3764. Cumberland Basin

If this piece hadn’t been signed, and hadn’t appeared on Instagram, I am not sure that I would have ever identified the artist as Georgie. I know that she varies her styles and techniques quite a lot, but this one, in my eyes, is totally different. Painted as part of the Bristol Womxn Mural Collective paint jam from a little while back, this piece perfectly fits the aspect of the wall at this point.

Georgie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2021
Georgie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2021

It is funny, but I thought I had photographed dozens of Georgie’s pieces, but it turns out that it is actually only a handful. This slender elf figure appears to be doing some kind of yoga or exercise routine, but is very clearly connected to nature, which is a popular contemporary theme these days. I think the whole piece has a hint of 1930s illustration about it, except for the rabbit, which I don’t think adds anything to the painting (sorry). Great to see Georgie getting out and about.

3763. M32 roundabout J3 (329)

Ooh, a very lovely piece from Ryder on the M32 roundabout, full of fun and movement. Part of a wider collaboration, but worth singling out because it is just too good to share the limelight.

Ryder, M32 roundbout, Bristol, June 2021
Ryder, M32 roundbout, Bristol, June 2021

What could be better than a RYDER riding on a skateboard – all in bright green and five cheeky little characters. If nothing else the piece is a memorable one that definitely stands out from the crowd. This is Ryder at his playful best.

3762. L Dub (28)

What a truly great surprise, on a recent trip to L Dub (Lawrence Weston), to see this old school collaboration from 2Keen and DJ Perks. It was especially nice to see as 2Keen doesn’t paint all that often and this is something of a rarity.

2 Keen, LDub, Bristol, June 2021
2 Keen, LDub, Bristol, June 2021

I have met 2Keen a number of times, particularly when he was painting the REDLAND piece (below) not far from where I live, a few years ago, and he is a very nice chap whose failing eyesight makes his painting achievements all the more impressive. His old school characters are very recognisable, having exaggerated cartoon-like features. This one is especially good.

DJPerks, LDub, Bristol, June 2021
DJPerks, LDub, Bristol, June 2021

The writing from DJ Perks is also very nicely done, with the shading in the green letters providing some real depth. It seems that DJ Perks is an absolute natural and continues to go from strength to strength.

All in all a very nice collaboration.

2Keen, Ryder and Aspire, Redland Court Road, Bristol, May 2017
2Keen, Ryder and Aspire, Redland Court Road, Bristol, May 2017

Acer One

A gallery of outstanding graffiti writing and cityscapes from Bristol artist Acer One.

All photographs by Scooj

Conrico and Acer One, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, May 2021
Conrico and Acer One, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, May 2021

Acer One, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, May 2021
Acer One, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, May 2021

Sepr an Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021
Sepr an Acer One, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021

Acer One and Andy Council, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021
Acer One and Andy Council, Chatterton Square, Bristol, April 2021

Acer One, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2021
Acer One, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2021

Acer One, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2021
Acer One, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2021

Acer One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Acer One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

Acer One, Temple Way, Bristol, September 2020
Acer One, Temple Way, Bristol, September 2020

Acer One, St Werburghs, Bristol February b2021
Acer One, St Werburghs, Bristol February b2021

Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021

Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Sepr and Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021

Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Acer One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021

Awkward and Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Awkward and Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

AcerOne, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2019
AcerOne, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2019

3758. Upfest 2021 75×75 (4)

With this year’s Upfest being spread over 75 days on 75 different walls, it is quite a challenge to know what is being painted where and by whom. On the upside, you get to meet a lot of artists while they are working, but on the downside, there are some pieces that go under the radar and are quite easy to miss. The watch word here is vigilance combined with keeping your ear to the ground.

Kleiner Shames, Argus Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Kleiner Shames, Argus Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

I found this outstanding mural by Bristol old-boy Kleiner Shames while looking for another piece nearby, and what a surprise. One of my absolute favourites so far. I actually have a couple of Kleiner Shames originals hanging up in my home which I bought from before he moved to London and I have a hugh soft spot for his work. Many of his pieces used to spell out FOIS, but I’m not sure if I can see it in this one but I do think there is writing in there somewhere. The shapes, colours and overall design are magnificent, and remind me of what we are missing since he moved away. Bravo!

3757. L Dub (27)

It can become confusing sometimes when you are on the hunt for a specific piece. When there are hundreds of images swirling around your head that you have seen on social media, it is easy to forget what pieces you have gone out to photograph, and this confusion very nearly led to me missing out on this magnificent piece by Laic217. I had walked past it, thinking that I had photographed it before, and it was only on my return journey that I realised it was new but not the new piece I was looking for… that was somewhere completely different.

Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, June 2021
Laic217, L Dub, Bristol, June 2021

Laic217 has been creating some amazing pieces recently, and he is definitely on an upward trajectory. This skeletal figure, puffing away on a joint, is another fine example of the artist’s work, once again showcasing his craft in painting materials and fabrics that his characters wear. More good work. I was fortunate enough to bump into Paul H on this trip, and it is surprising how often that happens, but here, miles away from our usual haunts on the same day at the same time, was quite bonkers. We stopped and chatted for a while before I had to scarpa back to work.

3754. Waterloo Place (5)

This is a very special wall, indeed all the walls around the Sofa Project are special. A special wall deserves special treatment and this fabulous recent collaboration from Paul Monsters, Andy Council and Soker, is, I would say, very special.

Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021
Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021

To the left of the collaboration is a stunning nautilus or ammonite piece by Andy Council, who seems to have strayed from constructing his creatures from architecture to painting blocks that are ‘stitched’ together with bits of ‘chord’. The outcome is a very clever effect of life that is constrained from inanimate parts. Andy Council has been unbelievably busy on the streets over the last year, and I can’t remember a time when I have seen so much of his work. This is very good news.

Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021
Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021

To the right of the creature is a high-end piece of wildstyle writing from Soker painted in shades of blue with a white border/3D shadow. Spelling SOKEM, the whole thing is very easy on the eye and so obviously painted by a creative master. It is near perfect.

Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021
Andy Council, Soker and Paul Monsters, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2021

This collaboration just wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without the outstanding geometric pattern piece from the fabulous Paul Monsters acting as a backdrop, but contributing so much more than that. Paul Monsters pieces might just be the most recognisable in Bristol, and he has really carved out a niche for himself with this unique style and palette.

Overall an outstanding collaboration and a real treat.

3752. Cumberland Basin

It is a funny thing, that I don’t fully understand, but consistently, whenever I post Ments pieces on Instagram they just never get as many likes as other artists’. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that these complex organic pieces don’t translate very well onto the small screen of a mobile device. In the flesh, these are always magnificent.

Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2021
Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2021

I love Ments’ work, it is always carefully considered and technically challenging and while it might not be to everyone’s taste it is consistently of the highest quality. In this one Ments presents us with his disguised writing in fairly angular lines, softened by the ‘marble’ decorations. A very nice piece indeed.

3749. Brunel Way (111)

I got rather lucky with this piece, managing to time my walk perfectly to be able to catch up with the artist mid way through painting it. The very large piece is by an artist I had never met before and didn’t even know about, Vents137. For an artist who specialises in painting trains, this was something of a departure (no pun intended), but very impressive nonetheless. Vents137 wasn’t at all happy with the colours though and just wanted to get it finished quickly, and he was very quick.

Vent137, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Vent137, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021

The piece is a classic writing and character arrangement with the letters spelling out VENT and the character taking the form of a hooded robot kind of thing, reminding me a little bit of a Snub23. It is all quite unlike anything I am used to seeing in Bristol and I hope that Vent137 takes to the walls more often.

Vent137, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Vent137, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021

Yet another debut on Natural Adventures from an experienced artist. How on earth am I expected to keep on top of all of this, I ask you? Great piece that unfortunately didn’t last too long.

3747. M32 roundabout J3 (328)

I am thoroughly enjoying this relatively recent design format from Face 1st, and I think that this is roughly the fifth or sixth piece that I have seen in this style. One of the pleasures of taking an interest in street art is watching how each of the artists evolve their styles and subjects… what they practice and what they choose to discard. Few things on the street/graffiti art scene remain static.

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

This piece appeared a couple of weeks back, quietly and quickly and unusually not as part of a collaboration with PWA friends. The block letters spelling FACE are filled with the dynamic (crazy) blue hair belonging to the smiling girl, whose omnipresence is at the heart of all of Face 1st’s work. I like the darker tones of the piece, which seem to work really well. Another beauty.