When Logoe comes to Bristol from Wales where he lives, he tends to paint in the Eastville spots, so I imagine that he has friends who he can stay with in the area. This piece from a recent visit was painted underneath the M32 motorway, a spot that I don’t visit all that often because it is quite tricky to do with the dog.
Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, April 2024
This piece, which has not photographed very well because of the light conditions, follows the classic Logoe formula. Some decent script writing, nicely filled and bordered, set on a contrasting background and sprinkled with oval spots. I think that brighter colours might have suited the spot better, but remains a fine piece of graffiti writing.
It feels quite satisfying to reach another landmark on Natural Adventures. This is the 6,000th post featuring graffiti/street art, and that is a lot of art and a lot of words too. The first piece I wrote about was on 16 July 2015 on Park Street by an unknown artist, and was a temporary installation rather than a painted wall, little did I know then that I would still be posting street art nine years later. Today’s landmark piece comes courtesy of Zake.
Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
The face piece is unmistakably by Zake, and although I don’t think it is one of his best pieces in terms of artwork, it is nonetheless striking and demands more than a cursory glance. A face appears to be emerging from a mask which is split down the middle, but the proportions of the mask don’t quite work for me. As ever, the skill with using light and shadow to create depth and texture is Zake’s forte, and the central brown face in particular is wonderfully crafted. Onward to the next 6,000!
The machine that is Dibz and Fade continues to produce outstanding collaborations, and this one in Dean Lane is a cracker. The Dark Knight is a popular icon for street artists, and Dibz and Fade have gone with the darker variant of the caped crusader, unlike the comedic, lighter cartoonish options they might have gone with
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
When I asked Fade how I should attribute the artwork in their pieces, he suggested that where the lines become blurred, just label them Dibz and Fade. The writing is attributable, with Fade on the left and Dibz on the right, but the rest of the work is collaborative. A well-thought-out piece, tidily presented – what else would you expect?
In recent years, Haka has shifted his focus a little away from political statements, to the softer world of children’s picture books. The act of graffiti is no less subversive, but perhaps reflects different priorities in the artist’s life right now.
Haka, St George, Bristol, April 2024
This piece is a faithful reproduction of the iconic children’s classic ‘Not Now, Bernard’ by David McKee, with the obvious replacement of the name Bernard with Haka. The piece, painted on the reverse side of a skate ramp, is in one of Haka’s favoured spots, and is wholly appropriate given that the park is so popular with young families. More, please.
A little while back, Logoe hit town again with another rash of wonderful script writing. This time, I wasn’t so quick to get all the pieces, and they tend not to last too long – perhaps a feature of the spots he chooses, but this one I did snap up, and it is a bit of a beauty.
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Once again, Logoe has written his name in a script style, although this time the letters are a little plumper and kinder than usual. There is a bit of a drip thing going on, which is always good to see, and the colour transition from green to yellow is nicely worked. The piece is finished off with the customary sprinkling of oval spots running through the middle. An eye-catching piece of graffiti writing.
Sophie Long, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2024Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, July 2022Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, October 2020Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, January 2020Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Sophie Long, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, November 2017
This is a bright and fun piece from Katie Fishlock was painted at the Bristol Mural Collective paint jam back in April. I have featured her work a few times in Natural Adventures, and have several more of her pieces in my archives, but perhaps don’t ‘big her up’ as much as she deserves.
Fishlock, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Her art studio creative designs translate very well onto walls, which provide a great showcase for her design work. If you’d like to know more about Katie Fishlock, her biography on her website is well worth a read. The portrait piece here plays on the confusion of double sets of eyes, which the brain quickly dismisses and accepts as a normal face, a device used a lot in street art. I rather like the bold statement and way it is presented. Note to self – dig out more of her work from the archive.
I feel that I have almost exhausted superlatives when describing Kosc’s work, and this piece leaves me scratching around for something to say that isn’t already clichéd in some way. How about this: Kosc is a great artist who has painted a fascinating and touching tribute to the American cartoon artist and graffiti-world favourite Vaughn Bode.
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
The writing alone is worthy of praise, but it is the Cheech Wizard and Lizard characters that augment the letters so well and bring the whole piece alive and straight into the crazy world of Vaughn Bode. Kosc is on a roll and just seems to get better and better, and this is a truly masterful piece.
Ooh, I like this rhapsody in pink and yellow from Mr Klue very much. There is a wonderful balance in the piece, which can’t necessarily be said of all his work, but here he has absolutely nailed it. Mr Klue’s abstract style is best described as being ephemeral, like a wisp of smoke that might disappear at any moment.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2024
After the winter slumber, Mr Klue is once again dominating in the tunnel, which is no mean feat, as there are still many very strong pieces there from Ryder’s paint jam at the end of March. I would normally expect the letters here to spell out KLUE, but if I am really honest I cannot pick them out, and wonder if it might read something else. Whatever the letters, this is yet another wonderful piece from the quiet and modest Mr Klue.
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
Straying from the beaten track pretty much always yields surprises, whether they are related to street art and graffiti or some other discovery. Curiosity about and observation of the world around us is what keeps us stimulated and alive, without which we become drones or zombies. This beautiful mural by Sophie Mess was my reward for doing things a little differently recently walking the dog in the St George area.
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
The tragedy of this piece is that it is not only difficult to photograph but also difficult to see, the best view being from the garden of the house opposite. I have done my best to capture what I can, but short of asking the house owner or neighbours if I could take pictures, I don’t think there is any other way of getting a good shot. A drone perhaps would be one way, but I don’t have one.
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
Sophie Mess, whose work has appeared a couple of times in Natural Adventures, creates the most wonderful floral murals painted in rich, seductive colours that draw you in. It is a pity that I couldn’t get a full picture of the hummingbird, because it looks sensational. Although this was most likely a commission piece I think that the piece not only works for the householders, but will have a positive benefit for the whole community. Art like this can inspire whole communities. Such a wonderful and unexpected surprise.
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