4014. River Avon (19)

A new name that has cropped up a lot recently is Desi, and on meeting her for the first time last week, I felt it would be fitting to start posting her work. I believe that she has only been spraying walls for about a year, but her progress has been rapid and she is producing some nice work.

Desi, River Avon, Bristol, September 2021
Desi, River Avon, Bristol, September 2021

Desi is an artist who uses the same letters in a broadly similar style, but decorates them differently, testing out different colour combinations and painting techniques. This is a fairly straightforward piece with a green fill and blue highlights bound with a black border and 3D shadow. The final touches of stars add interest. I am so full of admiration of anyone who gives it a go, and am inspired too. I wonder when I will find a moment and have the courage to spray my first wall.

The first of many Desi posts I’m sure.

4013. M32 roundabout J3 (353)

The third piece by Smut on Natural Adventures, and I couldn’t put it any better than the artist himself does… “Everybody loves Smut”. Well if not everybody, at least I do, and that’s what matters.

Smut, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021
Smut, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021

As with his other pieces, it is the sharpness of his lines that really catches the eye, and the script form of the whiting is rather seductive. This is a really accomplished piece, as the fills demonstrate. I’m looking forward to meeting the artist at some point in the future, if only to find out about the techniques used.

4009. M32 roundabout J3 (352)

Mest is one of several artists who keep things simple. He adopts the same basic design of letters but plays around with the background, fill and shadow colours, always creating interest and variation of a form.

Mest, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Mest, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021

This is a lovely new piece on the M32 roundabout painted alongside Stivs, a good friend, and adopting the same colour scheme. I wonder if it is the influence of Stivs, but this piece is really tight and one of Mest’s best to date in my opinion. The horizontal transition of greens is nicely handled, and the thin green border is very sharp. An attractive piece of work.

4002. Cumberland Basin

It is always a pleasure to come across a Pl8o piece, even more so since I met him. There is something about his letter choice that really appeals to me, so not only is it a nice bit of word play, the shapes of the letters work really nicely together.

Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

In this piece, Pl8o has reverted to his big block letters after a brief flirtation with script, although the dep 3D shadings he favours are not present in this one. A decent enough throwie (throw up) and another to add to his repertoire.

3998. St werburghs tunnel (261)

Seeing tribute and birthday pieces is always great to see, and it demonstrates the joy of painting for others, that selflessness that is a common trait in many street/graffiti artists, at least in my experience.

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021

This piece for Shosh by Stivs at the entrance of St Werburghs tunnel is an absolute beauty and shows just how wide Stiv’s range of calligraffiti is. The pink lettering looks like it has been applied with a wide paint brush, but is actually really nicely finished. Great shadows and decorations. A lovely piece that is very easy on the eye.

3996. Dean Lane skate park (433)

Hot on the tail of his first piece on Natural Adventures, I am pleased to bring you this second one from last month. Of course, there are a whole ton of his pieces in my archives, but it will take me a little while to unearth them all.

Dopes, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021
Dopes, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021

Dopes seems to  favour these large letters with chrome or other bold solid fills and accent highlights and the overall effect is a good one. I know he takes care with his work, and it is clear to see from the sharp and clean lines that he is really conscientious about his work. Lots more to come.

3995. M32 Spot (120)

It takes a rather silly person or one who holds respect to paint over a 3Dom piece, and fortunately, Dott Rotten falls into the latter category. This is a magnificent and quite large ‘Spoilt’ piece at the top end of Stapleton Road by the M32 Spot.

Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2021
Dott Rotten, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2021

The quality of the piece is right out of the top drawer and in addition to the superb writing Dott Rotten has treated us to the addition of some ghoulish scenery and a ghostly character. There is so much going on throughout the complex piece in three spaces – in the foreground is the writing sitting on a cloudy red and blue layer, and in the distance is the scene described earlier. A truly great piece.

3993. Picton Lane (11)

Kosc really is an extraordinary talent, especially as, under a different name, he is a graffiti writer with an utterly different style. Pieces like this are serious business for Kosc who is fine-tuning his skills for these photorealistic portraits and writing.

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021

Picton Lane is a wonderful Bristol backstreet in Montpelier that plays host to some classic pieces, of which this is one. I remember seeing it as a work in progress a long time ago, but didn’t get back until quite recently to enjoy it as a finished piece. I am full of admiration for the piece. It is so good, and I am not sure that I would be doing it justice by waffling on like I usually do, and I am doing right now.

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021

Kosc has reached a new level this year, and it is difficult to know how much higher he can take it. I wonder whether he should do a street art festival circuit to get better known outside Bristol, but that takes a lot of commitment. This black and white face is just awesome.

Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021
Kosc, Picton Lane, Bristol, August 2021

The tiniest tinge of colour is provided by the magpie’s tail, but it is enough to lift the whole piece just that little bit more. It is Kosc’s attention to detail that makes this piece sing. An absolute beauty.

3992. M32 Cycle path (145)

I think that this is the last piece to be posted from a recent and most welcome spate of excellent work by Flava136 in Bristol. Having said that, maybe his trips will continue to be more frequent, and he seems to clicked with quite a few members of the LRS crew in the city.

Flava136, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2021
Flava136, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2021

As with the last piece I posted, Flava136 has produced some cryptic writing into this monster piece. I guess it says FLAVA or part of it, where the F is obvious, but thereafter I am clutching at straws a little – perhaps there is an L just above the tongue. Anyhow, this is yet another outstanding, sharp piece from Flava136.

3990. M32 roundabout J3 (350)

I haven’t seen a new Elvs piece for quite a while, so I was doubly pleased to not only find this graffiti writing, but also to find Elvs working on it. Of course, I chatted for a little while, conscious that these guys sometimes like to have a bit of peace and quiet. I asked why he hasn’t been painting much recently, and one of the reasons is that he is now the proud owner of a dog, a very big dog. Well you don’t need me to tell you just how much time a dog can occupy.

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021
Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021

There is something about this piece that elevates it above many of his others (a high bar indeed) and I think it might be the exquisite colour selection and blending as you move up and down and along the letters. The piece is flawless and beautifully finished, and with a piece like this, the buffed background makes a big difference. Let’s hope the dog lets him get out more!