Tag: Urban

2139. Park Street (3)

There is this rather interesting crossover that occurs when a street artist paints a commission and I can never quite admire a commission as much as a piece from the heart. Maybe that is just me. On the one hand, businesses are supporting artists and paying them for their work, and this is so obviously a great thing. On the other hand, the artist paints to a brief and in some sense loses a degree of freedom. This piece, by the brilliant Silent Hobo, was commissioned by Averys – one of Bristol’s long-established wine merchants, and is actually perfect for the location.

Silent Hobo, Park Street, Bristol, March 2019
Silent Hobo, Park Street, Bristol, March 2019

Once again, we have a Bristol fox featured in a piece of local street art… note to self, I must do a ‘fox gallery’ sometime. The stairway is at the bottom of Park Street and leads directly into Frogmore Road that runs underneath. Follow the sign to Averys and you will walk past two outstanding JPS stencils and a wonderful 3Dom abstract piece. Not to mention the Banksy nearby. A little street art hotspot.

2138. Nelson Street (12)

It’s in my head now, so I have to say it, but while looking at this wonderful bunny by Nevergiveup (#followmyrabbits), I hear the football chant “you see him here, you see him there, you see him every f***ing where” and that adequately describes this artist’s rabbits.

Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019

This charming fellow can be found in anything but charming surroundings at the top of some rather unpleasant concrete steps rising up from Nelson Street. It is great that this artist brings a glimmer of light and hope to such places. So many more rabbits to come.

2136. Prince Street (2)

A new artist for me, Kedals, is one I know precious little about other than that he is a Bristol-based wheatpaster. This is great news, because not too long ago I was bemoaning the lack of wheatpasting in the city. If you go to other cities, there is much more (sometimes too much), but in Bristol it seems to be limited to visiting artists like Tian or qWeRT or Face the Strange or D7606.

Kedals, Prince Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kedals, Prince Street, Bristol, March 2019

This wonderful duo of paste ups shows that the artist is hard working, in that the base drawing is the same, but the rest of the piece is hand drawn, and each one although similar is unique. I have seen this technique used by other wheatpasters, and I really like it. For me it demonstrates love and attention to every piece that is pasted up, rather than doing a print-run of the same thing and posting it everywhere.

The style is quirky and there is a story going on here. I have seen one or two more pieces by Kedals and will be keeping my eyes peeled from now on. Very nice.

2135. M32 Cycle path (21)

Well here is another one from Decay, with a little bit of collaboration from Rezwonk who provides the orange patterned base. I have to say that of Decay’s recent pieces I think this one just shades it as my favourite. You can find it on the M32 cycle path, which looks like it will be reopening very soon, and perhaps elevate access to this wall which has been a little neglected over the last year or so.

Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019

I think it is the first time I can remember Decay using this colour palette and I think that it works really well with his writing style. The evolution of his work is a journey I am enjoying very much, and each piece seems to push the boundaries just a little bit more. Still a whole bunch more to come. Rezwonk is a fine artist in his own right, but his tight, bright designs work extremely well in collaborations. All round great piece.

2134. Nelson Street (11)

I have walked past this pioece by Mr Penfold a handful of times, but not until recently did I have my camera with me, which is a pity really because it has been rather spoiled with a tag. It is in a little alley just off Nelson Street and close to St John the Baptist church.

Mr Penfold, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Mr Penfold, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

His work always contains these abstract designs in bright colours, often incorporating animal print patterning. The colours in this piece are typical of his work, which can often be seen brightening up shop fronts and public spaces. Something about his work reminds me very much of the 1980s, it might be the brashness of the placing together of contrasting patterns and colours. Always instantly recognisable, and usually upbeat work.

2133. Dean Lane skate park (203)

This, I think, is the largest Ugar piece I have seen to date. It is on the large single wall in Dean Lane that has played host to some truly magnificent pieces over the years. Ugar’s writing style is rather unusual, being quite organic and irregular, but it is his fills that lift him above the ordinary.

Ugar, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Ugar, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019

He decorates his letters with an array of patterns, swirls, bubbles, subtle shadings and lines that provides his unique finish to each of his pieces. I like the work of this Hungarian artist very much, and this one is worth a long hard look.

2132. Leonard Lane (19)

I have a feeling that I may have walked past this piece once or twice before I actually found it. I first saw it on Instagram and noticed that it was in Bristol, but it was impossible to work out where, so I asked the photographer, and he said it was in Leonard Lane. Even then it was difficult to find as it is rather well camouflaged with its surroundings.

Cartoonneros, Leonard Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Cartoonneros, Leonard Lane, Bristol, April 2019

The stencil of Yoda is by Cartoonneros and I am guessing that he must have done it during the same visit he made when he sprayed the excellent Kurt Cobain stencil in Dean Lane skate park. This is a fine addition to the vibrant and ecclectic array of graffii and street art in Leonard Lane. Who doesn’t love a Star Wars stencil?

2131. M32 roundabout J3 (136)

I said that there would be more from Decay, and by gum I am a man of my word. It feels like he is enjoying a new lease of life, and not only with writing letters, but also with his colour selections – less so perhaps in this piece but generally he appears to be using more colours in his work.

Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019

I think I might have to approach him and ask if he would be prepared to do an interview, because I think his story is likely a very interesting one. Note to self – get of arse and message Decay. More still to come from Decay.

2130. St Werburghs tunnel (72)

There was a time, and it wasn’t too long ago, when I thought that Soap only ever produced his mushroom-shaped mouths, in a variety of different styles and colours. However, over the last year or so, he has really branched out a whole lot and is doing a lot of writing – it seems many bristol artists are currently doing the same (Decay, Kid Crayon and Tasha Bee has just started too)

 

In this piece Soap has incorporated his mouths into a rather clever and intricate word SOAP. I love the two triangles that kind of hold the whole thing together and add interest. It reminds me a little of a mint choc-chip…it’s a colour thing.

2129. Dean Lane skate park (202)

Another supreme example of gothic graffiti writing from Hire, who seems to have a real soft spot for this left-hand end of wall in Dean Lane. He has sprayed several other pieces here before. Hire used to work quite a lot in The Bearpit, but I haven’t seen anything of his there for an age.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019

This is a bright, confident and strong piece that is impossible to ignore. It screams out at the passer-by ‘look at me’. The letters I think spell out HIRE – I can see it whether it is there or not. He has also written quite cryptically ‘The BF One’ along the base of some of his letters. I have seen BF written before, in fact Hire’s Instagram handle is #hireonebf, but I don’t know what it relates to. He is a man of few words. I’ll have to ask him next time I see him.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2018
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2018