Writer – Page 122 – Natural adventures

5630. Brunel Way (244)

Fade and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023

I am in a conference all day today, so I wrote this one last night, not that it makes any difference to anything at all. As reported several times before on Natural Adventures, Dibz and Fade have been unstoppable this year, painting some incredible pieces week in, week out. This beauty was on the long wall under Brunel Way.

As with many of their recent collaborations, it can be difficult to know where the individual work ends and the combined work begins, but broadly speaking the writing on the left is by Fade, and under his tight writing he has the words ‘From up above’.

The central character looks like something out of a Marvel or DC comic, but I am not sure that I can spend hours trying to find out who, although a quick Google search has led me to the door of Dark Phoenix from X-Men. Beautifully painted… these guys really are good. The banner spells out Tru Headz Kru (THK), which I assume is the two collaborating artists.

To the right, Dibz gives us another of his flawless pieces of graffiti writing, looking stunning in shades of green with a purple drop shadow. I can see several possible words in the letters, but most likely is DIBZ, although I can also see DARK, which would cross-reference nicely with the character. Still more to post from these two!

5629. Peel Street Green (20)

Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2023

I remember, looking back, that a few years back I used to think of Haka as something of an ‘edgy’ graffiti writer and artist as there were sometimes quite hard-hitting narratives alongside his work, but I think I was wrong at the time, and in recent years his work has been gentle and humorous and a joy to witness.

This new piece in Peel Street Green is a reflection of his work over the last 20 years and features a wonderful Snoopy character sitting on a rocket alongside some cheery bright and colourful letters. His work is upbeat and fun and these days works especially well for younger viewers, as many of his references are children’s cartoon or picture book characters. I hope this one stays as long as his Garfield piece in the same location.

5628. Cumberland Basin

Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023

There are some artists who pause for a long time between pieces, and it reaches the stage where they become out of sight… out of mind. I had quite forgotten about Lokey and his outstanding anamorphic writing, so it was an extra special surprise to find this piece. The day was a good one with the thoroughly enjoyable company of Paul H who was able to get out for a few snaps.

Purple and orange always make great bedfellows in street art, and Lokey has woven the colours in the most incredible way to create the 3D depth that appears to lift the letters several inches off the wall. Such clever and skilled work. I would love to see more of Lokey’s work, but I suspect his pieces will continue to be a bit of a rarity.

5627. M32 Cycle path (235)

Sled One, Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

I think I have Paul H to thank for pointing out this piece. I don’t often venture to this area because usually is is littered with tags and throw ups that I have little interest in, but this outstanding collaboration by Sled One, Karmone and Smak, proves that it is always worth taking a look everywhere.

Sled One, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

The piece is sited underneath the railway bridges on Stapleton Road, but cannot be seen from the road, which is probably why I missed it. To the left is something so incredible it is difficult to describe. The fire extinguisher character is Sled One at his most awesome, and it reminds me of a piece he painted way back. I’ll see if I can locate it and pop it in at the end of the post. Sled One’s complete mastery of his trade is something to admire and enjoy.

Karmone and Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

Fortunately, the accompanying writing by Karmone and Smak are of such high quality that they comfortably sit alongside Sled One’s work. Both pieces of writing are of the highest quality and ooze class. Overall, this is one of the best collaborations of the year, and there is some very stiff competition indeed. Once again it makes me feel very lucky to live in a city where such talent is on display, for free, for citizens, every day of the week.

Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, June 2016

5625. M32 roundabout J3 (521)

Mr Riks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

This classic burner on the long roundabout wall is one of two recent Mr Riks pieces to appear in Bristol. To the untrained eye, this might look like any other chrome throw up, but have a closer look and there are signs that this piece is by no ordinary artist.

The letters spell out RIKS, with a couple of comedy eyes and fingers at the top of the ‘I’, and there is a little deliberate blurring on some of the edges of the letters. It is the drop shadow, however, that gives this piece away as having been painted by a craftsman. The shadow has a vanishing point somewhere beneath the piece, and its curves perfectly match the curves of the letters. The stripes, which add depth, and orange border are really nice and tight too. The whole thing may appear modest, but is at the same time classy and masterful.

5624. Dean Lane skate park (657)

Rusk and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

Some collaborations are so good they simply ooze class, and any observer would be able to notice that something a little bit special is happening here. Rusk and Shade One have paired up once again in Dean Lane to give us this fabulous treat.

The writing from Rusk is beautifully proportioned and finished to his usual very high standards. The purple drop shadow works spectacularly well with the green/grey letters. Two stand out details are the white shine running horizontally through the piece and the yellow stripes on some of the letters. Utterly outstanding.

Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

The portrait piece by Shade One on the right is, I think, a tribute piece to Shimz. The wonderful attention to detail and extraordinary capture mark Shade One as the best photorealistic artist in Bristol right now, and how different his style is from only a couple of years ago, when his characters were more cartoony. This is simply brilliant, and the combination with Rusk is a real worldie in my mind.

5623. River Avon (54)

More fun painting from the playful Pl8o. This modest piece is located on the cycle path between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads station alongside the tidal River Avon. What I like about Pl8o is the complete absence of ambiguity in his work. What you see is what you get and that is that.

It is possible that this is a Halloween piece as it was most likely painted in October and has a ghostly skull character, it is also possible that it has nothing to do with the festival and any ghostly link is coincidental. Big fat solid letters, big fat yellow fills and a cheeky character. This piece does what it says on the tin.

5622. St Werburghs tunnel (391)

Klashwhensober, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2023

Klashwhensober is a force of nature, and his painting is his ‘rock’ in a turbulent environment. Over the last couple of years his work has been leaning towards quantity rather than quality (painting is what makes him happy), but recently I have noticed that that balance has shifted and he is starting to turn out some outstanding pieces, but fewer of them.

This is a wonderful and colourful piece at the farm end of the tunnel, spelling out SOBER. The letters each have an individual colour, with quite a lot of blended fills going on. The drop shadow is tidily done and lifts the letters from the wall a little. at the right hand end Klashwhensober has painted a sword, which is cutting into the letters. It looks like Klashwhensober has spent a little bit more time on this piece and has finished it off with care and attention. I like this more focussed approach from Bristol’s most prolific artist.

5616. Sparke Evans Park (84)

Desi, Peggy and Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023

I don’t know how old this lovely triptych by RBF bedfellows Desi, Peggy and Evey is, but I think it slightly predates the much larger RBF Halloween collaboration just to the left. A rather pleasant appetiser to its immediate neighbour. Desi has adopted her joined up writing for this piece which is neatly and tidily presented.

Desi, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023

Desi leads off on the left with another Veil piece using the light blue and yellow colour palette adopted for the collaboration. I have to say that I don’t think the colour combination is an especially good one, looking a little anaemic against the autumn leaf litter in front of it. Desi has some nice horizontal fills and subtle dot details and the 3D drop shadow helps it to pop out from the wall.

Peggy, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023

Peggy has made an oblique reference to the colour scheme with the incorporation of a yellow colour in some of her details. The floral display, complete with an eye at the centre of the flower is exactly what you’d expect from Peggy, containing some nice detail in the levels and petals. I don’t know what the letters AIZH stand for, but you can make them out at the base of the piece. Peggy’s work lends itself very well to being the decorative filling between two pieces of graffiti writing.

Evey, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023

To the right, the effervescent Evey has knocked it out of the park once again. Her letters are nicely thought out and she has reflected the horizontal fill regime in Desi’s work on the other side, and has come up with some decorations in the letters that make them feel substantial without being too busy. More great work from these three who appear to enjoy painting together.

5614. River Avon (52)

A graffiti writer and artist who regularly pops up on Natural Adventures, Pl8ohas recently had a bit of a purple patch, painting several pieces in the space of a month or two. This is a large burner on the cycle path that runs along the river Avon between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads station.

This large (larger than it looks), bold and humorous piece is a great example of Pl8o’s work, always well executed and fun to look at. The letters/number he uses are so easy on the eye, and here he has added an extra ‘o’ to create an excellent pair of eyes, a mechanism used by artists with ‘oo’ letters to great effect, such as Boogie and Scooj (hah!). Over the years, Pl8o’s contribution has not been insignificant as evidenced by this gallery of his work.

	cjsmissionaryministe… on 7622. North Street
	M. on 7625. M32 roundabout J2 (…
	M. on Minor injuries unit
	skat on Minor injuries unit
	skat on Minor injuries unit

	cjsmissionaryministe… on 7622. North Street
	M. on 7625. M32 roundabout J2 (…
	M. on Minor injuries unit
	skat on Minor injuries unit
	skat on Minor injuries unit

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