2152. St Werburghs tunnel (73)

Another fine combo from Laic217 and Cort in St Werburghs tunnel. I feel like I haven’t seen too much from Laic217 in recent months, although actually he is still reasonably productive and I see maybe a couple of new pieces each month.

Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019
Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019

The Character piece has several themes that we have seen from Laic217 before. A skull, a brick wall, this time in the form of glasses and a brilliantly crafted hoodie jacket complete with zip.

Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019
Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019

More than other pieces that Laic217 has produced, this one feels surreal, probably because the brick wall obscures the eyes, or more correctly the eye sockets, so the character is dissociated from its surroundings… warning, beginning to sound a little pretentious.

Cort, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019
Cort, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2019

It would seem that Cort recently has been rather fond of extending the length of his name, and in this case to CORTONE. I wonder if by lengthening it he gives himself more scope to play around. I like what he has done here, and I particularly like the random white surround with trios of black dots in it. All in all a nice collaboration from these two friends.

2151. M32 roundabout J3 (138)

There was a recent paint jam down at the M32 with fur artists participating. The only one that I recognised was Smak, so I guess the others were visitors to Bristol, or don’t paint all that often. This piece by Smak was the pick of the bunch, although the others were pretty good too, and I’ll post them in due course.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019

The colours of this piece stand out so brilliantly against the white background and I consider this to be a truly masterful piece of writing. I am pretty hacked off that I cut off the ends of the piece in both photographs but the pavement here is pretty narrow and it is difficult to get the full span of a piece in shot. I am even more annoyed that I went back there last night and forgot to retake the pictures. Sensational work though.

2145. Dean Lane skate park (205)

I haven’t seen a whole lot of Mr Draws’ work lately – I think he has been out and about, but by the time I get to find his pieces they have been over-painted, so it was most gratifying to come across this one in Dean Lane last week.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019

His ideas are simple and his execution very much in the style of high-class bombers, but in my mind what really sets him apart from others is his willingness to try new concepts and colour patterns. This piece really works for me, it is easy on the eye and I just can’t stop myself following the purple spiral from the centre outwards and back again. The multicoloured fill is a joy. All good from Mr Draws.

2140. Dean Lane skate park (204)

Not very often, but often enough to satisfy the appetite, Dibz creates one of his extremely precise and complex pieces of wild style writing. I have seen a few where he uses this black and red combination which he seems to favour.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019

Somewhere in there it probably says DIBZ, but I’ll be darned if I can find it. The whole thing is just so sharp and crisp, and technically pretty close to perfection. This is what the highest quality writing looks like. Bravo Dibz.

2135. M32 Cycle path (21)

Well here is another one from Decay, with a little bit of collaboration from Rezwonk who provides the orange patterned base. I have to say that of Decay’s recent pieces I think this one just shades it as my favourite. You can find it on the M32 cycle path, which looks like it will be reopening very soon, and perhaps elevate access to this wall which has been a little neglected over the last year or so.

Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019

I think it is the first time I can remember Decay using this colour palette and I think that it works really well with his writing style. The evolution of his work is a journey I am enjoying very much, and each piece seems to push the boundaries just a little bit more. Still a whole bunch more to come. Rezwonk is a fine artist in his own right, but his tight, bright designs work extremely well in collaborations. All round great piece.

2133. Dean Lane skate park (203)

This, I think, is the largest Ugar piece I have seen to date. It is on the large single wall in Dean Lane that has played host to some truly magnificent pieces over the years. Ugar’s writing style is rather unusual, being quite organic and irregular, but it is his fills that lift him above the ordinary.

Ugar, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Ugar, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019

He decorates his letters with an array of patterns, swirls, bubbles, subtle shadings and lines that provides his unique finish to each of his pieces. I like the work of this Hungarian artist very much, and this one is worth a long hard look.

2131. M32 roundabout J3 (136)

I said that there would be more from Decay, and by gum I am a man of my word. It feels like he is enjoying a new lease of life, and not only with writing letters, but also with his colour selections – less so perhaps in this piece but generally he appears to be using more colours in his work.

Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019

I think I might have to approach him and ask if he would be prepared to do an interview, because I think his story is likely a very interesting one. Note to self – get of arse and message Decay. More still to come from Decay.

2130. St Werburghs tunnel (72)

There was a time, and it wasn’t too long ago, when I thought that Soap only ever produced his mushroom-shaped mouths, in a variety of different styles and colours. However, over the last year or so, he has really branched out a whole lot and is doing a lot of writing – it seems many bristol artists are currently doing the same (Decay, Kid Crayon and Tasha Bee has just started too)

 

In this piece Soap has incorporated his mouths into a rather clever and intricate word SOAP. I love the two triangles that kind of hold the whole thing together and add interest. It reminds me a little of a mint choc-chip…it’s a colour thing.

2120. Lawrence Hill roundabout (7)

Although I haven’t posted much from Oner for a while, it doesn’t in any mean he hasn’t been productive. On the contrary his work seems to be ubiquitous, and a day barely passes by without seeing something by him.

Oner, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
Oner, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019

This is a rather good piece in one of the tunnels of Lawrence Hill roundabout. Real care has been taken with this to create nice clean lines, excellent shadows and clever accents that give the letters a rounded 3D appearance. Oner is an interesting artist who seems to enjoy bombing and quick throw-ups, but when he takes his time he can create works of high class, like this one. Very nice.

2118. M32 roundabout J3 (135)

Yet another remarkable Sled One piece that almost got away. This end of the M32 wall is near a tree, and for most of the day, on sunny days, the wall is dappled with sunlight and Shad, which renders it almost impossible to photograph successfully. I had to return a couple of times to catch it on a rather more overcast day to capture it in all its glory.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2018
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2018

Sled One appears to churn out these extraordinary pieces with such ease, although I expect that is not the case at all… perhaps the mark of an artist at the top of his game. In Bristol right now, Sled One is probably the greatest story teller through his art, every piece containing a strong visual narrative (is that a thing?). I’m not too sure what the story is here, but the man in the ‘D’ of SLED appears to be running away from something. Always great to find pieces by this gifted artist.