Tag: Urban

1750. The Bearpit (161)

I have had this piece in my archives for a little while now, and what is amazing is that the piece is still intact in one of the tunnels of The Bearpit, or at least it was last week, and has remained undogged since early August. The piece is by Tommy Fiendish – occasional visitor to Bristol.

Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2018
Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2018

Tommy Fiendish has made a little video of a version of this piece, entitled ‘will I take him out now your grace?’ which, if you are a fan of Terry Gilliam should tick your box. I do like his work which tends to have a subversive of humorous streak and is perhaps a little more visually challenging than much of the stuff you see around the place. All good.

1749. Dean Lane skate park (170)

I arrived at this piece a little too late to see it in its original condition. It had been a collaboration between Mr Draws (in the middle) bookended by Tasha Bee. However, before I managed to get to see it, Oner had made a little contribution of his own.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018

I have to admit that I rather like Oner’s burners. There is a certain honesty about them, unpretentious but nicely turned out and often just a little bit edgy. Tasha Bee has rapidly made it into my group of favourite Bristol artists with her stylised characters and pretty flower motifs.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018

She is very prolific, and even today on a long walk with the dog I found a couple more of her pieces. There is something rather spiritual about her characters, it might be something to do with the simplicity of the lines or the closed eyes or the little peace and love signs, I’m not sure, but they ooze serenity. It is a pity I didn’t see the Mr Draws bit in the middle, but I can imagine it.

1748. M32 Spot (27)

I have been prompted to publish these wonderful cartoon faces by Zake from my archive because I am aware that he has done some more recently. I was hoping that I could find out a little bit more about the artist in the meantime, but all my searches have been fruitless.

Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

Zake’s faces are wonderfully expressive and in terms of their size and format seem to work very well within the rather tight constraints of the columns under the M32.

Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

Another characteristic of Zake’s work is the selection of brown colours for the faces, which seems to provide a good contrasting base for the features. I love this man with the pens in his shirt pocket. These are great small pieces, and it would be good to see where Zake takes this work.

Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

1747. Dean Lane skate park (169)

Ok, so I have been doing a little bit of a trawl through my archives to let a few overlooked pieces see the light of day. This one by Hire I managed to photograph moments before it was buffed over, I forget who by (I think it was Dibz), but you can see the paint can at the ready in the bottom left of the picture.

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

Hire is one of several Polish artists in Bristol, adding an international feel to the work we see here. His writing tends to be very cryptic and his lettering angular and sharp, looking like shards of metal. Normally his writing spells out his name, but I’m not so sure that it does in this piece. It is quite a ‘dark’ piece, which is often the case with his work, even his bunnies are touched with menace or melancholy.

1746. Moon Street (54)

Absolutely no prizes for guessing the artist…besides which his signature is strikingly obvious in this piece. Laic217 favours this wall, and I must have six or seven of his works from here over the past three years or so. Incidentally, Moon Street is one of my favourite haunts too, but there seems to be less and less turnover here than there used to be.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2018
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2018

In this piece, we have many of the things you can expect from Laic217 Including the bucket hat and brick wall motif. But what I particularly like about this character is his eyes which are actually spray can caps – a great idea. You have got to like the rather manic ‘Joker’ mouth too, which adds a touch of menace to the piece.

Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2018
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, September 2018

Laic217’s pieces are often highly colourful and this one is no exception to that. The turquoise background acting as a perfect foil to the red brick shirt and purple face. I’ve always been a fan and likely will always continue to be one.

1745. Brunel Way Bridge (9)

It has been a long while since I last posted a piece by the extraordinarily talented Sled One, so it was great to come across this piece in the Cumberland Basin a week or so back. The wall itself is always tricky to photograph because there is a lot of glare that streams across it – this may be an artifact of the time of day I usually visit this wall.

Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

I will not pretend that I have anything other than utmost admiration for the work of Sled One – his fantastical creations are the stuff of cartoons and surrealism combined. Add to that potent mix a technical gift and you have some of the best artwork being produced in Bristol at this moment in time.

Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Sled One, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

Earlier in the year I met Sled One a couple of times, and it turns out he lives on my road (although I think he travels around a lot too, originally coming from York (I think)). On his Instagram account he labels this piece as a self-portrait. I guess he is fond of Nike shoes! He says it started as an ASK (the crew he belongs to) piece, but that it ended up elsewhere. I can’t read ASK concealed anywhere in the illustration. Fabulous work.

 

1744. M32 roundabout J3 (96)

This piece has been around for a little while on the M32 roundabout, tucked in between a couple of bushes. I don’t know the artist – presumably Skot, and my efforts to try and track him/her down have led me to several Skots, the most likely being Skot One who I think is from London.

Skot One, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Skot One, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, September 2018

I rather like this piece, both the writing which is beautifully executed and the character. It is a long time since I last saw Andy Capp, but it seems the cartoon strip is still running. A nice touch and nostalgic reference.

1743. Dean Lane skate park (168)

The first thing that grabs your attention about this work is probably the bright pink colour, characteristic of the artist Stupid Stupid Meathole. Next is the faintly grotesque character/monster of the piece, but equally memorable is the fantastic name that the artist has chosen. Always distinct and always eye-catching.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

I haven’t posted too much of Stupid Stupid Meathole’s work, because it only appears on the streets occasionally. If I see it I will always snap it and post it because I am rather strangely drawn to it. SSM never disappoints, but may shock a little and might not be to everyone’s taste. I however am a bit of a fan as it is always great to see something a bit different…a bit imaginative.

1742. M32 roundabout J3 (95)

From just a little while back, this is a wonderful example of wildstyle writing from the Bristol-based graffiti writer Soge. Like his Polish counterparts, his writing has a hint of the Gothic about it, although not quite as much as Hire. In my view there is certainly a difference in influence and derivation between the Polish and British writers – but you would expect that.

Soge, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Soge, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018

Soge’s colour palette in this piece is very easy on the eye and there is something about the overall shape and design that reminds me a little of Inkie’s work. The letters quite clearly spell out SOGE. Great work.

1741. Dean Lane skate park (167)

Wow, wow, wow. I am head over heels in love with this stunning work by Muckrock (Jules Muck). Shortly after I photographed this fabulous piece I dived into the Upfest shop and had a chat with Paul Monsters and Steve and Emma who run Upfest. I mentioned this exceptional work in Dean Lane skate park to them and although they didn’t know about this one, they had met her recently and offered her a wall to paint at the other end of North Street. She must have done this one as a bit of an extra while she was visiting.

Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

I can honestly say it is my top five pieces for 2018 and has come as a complete surprise which makes it extra special. I believe Jules Muck began her graffiti ‘career’ in England and Europe, but lives and paints mostly in the United States, living in Venice Beach. You can find out all about her on her extensive website, well worth a gander

Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

I love the green monotone and the mischief in the portrait is to die for. I can’t really say too much more about this piece without utterly embarrassing myself. So you, like me, will just have to sit and gaze at it…sigh…