3378. M32 Cycle path (96)

I took this photograph as the light was fading at the end of an impromptu paint jam along the M32 cycle path. This would explain the slightly dour appearance of the piece, which is actually a bright and cheerful work from Smak.

Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020

The graffiti writing reaches the usual high standards associated with Smak, with superb fills and sharp lines that he delivers with such consistency. He has included a little character with this piece, a cat (looking a bit like a tiger) drinking milk from a bottle with a straw (a paper one I hope).

3375. M32 roundabout J3 (270)

My heart sings when I find a new Rusk piece, especially when I discover it without knowing about it in advance. It feels like quite a long time since I last saw one of his pieces of graffiti writing so this was a real bonus.

Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

The colour scheme in this one works incredibly in my view with the green matched with the yellow and oranges, and the way he has integrated them is so easy on the eye. Surprisingly, the pink and black 3D shadow works really well too – who’d have thought? Some expert white highlights and blue drips finish the piece nicely.  A pleasure.

3371. Dean Lane skate park (370)

I feel that DJ Perks is a little under-represented in Natural Adventures, but that might be because I don’t get down to L Dub as often as I’d like to where he tends to do most of his pieces. Every once in a while he comes to Dean Lane and treats us with one of his ‘PERKS’ works.

DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

This is a really nicely done piece with thin sharp lines around the edges of his letters. I’d be interested to know what cap he uses to get such fine lines. The horizontal fill is looking really good with two tones separated with a blue line with a bit of a cloud effect going on. This is accomplished writing and shows how much DJ Perks is improving with each new piece.

3370. Cumberland Basin

Over the last couple of years, there has barely been a moment when Rezwonk hasn’t had a new piece somewhere in the city, but of late he has slowed down a little, working on other projects I have no doubt.

Rezwonk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020
Rezwonk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020

This is a lovely colourful piece from the long wall adjacent to the Create Centre which reminds us just what a prodigious talent Rezwonk is. Great letter styling with some interesting drips thrown in too. A curious mix of colours, but he seems to pull it off just fine.

3369. Dean Lane skate park (369)

These tight collaborations from Dibz and Shade One are becoming something of a feature in Dean Lane this year, and it has been a genuine privilege to see and photograph them.

Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

The precise graffiti writing from Dibz paired with the stylised portraits from Shade One have a crispness and professional look about them. The walls are always nicely prepped and the work carefully done.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

On the left, the black and white writing from Dibz is so sharp and painted to appear like a sticker, along with all the surrounding ‘shout outs’. Note the little fold over on the far left, a trick repeated in the top right-hand corner of Shade One’s contribution.

Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

Shade One creates these amazing portraits that have a sophisticated comic book feel about them. What lies behind those eyes? I love the shirt collar too. Overall another excellent production from this pairing.

3368. M32 roundabout J3 (269)

One of the pleasures of photographing street art and graffiti is that you get to meet many artists as they paint their creations. Most will make time for a quick chat, and over time you become acquaintances and sometimes friends. This was the first time I had met Any and indeed it was the first time I had seen his work in Bristol, which is not all that surprising as he has only recently come to Bristol from Poland. It is great to welcome yet another artist from Poland to join the merry throng in Bristol.

Any, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020
Any, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020

Any is a graffiti writer who freestyles his work, which means that he paints from his head rather than a sketch in a black book. He said that it gives him freedom. I like the way that he has prepped the wall first and has taken care with this bright piece. The short word ‘ANY’ means that his pieces can take on an abstract look and I rather like that. There are some elements that are similar to Benjimagnetic’s work, particularly the triangles with single-line outlines.

Any, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Any, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

Although this was the first piece I have seen by Any, I have noticed a couple more in the Stokes Croft area, which leads me to believe he probably lives in North Bristol somewhere. Welcome to the city of street art.

3365. M32 roundabout J3 (268)

Well this just about sums it up – another in the series of ‘Shite Year’ pieces by Turoe, this time on the M32 roundabout. When I first saw this piece I was a little bit miffed because it had been painted over a wonderful EAT collaboration piece from January this year, but then I thought, hey, it is about time something new was painted here.

Turoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Turoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

The way the two halves of the piece have been written gives the impression that this is a collaboration between two artists, but it is in fact the work of a single artist.

Turoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Turoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

Since returning to painting after a period away, there has been no stopping Turoe, and there are more pieces from this theme still to come. Let’s hope for everyone’s sake that next year brings a little more joy and peace. At least Trump won’t be in power to destabilise things further.

SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2020
SPZero76 and Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2020

3364. Dean Lane skate park (368)

Mr Draws continues to experiment and try new things, which is one of the reasons I love his work. His writing is perhaps less conventional than some writers in Bristol, but it has a freedom and joy about it, an unpretentiousness if you like.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

I like the way the colours overlap from one letter to the next and the random positioning of the letters adds interest. Great colours, simple and effective. Always great to see work from this Bristol legend.

3362. M32 roundabout J3 (267)

There has been a renaissance of sorts in Bristol over the last couple of years or so with the arrival of a merry band of Spanish artists, several of whom are outstanding graffiti writers. Front and centre of this throng is Todoaciem whose near-perfect writing form is a joy to behold.

Todoaciem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Todoaciem, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

This piece on the M32 roundabout is typical of his structured ornate calligraphy style which spells out CIEM1, although it takes a trained eye to work this out – I am still learning. The colour selection works well and this combination of shades of pink and blue are often used by street artists because they make a piece stand out. Great graffiti writing.

3361. Sparke Evans park (4)

On the long wall at Sparke Evans park is this lovely chrome and black piece from Dott Rotten who more often than not spells out SPOILT in his pieces. I don’t know how long the piece has been there, because I visit so infrequently, but it looks reasonably fresh and untagged, so I don’t think it is too old.

Dott Rotten, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2020
Dott Rotten, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2020

I think that Dott Rotten is an artist whose work we just don’t get to see enough of. These letters are perfectly formed and the black 3D shadows exact. To cap it off, the black decorative fills around the outside, and variants in the ‘O’ add depth. As fine a piece of two-tone graffiti writing that you will see.