He keeps on painting them and I just keep on writing about them – this is another nice piece at the M32 by Face F1st. My first impression about this piece though it that it looks a little hurried…the lines are not very clean and the white surround looks like the work of a bomber.
Face F1st, M32, Bristol, March 2018
The face, as with all his pieces, is simple and charming and provides the focal point for the rest of the decoration. Normally, the surrounding patterns spell out FACE, but I can’t see it in this piece. Not his best work, but worth including, I felt. I snapped up two more of his pieces on my way to work this morning.
With collaborations in Bristol, there are few that are finer than those between Gemma Compton and Copyright. This particular mural is a triumph, and for me, what makes it really special is the backdrop of blue and white tiles. This is a gorgeous piece, and is at great odds with the busy road and traffic adjacent to it. An oasis of calm.
Copyright and Gemma Compton, Newfoundland Street, Bristol, March 2018
The central stencil of a girl with butterfly wings is by Copyright and provides a focal point in the centre of the piece with the warm colours contrasting with the blue and white surrounds.
Copyright and Gemma Compton, Newfoundland Street, Bristol, March 2018
I think that Gemma Compton may have done the girls wings, and certainly the other blue and white butterflies that adorn the mural.
Copyright and Gemma Compton, Newfoundland Street, Bristol, March 2018
As for the blue and white tiles, I am not too sure who did these, but I have seen tiles feature a lot in Gemma’s work before. I suspect they both worked on these. The overall effect is stunning, and I hope that we see more of these collaborations in 2018.
This is the first of my posts from an Easter trip to Barcelona with my daughter. Although it was not a street art hunting break, I managed to come across some great spots thanks entirely to the great advice and help from Lewis Duncan, author of the excellent ‘No Grey Walls‘ WordPress site, to whom I am indebted.
I do not pretend to know anything about the artists in this collaboration and Lewis writes much more authoritatively about this piece in his own recent post about it, so I will direct you there for more detailed information. Instead I will leave you with some pretty pictures to look at. If I knew this spot better, I would know to come at a different time of day, as the sun was behind the wall making photography a little challenging.
Christian Blanxer, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
The left hand side of the collaboration is by Christian Blanxer.
Saturno, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
The middle section is by Saturno
Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
The right hand section by Erase.
The collaboration really is a treat, and one of the best pieces I saw in Barcelona – I’m just so glad that I timed my visit to perfection.
Christian Blanxer, Saturno and Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
There is an interesting story to this collaboration ‘Girl and Death’ in so much as it was not a planned collaboration at all…it just kind of happened. How do I know this? I discovered it on the Instagram feed of one of the artists involved, Nino Werner:
‘After a night of crazy partying, we started this painting with no real direction first & just enjoyed the fun show that is Bristol Streetart Festival called @upfest . What first started as two separate pieces merged together in the process when we got to know the very talented fella (Luke) next to our dedicated painting spot, who was also painting in black and white, but also added gold. We like shiny things so we grabbed some golden paint and made the separate artworks merge together. The painting is either a reference to a sketch of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (also called Girl and Death) or the fun party night and the hangover David had the next day when we painted it.‘
It is always great to get a bit of insight from the artists themselves.
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The girl on the left of the collaboration is by Nino Werner, Javi and David Schermann, who I believe visited Upfest from Austria. And on the right of the piece is an intricate skull in black white and gold by Luke Gray.
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann and Luke Gray, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Luke Gray has a fabulous website which is well worth a visit. His biography states that he is from the UK and is a nomadic surrealist symbolist painter. He was born colour blind and works in an almost exclusively black and white pallette, using patterns and textures rather than colours.
This, slightly unfinished, piece by Envol presents visitors to Upfest with something very different from the usual fare served up. His work is best described by his entry in the Upfest programme:
‘Envol paints realism fused with experimental, Deco era inspired designs and a touch of neoclassicism. His ethereal yet bold compositions are crafted with a mission to delight senses.’
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Everything abut this piece oozes class and the style ensures it stands out from the crowd. I don’t know much about the artist, but a quick trawl through Google came up with some magnificent work from this artist.
There was so much great street art at Upfest 2017, it has been difficult to try and post ass much as I possibly can. This is a lovely piece by Hide2 which was at the Ashton Gate site, and in common with my other posts from there, the piece is not quite complete in these photographs.
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
On his visit for the festival, he left a nice ‘gift’ in Wilder Street which I wrote about back in August – it seems strange to now only be posting his official Upfest piece.
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
His work here is absolutely brilliant, both the portrait and writing are sensational.
Last year at Upfest there were many black and white/greyscale pieces, of which this was probably one of the best that used contrast to its best advantage. The strong blacks and whites on the grey background really lift the design out from the surface, and I think this is a really accomplished piece.
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This was one of two pieces by the Drojan at the festival, and I hope I have left enough time to feature his other one in a post before Upfest 2018 catches up with me.
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I know little about the artist (there was no entry for him in the programme), but this short video made by a visitor to Upfest 2017 shows him paining this piece, in the video he reveals he is from Venezuela, emphasising the incredible international reach of this festival. Already getting very excited for July.
I absolutely love this piece for many reasons. Firstly, it taps in to my love of fishing and is one of several angling-related pieces at Upfest 2017. Secondly, the cartoon style is really unusual and quirky…it has a great many similarities with the style of Bristol’s own Sepr, which in my view is a really good thing.
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mariojin, the artist, comes from Milan in Italy and in the picture above it looks like there might be an element of collaboration going on.
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Apart from Mariojin’s fabulous website which shows off some great work, I don’t know too much about the artist beyond what is in his Programme notes for Upfest:
‘Mariojin grew up in the outskirts of Milano, where the cohabitation of different cultures offers inspiration to the first movements of the Milan writing. He develops the passion for drawing and colours since childhood, inspired at first by his aunt’s canvas, artist and teacher, and subsequently, from the garish colours, forms and dimensions of Graffiti’s world. Attracted by this world he begins to paint with sprays at the end of the 90s. He is Member of Nuclear1 crew, which organizes an important graffiti jam “Meeting of Styles” Italy since 2014. He paints using a mix of influences between illustration and graffiti.‘
Andrew Burns Colwill is a great Bristol artist and one who has championed environmental awareness vigorously in recent years, particularly with his 20:50 vision pieces. At Upfest 2017 he really excelled himself with this magnificent polar bear sitting on what at first appears to be a piece of ice, but which is actually a pick up truck floating in a sea of plastic.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
His ongoing commentary on the destruction of our planet, and visions of what it might look like in 2050 results in a series of haunting images, of which this is one. A prophet of what might be, if we don’t pull our fingers out and get things sorted. Andrew Burns Colwill, like many others in the environmental movement, has been talking about plastic for some time…at last it feels like the government is listening.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This is one of the best pieces of the 2017 festival, and the good news I understand is that it is here to stay. The Coopers Arms pub, where this piece can be found, will be keeping it. ABC’s fine art pedigree shine through in this work and he is truly the king of murals in Bristol. I salute you.
Without question, watching Arladiss painting this piece was my most joyful experience at Upfest 2017. This was the second piece she worked on in South Street Park during the festival, and I was lucky enough to see her adding the final touches.
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The charming portrait of a child appeared to be finished, but Arladiss had other plans. The youthful joy she brings to her paintings of children is complemented with a bit of child-like fun to bring about the final touches.
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Arladis held a paintbrush loaded with paint and proceeded to splatter the piece with great gusto. Just watching her do this was an experience. She was so obviously enjoying applying this final touch and was beaming while she did it.
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Her sense of fun rubbed off on the few spectators who gathered to see what she was up to and, for a moment we all reverted to a childish state. Her sense of fun is so infectious. I love the piece, and her other Upfest piece, and am thrilled to know that she will be returning for Upfest 2018.
Natural adventures 