3Dom is probably best known for his character pieces and scenes, which are utterly outstanding, but he is also a very accomplished writer and every now and again we are treated to a little bit of his graffiti writing like this piece at the M32 Spot.
This is a splash of colour with what looks like translucent letters over the top spelling out 3DOM. It is full of joy and hope and the colours of summer, something we need to hold on to as we accelerate towards winter. Always classy.
Phour, an artist that I only encountered for the first time this summer, has been hitting the walls quite hard this year and there aren’t many spots around the city that haven’t had his letters displayed in all their glory.
This piece, behind the swimming pool railing at Dean Lane, shows what Phour is capable of. Some really nice crisp letters with a three-colour horizontal fill, the central red stripe with loads of little red spots around it. There are further purple decorations reading across to the top and bottom stripes. The whole thing set on a green splat background. I’m not entirely certain about that green with the other colours, it just doesn’t quite feel right. A top quality piece from Phour.
Yet another outstanding piece from Inkie in this purple patch we are lucky enough to be witnessing in Bristol at the moment. I am guessing that Inkie has a bit of time on his hands at the moment… maybe it is a pandemic thing and if it is then it is an upside as far as I am concerned.
Alongside some of his friends (posts to follow soon) this appeared about a week or so ago at the top end of Stapleton Road. It is an absolute classic and painted in colours that he has used before, from memory he painted a van in similar shades. Those of you who follow Thursday Doors, might well see this piece again sometime in the future (door hidden under the I and E). I will never tire of his work and am really enjoying this current spate.
Every now and again in the tunnel you get to see a really classy piece of writing (in fact much more than just ocasionally – we are blessed) and this tight piece is by Gage Graphics, probably better known for some magnificent large murals arountd the city.
There is something comforting about mural artists who make their living from their art getting back to grassroots and slapping some paint up on a wall like this. This is the work of someone who really gets what he’s doing and carries it off with ease. There are so many good things about this work, spelling out SERIF, but the cracks in the letters do the trick for me. Something of a rarity, but so very welcome.
On the opposite side of the Dare To building from the Smak piece in my previous post on Natural Adventures is a fine quintet of pieces of which this is one. Each piece hosts the writers name together with a little character. This gorgeous rhapsody in green is by Hemper.
Spelling out HEMS, this intricate piece is absolutely amazing and incredibly detailed. The letters seem to pop out all over the place thanks to the skillful 3D shading effects. This is a work by a fine craftsman. I’m not too sure who the little green character is to the top left, but I think I recognise him from a contemporary cartoon series.
No signature, but who needs a signature when your work screams out Fiva? It feels like an eternity since Fiva hit any walls, but this is quite some comeback. I don’t need to tell you what it spells, but I am probably as curious as you are as to why he decided upon the word Puffin.
The piece is dedicated to Josie and perhaps the word puffin means something to her. The writing is big and bold, but I can assure you that just because it looks simple does not mean it is simple to do. For a start there are all those straight lines and the correct spacing between letters etc. There is an extremely nice touch with the grey shadows to the left and bottom of each letter. A magnificent piece. I tried to emulate one of his letters last year, with a rather disappointing result… very difficult to do.
Another stunner from Smak on the M32 roundabout and this time it is in beautiful gold and green colours with a slightly unexpected surprise pink and red highlighting the outer edges of the piece.
I found this without knowing it had been painted (always rewarding and it usually means that it is pretty fresh because it han’t appeared on Instagram). There is a kind of browny tinge all along the middle of the letters, giving the letters a bit of a 3D shiny feel to them. Belting statement piece.
This superb collaboration from Dibz and Shade One was a precursor to their Cheltenham Paint Festival collaboration in the Honeybourne Line tunnel painted last weekend. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see the finished Cheltenham piece, but was privileged to watch the pair working together.
This Dean Lane Piece is truly outstanding, and the quality of design and execution is of the highest order. I particularly like the blue bubbles, the largest of which provides the background for Shade One’s character on the right. What you see here is a near-perfect work from two very talented artists.
As if to prove me wrong, here is yet another Mr Draws piece, and a rather nice little one at that. Since stating a little while ago that he wasn’t getting out much, I am now finding pieces all over the place. I was also fortunate enough to catch up with him at the Cheltenham Paint Festival last weekend, and noted that he too has grown a rather nice corona beard.
The piece in St Werburghs tunnel Is deceiving because of the lights in the tunnel. It is actually chrome but the reflected light makes it look very gold on the right hand side. Some nice simple drops and blobs just lift the piece a little. Modest and fun.
I don’t know the artist Mr Hoops who painted this banging burner in Dean Lane, but if I were to liken it to anything it looks like a mash up in style of Soker and Hemper, both of whom I initially thought might have been behind the piece when I first saw it. So what I am basically saying is that I think it is very good indeed.
The letters spell out hope, something we can all relate to in these crazy times. Some great letter shapes and vibrant colours on a dark background and the inclusion of a magic hat combine to make this a most enjoyable piece to look at. I don’t think it lasted too long, but the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
The letters
Natural adventures 