I know that skulls are not everyone’s cup of tea, but in the street art world they are a common subject for many artists from many genres. Laic217 rather specialises in demonic skulls or in distorted faces, but in my view, rather than being something creepy, thay are actually often quite humorous and light-hearted. This piece however is dark, whichever way you look at it.
Laic217, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2019
Laic217 has used the pink eyes before to great effect and they convey a sense of absence of soul, demonstrating just how important eyes are in making judgements. One of the things I love most about Laic217’s work is his attention to the fabrics worn by his characters. He puts a lot of thought into every fold of their clothing, and this aspect of his work just gets better and better. A steady piece along the M32 cycle path.
It would seem that Rezwonk and Decay are inseparable at the moment, they are churning out so many exciting and vibrant collaborations this summer. Some of these display a common theme used by both artists or some like this, one present two very different pieces side by side.
Rezwonk, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
On the left is a colourful Rezwonk piece of writing, that is reasonably simple in concept – different coloured letters with melting drips, but complex in its execution. How on earth would you start such a piece? I’m not entirely sure the white ‘dusting’ works though, if anything it looks like someone has tried to obscure the piece… it might have been better without.
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Then on the right is the Decay piece which shares only drippiness with Rezwonk’s. In all other aspects the writing and colour selection could hardly be more different. It is rermarkable to think how much Decay’s work has come on over the last twelve months or so. Perhaps a quick squint at his updated gallery will give you some idea of the progress made.
Fiver or Fiva, consistently turns out highly distinctive burners, each with its own twist or story. Most of his work features the word FIVA or FIVER, often accompanied by a character, or given an interesting fill or sometimes both. In this piece Fiva has chosen to go for a silhouetted cityscape skyline running through his letters.
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
I have tried to write one of my own letters (teaching myself to spraypaint (with limited success)), the letter H in his style and it really isn’t as easy as it looks once it is up on a wall. Of course practice makes perfect, and Fiva has been doing these for some years. In addition to creating these fine pieces, I love the way that he has a little shout out to people, nothing over the top, just a simple ‘Yo xxxxxx’ in this case Desmond was feeling the love.
Another wonderful piece painted as part of the Upfest Summer Editions celebrations outside the Hen and Chickens. This one is by Upfest stalwart Karl Read. The very large stencil is beautifully proportioned to fit this space and has a serene look about it.
Karl Read, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
The stencil is interesting because it has some simplicity to it, with large areas of single colours, but also in other parts it has complexity. I have seen Karl Read at work before and he uses large sheets of paper for his stencils that look quite unwieldy, but somehow he makes it all work.
Karl Read, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
The jewel in the crown of the piece is the girl’s hair which, if you look closely, is in the style of a Hokusai wave. The result is most effective, and the whole piece a triumph. Karl Read has absolutely nailed this blend of simplicity and complexity. I fully expect him to return for Upfest 2020.
There are many hazards and obstacles to taking street art picures. This was in fact the second visit I had made to photograph this lovely eye by My Dog Sighs (his second Summer Editions piece for Upfest). On the first visit, there was a shadow cast right across the middle of the piece, and in this one I managed to capture a customer at the North Street Standard, and being alone he obviously had to be texting someone to give the illusion that he wasn’t in fact alone… but he was, so there.
My Dog Sighs, North Street, Bristol, July 2019
The eye is everything you might expect from My Dog Sighs, and is beautifully presented. It would be easy to fall in to the trap of saying that he is a one-trick pony and indeed I know some people who think that, I happen to disagree with that particular assertion. He has certainly nailed his technique for painting eyes, but it doesn’t stop there, he still works on the background and the silhouette in the eye and creates an atmosphere or story individual to each piece. Here he has used some stencils with Japanese characters falling like a digital rain around the eye.
You might spot a slight ‘blemish’ on the eye which is caused by a little vent pipe in the wall – My Dog Sighs has concealed it brilliantly. Well done Upfest for organising yet another triumphant Summer Editions piece.
I really do wish that Kleiner Shames had never left Bristol for the lure of London, but I suppose that is where the work and opportunities are. However, it is so good that roughly two or three times a year he returns to Bristol and leaves one of his distinctive pieces as a gift to all of us that admire his work.
Kleiner Shames, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Although taking pictures in St Werburghs tunnel is a nightmare, some pieces transcend the quality of the picture, and this in my view is one of those. The letters spell out FOIS (time in French), and for a long time I thought that was the name of the artist. I don’t remember how I met him, or discovered his name, but I do remember buying a couple of pieces of art from him when he was clearing out his studio to move to London, and they are treasured possessions indeed. Come back soon.
Some pieces are good, others, very good, and just ocassionally you get lucky enough to see something outstanding. This stunning piece ‘self-portrait 2019’ is by Irony and has been 10 years in the making, after he created his first screen print in 2009 with a version of this work.
Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
I managed to have a quick chat with Irony as he was painting it, but at the time I didn’t know who he was, nor did I recognise his style (obviously not from round these parts). I asked him who he was, but he said I’d have to wait until he’d finished before he would reveal who he was. Fair do’s I suppose, although perhaps I should have been a little more attentive to the line ups for Upfest’s Summer Editions, which might have given me a clue.
Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
The concept of a piece of art creating itself is a tried and tested theme, but rarely is it executed with such passion, skill and emotion. This piece is awe-inspiring and would sit comfortably in the company of any of the great Italian renaissance artists. I can imagine this piece adorning the wall of a side chapel of any of the great Italian cathedrals (although I think the Catholic church might have a word or to to say about that).
Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
This is not my favourite wall to photograph, because there is a wide expanse of white light behind it. If I were a proper photographer I would be able to accommodate for that, but I am just a ‘point and shooter’.
Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019
The closer you get to this picture, the more beautiful the angel becomes. It really is quite incredible that such a fine piece can be created with spray cans. If I could be just one tenth as good as this, I would be happy. Many years of hard graft and study ahead of me, but I fear I lack the raw talent bit that Irony has in spades. A brilliant piece, worth a trip to see it.
I have known about this piece by Sepr for quite a long while, but simply wasn’t sure where it was, because St George skate park has only recently come onto my circuit of regular spots to visit. You can’t be everywhere, and with a full time job and two teenage kids I do miss an awful lot of artwork in spots I don’t know about, so I am pleased at last to have discovered this one.
Sepr, St George, Bristol, July 2019
You can tell this has been around for a while because it is a bit tagged and looking a little worn. One of the problems with skate park art is that anything on skating surfaces becomes degraded very quickly, so you either visit regularly or have to put up with pieces not in the best condition. I’m not certain how ‘appropriate’ this piece is for a park where a lot of very young children play, because it is ghoulishly macabre, but then again perhaps it is perfect. I always have been and always will be a huge fan of Sepr’s work.
I met Rezwonk for the first time last week, and what a pleasure it was too. He was actually painting a piece at the M32 roundabout (to follow). Our conversation was brief, because both of us had to rush off. I also met at the same time another Bristol ‘hunter’ who goes by the Instagram moniker @bristol.graffiti and it was a real pleasure to meet her too (and if I am honest I has assumed incorrectly that she was a man before I met her, stumbling into the perils of unconscious bias once again). The anonymity that digital social media affords is a double-edged sword.
Rezwonk, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, July 2019
As ever, this piece by Rezwonk is sharp, creative and really demonstrates the artistic talents and range in his locker. The red and white combination (a personal favourite of mine) works exceptionally at the end of this dark tunnel – other colour combinations probably wouldn’t have the same impact. Nice work once again. Very, very prolific at the moment.
It is always most satisfying to witness great collaborative partnerships, and in Bristol there are quite a few of these, for example; SledOne and Smak, Laic217 and Cort, Rezwonk and Decay, Kid Crayon and SPzero76 and here we have another pairing who seem to enjoy each other’s company, Kool Hand and Daz Cat.
Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Kool Hand is not as prolific as I would like him to be so I don’t get to see too much of his work. What I like about his style is the clean lines and solid fills and of course the subject of his pieces which pretty much always seem to be animal-related. In this piece a crocodile is spraying the initials KH, and why not.
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Daz Cat is another artist whose work I’d like to see a lot more of. Unusually, in this piece we see the full body of a cat, fully clothed with a neckerchief, lilac shirt and green trousers. The cat seems to be in a meditative pose, and looks a lot gentler than some of the cats Daz Cat paints. A nice collaboration from this pair at the M32 roundabout.
Natural adventures 