.
An amber warning
anticipation of snow
is suffocating.
.
by Scooj
Tag: UK
1325. Upfest 2017 (135)
This stunning piece was the second by Oze Arv at the festival and one of several astonishing pieces he sprayed in Bristol while he was visiting. On the basis of seeing only these few pieces, I can without any doubt say that I admire his work hugely and hope he returns for this year’s festival.
He uses a wonderful range of colours and combines an abstract form with superb wildlife illustrations, captured in a carefully balanced composition. In this piece it is a humming bird takes centre stage…in his other festival piece it was a ram. If I had the space and cash, I’d love to have a piece like this hanging on a wall at home. Classy stuff.
Snowy forecast
Brittle snowflakes fall
from light clouds in a blue sky;
pretty precursor.
by Scooj
1324. Upfest 2017 (134)
This is a small section of a larger wall which was sprayed by the Lost Souls crew for Upfest 2017. The concept for this wall was for each of the artists to produce a kind of playing card with a character piece on it. Here we have a pairing of SPZero76 and Squirl.
SPZero76 has created an incredible skeleton figure, rather disturbingly holding a whole bunch of lollies and sweets. It would seem that he enjoys using these blues and purples in his work, as I have seen them in many many of his pieces.
The Squirl piece is also a skeleton but of something altogether different…a horse maybe or perhaps a dog (see the flying bones) but the dentition is all wrong. What is it with street artists and death? The horse/dog is interacting with the female skeleton, maybe he wants the sweets.
Both of these pieces combine well and are technically beautifully sprayed. More from the Lost Souls to come.
1323. Upfest 2017 (133)
Sophie Long is an established artist in Bristol whose wildlife pieces with stunning drips are well known to those who look out for such things. I recently posted her fabulous shark piece in Cheltenham road which I walk past pretty much every day.
This upright orangutan is rather beautiful and conveys so well the sombre disposition of these incredible creatures. we are reminded of our evolutionary closeness to them and our utter disregard for their environment. Orangutans have become an emblem of despair, but also of hope for the future. This fine piece would sit comfortably on any naturalists wall.
1322. Upfest 2017 (132)
At last year’s Upfest, 23 Magpies had a board all to herself, rather than her usual wheatpastes dotted around the place on utility boxes and lamp posts. I am a big fan of her work and am the proud owner of one of her small creations.
This work at Upfest is a clever piece of artwork purporting to be a National Geographic cover. A nice political message up front and lovely illustration, which chimes very much with the National Geographic house style. Packing a punch and an evocative image.
1321. Upfest 2017 (131)
What a remarkable collaboration this was for Upfest 2017 between Guy Denning and Yatika Fields. The work can be found on Dean Lane, in one of the more difficult spots to view. There is a tree a few yards in front of it, which presents the viewer and photographer (let alone the artist) with all sorts of light related challenges.
I don’t know if these two regularly collaborate, but their two distinct styles come together to create a fantastic whole. The central face is by Guy Denning which if inspected closely is made up of carefully stencilled letters and patterns to make up the composite face – brilliant work.
The patterning and abstract work either side of the face is by Yatika Fields, who has spent most of his time working on the East coast of the USA. On their own, neither of these pieces would carry the same impact as they do together.
The reference and portrait is of Tara Houska Zhaabowekwe (I had to look her up) who is the national campaigns director at ‘Honour the Earth’, and a native North American.
1320. Chalk Farm (4)
This sensational piece, which was part of the Ferdinand estate initiative organised by Global Street art and Camden Council, is by Bristol’s very own Andy Council. So good to see an artist’s work in London that I am very familiar with.
This has all the hallmarks of a great AC piece: An animal (in this case a horse with a flowing mane), a fantastic colour palette and the whole being composed of architectural elements and local landmarks.
I remember seeing this on social media when he first sprayed it and thinking that I would probably never see it. When I found it, I certainly hadn’t been looking for it. If I had done my homework properly I would have known where to look. Somehow though I prefer to wander around places using my instinct to track down potentioal street art spots. It is like a sixth sense.
Bitter
Siberian winds
cut merciless from the East
take no prisoners.
by Scooj
Escape
Managed to escape
from the clutches of housework;
A well-being walk.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 