I suggested recently that we would be seeing a lot more from Minto in Bristol, because I believe he has moved westwards from London, and so it seems to be, confirmed by another original and captivating piece on the M32 roundabout at the end of last year.
Minto, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023
The letters MINTO are very well disguised in this piece of multiple characters, I can see at least four of them. There is plenty to look at in the piece, and the paint work is really classy, even Minto’s signature is classy. A really nice imaginative piece, and I expect to see a whole lot more from Minto in 2024.
As with my last post, I have been a little distracted by my birthday today and have very limited time to write a blog post. I will let Phour do the talking with this magnificent large piece of writing in Peel Street Green.
Phour, Peel Street Green, Bristol, December 2023
This chrome piece is loud, bold and confident. It is unapologetic and unfussy. Sometimes big fat ‘in your face’ graffiti writing can be just the ticket, and I think Phour has done a great job with this one.
It is my birthday – a significant one, and I have slightly taken my eye off the ball with writing my blog, so this will be an exceptionally quick one. Here we have a fun cartoony piece from Jevoissoul who emerged on the scene as recently as October last year.
Jevoissoul, M32 Cycle path, Brisol, December 2023
The character has a cartoon Picassoesque feel to it and reminds me of an artist who used to paint in Bristol called Panskaribas (see below). Jevoissoul often accompanies his work with the word Slow, and he has done so in big letters in this piece – I expect to see a lot more from the artist this year.
Panskaribas, New Stadium Road, Bristol, October 2018
Omie_wan_kenobi, M32 roundbout, Bristol, December 2023
Pekoe’s birthday paint jam in December was a real treat not least because it introduced me to the work of Omie_wan_kenobi for the first time. I have a feeling that I must have seen Omie’s work before, but perhaps it passed me by. I am pleased, however, to be posting this piece now.
Omie_wan_kenobi, M32 roundbout, Bristol, December 2023
This is a wonderful piece of ‘organic’ writing from Omie which is all rather original, with each of the letters OMIE having a rural landscape/nature feel to them. This is a nice way to celebrate Pekoe’s birthday and a great opportunity to showcase work. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Omie_wan_kenobi, who I presume is a member of RBF.
A gallery of anti-style graffiti writing from Bristol’s fabulous Whysayit (YSAE).
Crew: PLB
All photographs by Scooj
Whysayit, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2023Whysayit, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022Whysayit, Frome side, Bristol October 2022Whysayit, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2022Whysayit, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2022Whysayit, Thomas Street, Bristol, February 2018Whysayit, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018Kleiner Shames and Whysayit, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018Whysayit, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, January 2018Whysayit, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2018Whysayit, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2017Whysayit, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Whysayit, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2017Whysayit, M32, Bristol, June 2017Whysayit, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2017Whysayit, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016Whysayit and Kleiner Shames, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016Whysayit, Horfield skate park, Bristol, April 2017Whysayit, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, March 2017Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2016Whysayit, Unity Street, Bristol, February 2017Whysayit, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017Whysayit, Armada Place, Bristol, December 2016Whysayit, Upper York Street, Bristol, September 2016
Biers (or WD40 as he writes these days) has been on fire this winter, producing a series of fine writing and character pieces. The formula is a winning one, and the balance between the writing and the character is usually spot on. There are also loads of additional elements that feature in his work and contribute to the overall look and feel.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2023
I am not sure who the cartoon pig is, but will do a very quick Google search to see if I come up with anything… nope, I have drawn a blank. So we have a pig with a bandage – there is a story there I am sure. This is a nice piece to round off the year with for Biers, and I hope he keeps up his frequency and consistency into the New Year.
I was lucky enough to meet Zeks late last year while he was painting with Hypo and Dun Sum on a different part of the roundabout, and learned that they all live in Lawrence Weston (L Dub). Fortunately they make the trip into the centre from time to time and decorate our walls. Although I have photographed a handful of pieces by Zeks, this is the first I have published on Natural Adventures.
Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023
I have to say that this is one of my favourite pieces of 2023. It has an originality and lightness of touch that really makes it stand out. The letters spell ZEKS, although I might have struggled to work it out without knowing the artist (and seeing the signature, of course). The pastel colours on a grey background work incredibly well, but it is the two stylised faces, with their mysterious expressions, accompanying the writing that set it off perfectly. A very nice piece indeed from Zeks – I must dig out others of his, if I can find them in my archive.
Wxttsart and Mind 49, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
This collaboration is one panel of an end of year paint jam on the M32 Cycle path, parts of which have hosted some outstanding pieces in 2023. This piece brings together the styles of two incredibly different artists, Mind 49 and Wxttsart (recently rebranded as Whatsxmilk).
Wxttsart and Mind 49, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
The unmistakable anti-style calligraffiti from Wxttsart spells ‘Mindout’, a clear reference to his painting partner. The letters are beautifully constructed and consistent in form, and this writing is a little more conventional than some of his work. The contrast with Mind 49s portrait couldn’t be more marked.
Wxttsart and Mind 49, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
There is something slightly elusive about much of Mind 49s portraits, a vagueness that allows the imagination to fill the gaps. There is an absence of sharp focus, so often found in photorealism, that makes Mind 49s pieces so special. The subject’s features are partly obscured by the shadow of the cap, adding some mystery to the piece. The folds in the material of the cap are beautifully worked. This is a fine piece and fine collaboration. A great way to end 2023.
Raid has had a flurry of activity this winter, and I keep finding pieces new to me, wondering if they are recent or if I have simply missed them. I can be pretty sure this is a recent piece (it wishes us a Happy New Year) as turnover in the tunnel is much easier to monitor than in some of the other spots in Bristol.
Raid, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
One of the challenges Raid appears to have set himself, on occasion, is to create a piece that is rotationally symmetrical, and this piece I think falls into that category. The fills in this piece are beautifully done, and the green line with stars creates interest and continuity through the letters. It is interesting that he hasn’t painted a border between his fill and drop shadow, preferring to leave a clean line instead. Surely time for a gallery?
Any and every time I see a piece by Fiva, it makes my heart sing. The rarity value has something to do with it and this is one of only three pieces painted in Bristol in 2023, and before these we had to wait three years for his reappearance.
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023
This is an outstanding piece, adopting his customary formula of writing his name and accompanying it with a fun cartoon character. As in previous pieces, Fiva has superimposed a script ‘fiver’ over his block capitals ‘FIVER’ to create an amazing and very clever effect. He is a master of this technique and seems to make the complicated look simple.
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023
The wonderful character is saying ‘Diolch Bristol’ which is Welsh for ‘Thank you, Bristol’. I’m not too sure what that means, but it has an inference of finality about it. I do hope not, and will be keeping my fingers crossed for a return by the artist in 2024. Meanwhile, I will simply enjoy and admire this outstanding piece.
