5386. River Avon (47)

Raid, River Avon, Bristol, June 2023
Raid, River Avon, Bristol, June 2023

When a new artist makes it on to your radar, it becomes very difficult not to see their work everywhere, especially if they are as productive as Raid seem to be. Raid made his debut on Natural Adventures back in March this year, and since then he has appeared seven times, and I still have some of his work in my files. Look out for a gallery before Christmas.

Raid, River Avon, Bristol, June 2023
Raid, River Avon, Bristol, June 2023

The letters RAID, I imagine, are quite fun to play with, and the way that Raid writes with large bold lettering, gives him plenty of scope for interesting fills. The letters are joined at the base, and the fill bleeds from one letter to the next. Some nice swirly psychedelic forms and shapes fill the space nicely Some nice touches include a thin orange border on the right-hand side of the letters and a decent 3D drop shadow capped off with a tight black border. This is another fine piece from Raid.

5385. Sparke Evans Park (75)

From Bacerlona, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023
From Bacerlona, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023

A short time ago, I published the first post featuring From Bacerlona, a Spanish artist who paints alongside his fellow Sunday Lovers. That first piece was vibrant and exciting, and this one, which I believe might have been painted before the other, has that same excitement about it.

From Bacerlona, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023
From Bacerlona, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023

Possibly spelling BACER (or maybe BARCA), the blocky letters are at the centre of numerous graffiti-style arrows, which From Bacerlona seems to favour some. The fills keep the eyes busy and contain a lot of spots and a little brick wall – gotta love a brick wall. There is loads of movement in the writing and I have to say I really rather like From Bacerlona’s style. Lots more to come, I hope.

5384. St Werburghs tunnel (374)

Still, Pekoe and Maes, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Still, Pekoe and Maes, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023

For some unknown and rather annoying reason, my attempts to photograph this fabulous collaboration from Still, Pekoe and Maes, were poor at best, despite visiting it and photographing it several times. I think that something to do with the greyscale colours of the piece and the artificial light in the tunnel messed with the autofocus on my camera and on my phone. This is the best you’re going to get.

Still, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Still, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023

To the left a rather haunting piece from Still, including an excellent Betty Boop character to the right, and ghosts that look like they might have come from one of her early cartoon sequences. With the black and white colours it certainly has a 1930s kind of look to it.

Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023

Next up we have another letters piece from Pekoe, who is definitely having a try at improving her graffiti writing, and in this game as we all know, the only way to improve is to practice. Getting into the ghostly spirit of the collaboration, Pekoe has included drips on the border and in the fills and included a number of eyes.

Maes, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Maes, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023

Maes is an artist who is quite early on in his development, and has surrounded himself with more experienced artists. He is getting to grips with his letters and hasn’t fully settled on a ‘Maes style’ just yet, although his letters are always large and bold, so there is never any mistaking the artist. This is an interesting collaboration which might have been better suited to October rather than May, but was definitely a talking point in the tunnel for a little while.

5382. Dean Lane skate park (623)

Dibz, VZA and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz, VZA and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

So far this summer, there have been some magnificent collaborations, occupying large walls, some from the NTS crew, but others that appear to have been stimulated by the return of Fade to Bristol. Fade is clearly an artist who enjoys collaborating. This outstanding wall is by Dibz, VZA (Veeez) and Fade.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

Dibz and Fade have done that thing where they write each other’s name, which, for anyone unfamiliar with their styles could be confusing. Even when writing letters other than DIBZ, Dibz’ style and sharp finish gives him away every time, no signature required. I like the subtle colour transition in the letter fill from blue to red scanning left to right.

VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

The centrepiece is by VZA and features an incredible lay sharp and vibrant alien character that is simply constructed and beautifully executed, making it very easy on the eye. The bright colours make it very difficult to ignore, and it rather steals the show in this collaboration.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

To the right, Fade has written DIBZ in colours and a letter style that remind me a little of Scooby Doo, don’t ask me why. Fade seems to enjoy painting characters and backgrounds almost as much as letters, and here he has included some lovely rolling hills and a couple of trees, which he is adding the finishing touches to.

We are spoilt in Bristol to be able to see so many extraordinary and ephemeral pieces of art, and part of the purpose of this blog is to record and share these amazing works for a wider audience that they surely deserve.

Wxttsart

A gallery of superb graffiti writing from Wxttsart, a.k.a. whatsxmilk. Writing the word MILK in a cross-over of anti-style and calligraffiti.

Instagram: @whatsxmilk

Wxttsart, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Wxttsart, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023
Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, March 2023
Wxttsart, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Wxttsart, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Wxttsart, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2022
Wxttsart, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2022
Wxttsart, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2022
Wxttsart, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2022
Wxttsart, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2022
Wxttsart, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2022
Wxttsart, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022
Wxttsart, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022
Wxttsart, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Wxttsart, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Wxttsart, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
Wxttsart, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
Wxttsart, Albert Park Place, Bristol, January 2022
Wxttsart, Albert Park Place, Bristol, January 2022

5376. M32 roundabout J3 (494)

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023

Although his frequency of painting has slowed just a little since the spring, Hypo continues to have a sizeable presence in Bristol, which can only be good news. I will be brutally honest about this piece and say that I don’t think it is his best work. The concept and letters are all good, but the colour transitions through the piece feel a little lost and I am thinking that the grey background might not be helpful in this respect.

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is still a lovely piece of writing, but I know that Hypo has recently been smashing it and this one doesn’t quite make the bar IMO. I guess consistency can be difficult to maintain, but I know that he will be out and about again with another banger. I look forward to his next piece.

5375. Dean Lane skate park (622)

Raid, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023
Raid, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023

Since first encountering Raid earlier this year, he has been one of the most productive forces on the streets of Bristol, and right now, that is some achievement. I have met the artist on a couple of occasions, and he seems to be a really decent bloke, he also told me how he is enjoying playing with his letters, trying new ideas, but with the same general style.

Raid, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023
Raid, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023

These pinky-purple letters on a light pink background are easy on the eye. His fills have been very nicely executed and provide plenty of interest, and the turquoise/white sparks running through the piece add a detail that rounds the whole thing off nicely. More in the pipeline from Raid.

5374. Sparke Evans Park (74)

Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023
Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023

A consistently great writer in Bristol is Claro_que_sssnoh, with his distinctive and unusual style of graffiti writing. This one is a bright and shiny golden piece, which works well on the rather dark and gloomy wall.

Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023
Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2023

Spelling out HONS, the joined up letters offer a mixture of straight and curly letter shapes that typify Claro_que_sssnoh’s style. Some nice fills, including some trademark series of spots. The pink and yellows work surprisingly well together, and altogether this is a top quality piece from the Sunday Loving Spaniard.

5371. M32 roundabout J3 (492)

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023
Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023

I was fortunate enough to meet Lee Roy for the second time this week, when he was just finishing off a piece in this exact spot, and it reaffirmed my first impression that he is a really decent and likeable fellow, who is happy to talk about his work, and shows an interest in what I do to record and report on the pieces that I see.

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023
Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023

This piece of graffiti writing has a modest colour palette, but contains all the fun elements you might from Lee Roy. The letters are painted in a semi anti-style way, following the freedom he enjoys. The fills vary from letter to letter but the white accent lines are consistent, and I particularly like the yellow stars and hoops on the arrows at each end. Some nice ‘shout out’s to other artists round the piece off nicely. Lee Roy remains on a hot streak.

5368. Brunel Way (217)

Pura Decadencia, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Pura Decadencia, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

What an absolute pleasure to see Pura Decadencia back painting walls in Bristol, after quite an absence, with this magnificent piece on the long wall under Brunel Way. I think that she must have either been out of the country or busy with real life, but whatever the absence, it is great to see her back painting walls.

Pura Decadencia, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023
Pura Decadencia, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

This piece reminds me of the first of hers that I posted in January 2021. She spells out her name with nice curvy bubble style letters and combines them with a couple of wicked mouths, complete with vampire teeth, biting into the letters or licking them with a long tongue. The background and fills are really nicely worked too. I look forward to more from Pura Decadencia.

Pura Decadencia, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Pura Decadencia, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021