Tag: Urban

1975. Devon Road (9)

Following my post of a fabulous Xenz piece in Shoreditch a few days ago, I was reminded about this old one on a garage door in Devon Road, Bristol. I had to trawl through my archives and was thrilled to find it… a task that might sound simpler than it is.

Xenz, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018
Xenz, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018

This is a simple piece, perfect for the garage, lifting it out of the bland and ordinary to become a thing of beauty as well as practicality. If only more of the carbuncles and eyesores of our city could be similarly transformed. There is a strong sense of calm in this painting and a connection with nature that I find uplifting. The bee eaters are beautiful too.

1974. M32 roundabout J3 (121)

You’ll know how much I try to avoid writing posts about artists I know nothing about, but sometimes the piece is just too good not to share. This is one such example. Some really classy writing, as part of a paint jam, which included all sorts of artists I am not familiar with. This piece I am guessing is by Debris.

Debris, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Debris, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

Of course it is possible the piece is by another artist who just happens to be writing the word ‘DEBRIS’ but it is unusual for graffiti writers to stray from their preferred letters/name. There is an energy about this one that I really admire, and I love the fiery stripe running through all the letters. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for more from this artist.

1973. M32 roundabout J3 (120)

Readers will be in no doubt that Face 1st is one of my favourite and most featured artists in Natural Adventures. This beautiful work at the M32 roundabout features his trademark faces and some incredibly sweet elephants…without ears.

Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019
Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019

It would appear that Face 1st is not to everyone’s taste and just to the right of the piece is a throw up saying ‘Face Junk’. Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t deface (literally) his work, and the quality of the ‘protest’ simply isn’t up to much, emphasising how much better the Face 1st piece actually is. You certainly have to develop a thick skin to be in this game, but I guess you wouldn’t do it if you were too sensitive. Another work from this gentleman that I can cherish.

1972. M32 roundabout J3 (119)

There are not enough great words to describe the work of Sled One. One after another he turns out the most incredible pieces that explode with colour and imagination. I have noticed that often his compositions are amalgamations of bits of ideas that all come together to create a magnificent whole.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

This piece is quite extraordinary, pulling together bird parts to form a bird skull/head stuffed with leaves and plants. Another bird wing and beak juts out of the back of the head – I am not sure what is happening there.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

The whole piece, although adorned with a cartoon smile and glint in the eyes, also for me has a darker side, but I can’t put my finger on why that might be. Even his signature is classy, a pink neon moniker a la Voyder. So Good.

1971. Shoreditch, London (23)

I thoroughly enjoy acquainting myself with the work of artists new to me, and becoming familiar with and knowledgable about their work. Of course, it takes time to do this, but that is what I like spending time doing.

Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

Sten and Oli came into my consciousness during my visit to Shoreditch last November. In some small areas, it became difficult not to find some of their charming creations, mostly pasted at knee height, and all little characters of varying kinds.

Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

These three little critters seem to come from the family of long-eared creations – most endearing, but also with a bit of a dark side to their personas. They remind me a little bit of the gremlins in the movie who could switch from cute to bad boys in an instant on contact with water.

Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Sten and Oli, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

I surely love these wheatpastes, they have real class and a collectability about them. I managed to bag a few on my trip, but know there are many more out there to find. Of course, what really needs to happen is for Sten and Oli to make a trip down to Bristol… always welcome here.

1970. Shoreditch, London (22)

Wow, wow, wow. Fancy having an enormous portrait of Salvador Dali painted outside your premises. I mean, this is just amazing work from the wonderful Zabou. Everything about this piece is in my mind perfect… the subject, the monochrome face, the dazzling leopard spot design jacket, the melting watch. This is a masterful piece and Salvador himself would I’m sure be smiling down on Zabou.

Zabou, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Zabou, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

For me, this is what it’s all about, what I do and why I do it. Wandering around the streets without any plan and chancing upon things I didn’t know were there. A voyage of discovery and pleasant surprises. Finding this was a highlight of my sauntering around Shoreditch last November.

1969. Shoreditch, London (21)

Now living and working in London, Xenz used to live in Bristol and there are plenty of his pieces documented in Natural Adventures, and more to come. This is the first of his works that I have seen outside Bristol and it is a bit of a cracker.

Xenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Xenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

These boards are really fabulous and a magnet for some seriously classy street art. This piece showcases one of Xenz’s favoured themes, a sort of futuristic ruin scene set against moody skies.

Xenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Xenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

Of course none of his works are complete without some little birds, these look like bee eaters to me. Dramatic and fantastical work.

1968. Shoreditch, London (20)

Aah, another fabulous piece by Nether410. As a tourist in these parts, I know little of the piece other than what is on Nether410’s Instagram feed. He says the portrait is of Carol Burns of Bacon Street and that this is the site of her and her father’s business.

Nether410, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Nether410, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

This is an amazing portrait, unsentimental in its portrayal of the subject. There is a story being told here as well, with the key and the keyhole, but I don’t know what it is about. A fine piece.

1967. Shoreditch, London (19)

Quickly skipping back to November last year, the next few posts will feature pieces I saw on a mini excursion to Shoreditch in London, kicking off with this incredible piece by Mr Cenz. I have seen a lot of his work over the last year or two, but only a few in the flesh, and the pictures rarely do them justice. His style pretty much always incorporates a female portrait composed of swirling vibrant shades of colour, which when you think about it, shouldn’t really work, but oh my goodness, work they do!

Mr Cenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Mr Cenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

A piece like this is just so magnificent and elevates the building it is painted on from being ordinary to being extraordinary. I would surely love to see him visit Bristol.

1966. M32 roundabout J3 (118)

It is obvious from this collaboration combined with Instagram posts from each of these artists that they not only paint well together, but they are really good friends too. Jointly, Hazard and Tasha Bee are at the vanguard of female street art in Bristol, although if I am honest an artist’s gender to me is not as relevant as the quality of their work, both score highly on the latter measure.

Hazard, M32, Bristol, January 2019
Hazard, M32, Bristol, January 2019

The Hazard piece on the left is a copy of the one she painted in Stokes Croft a couple of weeks earlier and has that amazing blue and red shadow thing going on.

Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2018
Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2018

It is so good to have her in Bristol for a while because we get to see her work first hand, rather than via social media – I need to photograph her most recent piece this lunchtime (by the time you read this it was a couple of days ago).

Tasha Bee, M32, Bristol, January 2019
Tasha Bee, M32, Bristol, January 2019

The Tasha Bee piece on the right is in such a different style – flat rather than 3D and highly designed, fitting the ‘Tasha Bee brand’ if that makes any sense at all. I love the work of both of these artists, and although I have met Tasha Bee several times, I would love to meet Hazard too and see her at work. Wonderful collaboration.