2311. St Werburghs tunnel (87)

It just keeps getting better and better from Decay, and there seems to be a joyful freedom about his work at the moment. This gorgeous piece is just by the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel and has an instant presence or class about it.

Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019

The wall is not high and so Decay has had to vertically squeeze his writing into a limited space, creating more regularity to his letter heights than he is used to when he has more space. Perhaps this is why this piece looks rather different from his recent writing pattern. It might also be the great colour selections and fill in his letters. Whatever it is, I think that this is a very nice piece indeed from one of the most productive artists in Bristol this year.

2310. St Werburghs tunnel (86)

I took this picture back in June, and when I last visited St Werburghs tunnel, This piece by Dusk was still there. The more I see of Dusk’s work, the more I am warming to it. I caught up with Oner recently, and we were talking about the pieces in the tunnel, and he told me that the name ‘DUSK’ comes from ‘Don’t Use Skinny Kaps’. A skinny cap is a cap that you use on a spray can that gives a slightly narrower arc of spray and so tighter lines. The more skilled at spray painting you are, the less need for skinny caps. For me, as a learner, skinny caps are essential.

Sunday graff 0002 9 June 2019

What is notable about this piece is that I don’t recall seeing Dusk including a character before – that doesn’t mean he hasn’t, it just means I haven’t seen one. The character is rather fun, and appears to be smoking a reefer, although what would I know?

 

 

2307. St Werburghs tunnel (85)

In one of his favourite spots, Fiva (Fiver, Henry Barnes) has painted another of his lovely block capital pieces using the longer version of his name and overpainting it with the word ‘forever!’ in a kind of stone effect.

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019

This time he has gone for the bevelled edge look to his large letters and included a 3D shadow in green to the left. In teaching myself to spray paint, I used his general style to create the letter H (in my series A-Z) and all was going well, in fact it was looking rather good, until I put a black and white outline around it. So the point is that to get straight outlines requires real skill to avoid wobbles and varying thickness of lines. Fiva has done a great job here with his yellow and black outline. I need to practice a lot.

2306. Waterloo Place (4)

This wall at the back of Sofa Project has played host to some of the tightest street art in Bristol, and it is most pleasing to see that tradition continuing with this new collaboration between Paul Monsters and Soker.

Paul Monsters and Soker, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2019
Paul Monsters and Soker, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2019

when I spoke to Paul Monsters about it, he was full of compliments for his collaboration partner and explained how Soker had worked the horizontal shade in his writing to match up with Paul’s geometric design with complete ease. Looking at it knowing this adds context and insight into the strength and thoughtfulness of this piece.

Paul Monsters and Soker, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2019
Paul Monsters and Soker, Waterloo Place, Bristol, June 2019

The geometric backdrop by Paul Monsters is in my view masterful work and creates a most extraordinary illusion that the wall is made of coloured blocks that have bevelled peaks that jut out, and no matter how hard you look at it it is difficult to see it as flat.

Genuinely, this is one of the most enjoyable collaborations I have seen in quite a while. Classy and diverse.

2305. New Stadium Road (15)

I think that Ugar is a much unrecognised and perhaps underrated graffiti writer in Bristol. His work is always neat and tidy and his fills usually imaginative and skilfully painted, but I rarely see photographs of his work in the digital ‘datasphere’. One reason may be that he is probably just less well known than other more established artists, or my perception might simply be wrong.

Ugar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2019
Ugar, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2019

This little pedestrian underpass is one of my least favourite places to take pictures because of the uneven light conditions, but this one hasn’t turned out too badly. Ugar’s writing is always unsymmetrical but nonetheless recognisable, his letters being of various sizes and not conforming to a grid. But it is his decorations and fills that really set this artist apart from others, he seems to have a talent for nailing this element of his work. Keep it up Ugar.

2299. Dean Lane skate park (226)

Well these two seem to have come out of hibernation, and this is one of two recent collaborations between Soge and Hire. These two are both Polish artists who have adopted Bristol as their home and have been collaborating for a few years now.

Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

On the left is a fine and rather complex piece of writing by Soge, which does actually spell out SOGE although it is highly disguised. His style is like a kind of organic Gothic and seems to be from the same school as Hire and quite unusual for Bristol. Long thin sections of lettering with sharp points, this is technically very difficult and brilliantly executed.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

On the right is one of Hire’s trademark rabbits which are altogether more ‘street’ and sinister than the rather cuddly rabbits painted by fellow countryman Nevergiveup. There is a lot of menace in this rabbit – not one I’d like to meet on a dark night – and you can see how the fur, all pointy, reflects the style in Soge’s writing. These two would seen to enjoy each other’s company and it is a pleasure to see them back out and painting again.

2296. M32 Cycle path (32)

This is an interesting piece by Decay along the M32 cycle path that uses minimal colours to great effect. Looking at his work recently has brought us on a bit of an adventure, crossing over from his abstract work into his writing, while retaining his little character ‘Chuck’ throughout. This piece almost feels like it is a reversion back to the abstract, even though it does spell out DECAY.

Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

Decay has been incredibly prolific this year and has also teamed up regularly with other artists including Rezwonk and Nightwayss. It is interesting how artists build up these paint friendships which seem to be more linked to their personalities than their styles (take SPZero76 and Kid Crayon of the Eat crew for example).

Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

It would appear that Decay has recently joined the LRS Krew (Last Radical Souls) who seem to be a loosely connected global crew who write the LRS everywhere. Here is his contribution (which is rather classier than many of the others on their Instagram feed) which he painted adjacent to the piece above. Always great work from Decay.

2295. Lawrence Hill Roundabout (9)

I guess I have been posting pieces by Diced Mango since the beginning of the year and I can honestly say that I think that this is his best piece yet. On one of the tunnel entrances (the Easton swimming pool side) he has found the perfect spot to show the piece off.

Diced Mango, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, June 2019
Diced Mango, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, June 2019

I think that he has absolutely nailed the flames effect and his colour selections work really well. He has really developed his technique in such a short space of time, and it is easy to chart his improvement. I’m looking forward to seeing where it all goes.

2294. Dean Lane skate park (225)

It is great to see Mr Draws back out and enjoying himself. This is a really colourful piece (gone already I’m afraid) that kind of reminds me a little of birthday party wrapping paper. The letters DREW, a corruption of Draws, are connected with some kind of tubing that looks a little like a worm.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

What you see is what you get with Mr Draws. There is nothing pretentious about his work and he has developed a style that is all his own. If you are looking for perfect geometric lines or clever 3D shading, then probably best to look elsewhere. I lioke his work because of its authenticity and honesty – rare commodities just at the moment. Brought a smile to my face.

2290. M32 Cycle path (31)

Painted during a bit of a paint-jam down on the cycle path a couple of weeks back, this is a nice bit of writing from Bristol-based artist Hypo. I have only seen a couple of his pieces from Upfest before, so it is great to see something beyond that ‘safe’ environment.

Hypo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Hypo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

The writing is quite unusual with large spaces between the letters. If his name wasn’t so obviously part of this piece I think I would have difficulty in identifying it, as it isn’t like the other pieces I am more familiar with. Nice though.

Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016