4044. City Road (11)

Having only recently started to post pieces by Dopes, it was particularly gratifying to find this absolute beauty recently. Sprayed during a recent paint jam celebrating the opening of a relocated eatery, this piece really stood out, and ticks a lot of my boxes.

Dopes, City Road, Bristol, October 2021
Dopes, City Road, Bristol, October 2021

The multi-coloured, beautifully and skilfully patterned fills are truly exceptional, and the white spots and trims provide the depth and 3D look. Dopes’ letter shapes are all very nice too, particularly the elaborate D. This is a belter of a piece of graffiti writing from the RAW man.

4043. M32 roundabout J3 (360)

As with my previous post, this Subtle piece has languished in the ‘departure lounge’ of Natural Adventures since September. I had intended to publish it almost immediately, as I like to try and  do with pieces that I really admire, but somehow it got leap-frogged and then fell down the list. I am very happy to have revived it.

Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021
Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021

Subtle has not painted a huge amount this year, so finding this one was a real pleasure. This is a beautiful and touching tribute piece by Subtle for his cousin Sarah, who sadly passed away in September this year. It must have been difficult to paint, but probably means a lot to him, and to the family. It is a beautiful thing to do.

Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021
Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021

Although Subtle doesn’t often do characters, I think that this is very nicely done, and it is something he should consider doing more of – the ones I have seen I have liked, and they offset the writing really well. A very fine tribute piece.

4042. Sparke Evans Park (17)

This lovely piece of graffiti writing from Claro_que_sssnoh has been sitting in my ‘departure lounge’ for months and months, it got left behind and dropped off my radar. In a recent clear up, I found it again, and have dusted it off for posting.

Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2021
Claro_que_sssnoh, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2021

The colours work quite well, although I am not too sure about the pink and the red being comfortable bedfellows, something doesn’t quite feel right. The letters, spelling HONS, are in typical Claro style, that is long and thin, combining smooth curves with angular elements, and filled with lots of circles and other decorations. Glad to have hauled this out of the pending list.

4039. M32 roundabout J3 (359)

The Bristol street art scene simply wouldn’t be what it is without the metronomic consistency of artists like Face 1st. These artists provide the foundations upon which all other artists build their works and reputations, but without this underground culture, street art would likely struggle in the city. Just look at those towns which have no culture of graffiti or street art  and then host a festival, the legacy although stunning dies off and appears to be fake. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing street art wherever it is, but people like Face 1st provide an authenticity that you simply can’t replicate through commissions alone.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol October 2021
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol October 2021

This is a revisiting of one of Face 1st’s favourite themes, a girl’s laughing face with a hairdo made out of the word FACE. Lovely colours, nicely painted and everything I would want it to be.

4037. M32 roundabout (358)

This lovely collaboration on the M32 roundabout took me a little while to unravel, although once unravelled it is blindingly obvious. To the left is a very ‘Haka’ Haka piece and the right hand side is a blended collaboration between Logoe and Sepr.

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021

I probably haven’t posted nearly as many Haka pieces as I should have over the years, and might need to do a bit of digging in my archives to get a few more out there. This is a simple but joyful piece of writing from Haka with the ever-present shout out to CK1 RIP.

Logoe and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021
Logoe and Sepr, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2021

The Logoe/Sepr mash up is simply brilliant, and the second recent piece in a burst from Logoe who appears to have woken from a long slumber. The letters are by Logoe in his unique script style and the writing isn’t his usual message or lyric, but  the year spelled out. The fills are beautifully done and colours reflective of the time of year.  Sepr has contributed a face and hand into the mix and as a whole it works really well. This must have been a fun session.

4036. St Werburghs tunnel (264)

As mentioned recently, Stivs has been absolutely smashing it recently, and this pair of pieces, on either side of the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel, is a wonderful recent addition to his expanding repertoire.

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021

To the left as you enter the tunnel is a fine bright greeting ‘good morning’ with dawn colours in the background. Cheerful and revitalising. This contrasts with the piece opposite.

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021

To the right is the ‘good night’ piece in black writing, set on a sunset background. The two complementary pieces are a perfect pair and a creative way of painting this particular spot. There seems to be no limit to Stiv’s ambition and energy at the moment, and that is a good thing.

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021
Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2021

4032. Cumberland Basin

Although I haven’t posted much from Turow for a while, he is still churning out his work pretty regularly and switching it up as he goes along, as you can see from this rather different stylised block writing piece.

Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2021
Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2021

Looking like ancient monuments on the lean, these large golden letters with a pink border certainly stand out, and the white line and shimmer across the top of the letters helps to create a nice 3D illusion. Some interesting little blobs across the bottom add a stylish finishing touch. Another one for the gallery.

4031. City Road (10)

Recently, at the top end of City Road, there has been a whole bunch of new painting going on for the launch of Stoked Food, an ethical food outlet in Stokes Croft. Among the wonderful fresh new pieces is this quirky piece from one of my favourite artists, Maesyhook.

Maesyhook, City Road, Bristol, October 2021
Maesyhook, City Road, Bristol, October 2021

Perhaps better known for her Kawaii style, this is something altogether a little more surreal from Maesyhook. The portrait, in black and white, looking like a giant stencil, is overshadowed by a large cloud with an eye and shedding pink raindrops and fork lightening. The purple heart choker just adds an element of interest. Unusual, quirky and fun.

4030. River Avon (21)

I happened to meet Eman (Werm) yesterday down by the river, under Brunel Way, and mentioned to him that I had lined this piece up to publish today. We spent a while discussing his array of styles, but he said he has moved away from this spiky, complex writing to something a bit more blocky.

Eman, River Avon, Bristol, October 2021
Eman, River Avon, Bristol, October 2021

I am always full of admiration for writers who produce such complex work, it seems utterly baffling how they go about it, but I guess that is where the hours and hours of practice come in. The main body of writing spells out WERM, which is the name Eman is now painting under, and to the right are the letters LRS, which is the crew Eman belongs to. All very nicely executed and a great addition to his incredibly varied portfolio.

4026. M32 roundabout J3 (356)

This is the first of a swathe of wonderful pieces by Logoe, who seems to have sparked into life with at least five pieces in a little over a week. It took me a moment to recognise the artist, because it is such a long time since I last saw any of his work.

Logoe, M32 roundabut, Bristol, October 2021
Logoe, M32 roundabut, Bristol, October 2021

The script-style writing spells out Logoe and the vertical fill autumn colours in the letters is truly exceptional, looking like huge paint drips on the wall. Many of Logoe’s pieces have some philosophical or song writing in them, scrawled over his work, and here it says ‘I sware on my muver’s life’. A lovely piece, and watch this space for a whole lot more.