of weeks ago, I his the jackpot though, with several new pieces all in pretty good condition, including this beauty by Peanutsdeli. I have to say that he is probably the last artist I would expect to find up here, so this manga-style cartoon portrait came as a very pleasant surprise indeed. The yelling face fits the rectangular slab perfectly, and I was even able to give the character a little bit of extra hair from the tree behind. More to come from this Purdown visit soon.

6233. Cumberland Basin

Karmone, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Karmone, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

Following on from the previous post, this piece by Karmone was painted during the same paint jam. Karmone is an occasional visitor to Bristol, from his home in Wales, and through his connections with Bristol artists, is invited to paint jams from time to time. As I always say on Natural Adventures, it is a constant pleasure to be able to welcome visiting artists to share their talent on our walls, adding to the mix.

Karmone, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Karmone, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

Karmone has, like the others, followed the convention of colours for the collaborative wall, and added a sprinkling of orange and grey to liven up the base of the piece with some interesting yin-yang spherical designs. His letters are exceptional, spelling out KARM, with tidy fills and mid lines. The arrangement of the letters and the 3D shadows cast give them a great deal of depth and dynamism. Some great work from Karmone.

6232. Cumberland Basin

Rusk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Rusk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

Rusk is an established graffiti writer in Bristol who tends to paint in fits and starts these days. He is currently going through a rather productive phase at the moment, which is great news indeed. This piece in Cumberland Basin was created during a paint jam organised by Smak and the Art of Sok, a couple of weeks back.

Rusk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Rusk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

The general colours of the collaborative wall were light blues and yellows, and Rusk certainly stuck to the task with this tight piece. Rusk is known for his dedication and diligence and his work is always beautifully turned out. The highlight of this piece for me is the purple thread that runs horizontally through all of the letters. A fine example of on-point graffiti writing.

6231. Brunel Way (281)

Sorts, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Sorts, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

So, after a rush of high-end Upfest murals, I feel it is time for a switch back to some of the more grounded and authentic street pieces that are rolled out every day for those who choose to find them. This is a really nice piece of writing under Brunel Way, by Sorts.

Sorts, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Sorts, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

Sorts presents some nice irregular letters, with a chrome base which are augmented with some really nice pink and purple fill sections decorated with red spots. The whole thing is nicely balanced and works really well. The letters are set on a creative green background with ‘cracks’ painted into it. Great honest stuff from Sorts.

6230. Upfest 2024 (45)

Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024
Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024

There are some pieces, especially during street art festivals, which simply have the ‘wow’ factor, where you stand before them in admiration, and in my view, this stunner by Epod3000 is one of those. Firstly, this wall is one of the most striking in Bedminster, and although not the easiest to photograph, it certainly has impact when it reveals itself to those walking along West Street.

Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024
Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024

The piece, called ‘Side.E’, a reference to the vinyl LP and deck at the top features a beautiful portrait of a woman (with lots of drips). The clever bit is that Epod has apinted the portrait in a way that makes it look like a poster that is peeling off from the wall – you know… the way advertising posters do after a while. It is a device used quite a lot in street art, and done well, like this, is wonderful.

Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024
Epod, Upfest 2024, Pantiles, Bristol, May 2024

Because of the wall opposite the piece, it is quite difficult to take a decent photograph from directly in front of it, without it looking a little distorted, but I have done my best here. I was lucky enough to see another of his pieces yesterday in Cheltenham, which I will post in due course. All great stuff from Epod.

6229. Upfest 2024 (44)

Sophie Long, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Sophie Long, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

Sophie Long is an incredible wildlife artist, who blends accuracy of the subject creature with a soft artistic impression to create utterly outstanding murals and artworks that are uniquely hers. This Upfest piece, in a little annex (Ebeneezer Pocket Park) on North Street is a perfect example of what I am trying to describe.

Sophie Long, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Sophie Long, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

Sophie has a penchant for painting bees, and manages to represent their character without anthropomorphising, which is a real skill. This is a special wall that has played host to numerous wonderful pieces over the years, and this one comfortably stands among them. A perfect Upfest piece from Sophie.

Home

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Heathrow arrivals

new text message ‘just landed’

few minutes longer

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by Scooj

6228. Upfest 2024 (43)

Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, July 2024
Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, July 2024

I am always touched when I say hello to artists, and they recognise me from brief snatches of conversations at previous festivals. This is the third year i a row that I have stopped to chat with Ant Carver, and in common with most artists I meet, he is a genuinely lovely bloke who will always make time to talk for a bit. At this year’s festival, he was running a little behind schedule, so I didn’t occupy his time too much.

Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

Ant Carver has done a terrific job with an awkward spot, which is quite hard to see from street level, unless you stand some distance away. The flat roof, and restricted access to it, meant that, apart from inquisitive souls like me, Ant Carver was pretty much left alone to get on with his split piece.

Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, July 2024
Ant Carver, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, July 2024

I was wondering what was going on with this interesting juxtaposition and found this explanation on the artist’s Instagram feed: “Lately I’ve been looking at the way we consume news and media and the conflict between intense and light imagery”. Ant Carver has demonstrated this perfectly in this piece, with the treat of the snarling dog, and the stoic partial portrait. Great work from Ant Carver.