2202. St Werburghs tunnel (79)

A couple of weeks back there was a large paint jam in St Werburghs tunnel, and it would seem that it was something of a RAW (Read and Weep) get together. This collaborative piece included the T-Rex burner that I featured a few days ago, which was just to the right. These two are Ryder and Jaksta.

Ryder, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019
Ryder, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019

I don’t need to repeat myself, although I constantly find myself doing so, by telling you that Ryder is an incredibly accomplished writer, and here he has created something rather special in shades of gray with blue highlights. Having started trying to paint a little in the garden I realise how much I have to study what these guys do to understand tricks and techniques. Paint big was an important piece of advice I was given – smaller pieces are more difficult.

Jaksta, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019
Jaksta, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019

When I have been in the tunnel, it seems everyone notices the pig – he really stands out and the kids that walk past love him. Jaksta is a master of the character piece and his work often joins up pieces of writing like it does here. It is the details I love in this piece, the black shading and white highlights that give a 3D feel to the whole thing, and the two shades of pink that make it look like the light is coming from the right (which in this part of the tunnel it actually does). Great work.

2201. M32 Cycle path (26)

I have only met Ugar once and I remember him being a quiet and affable fellow. His work seems to crop up in all the main spots around Bristol, but this is the first piece I have seen along the M32 cycle path. Until recently, this spot became a bit of a ‘dead’ area because a tract of the path had been fenced off for development work. Since it re-opened about a month ago, turnover here has increased dramatically.

Ugar, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Ugar, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019

Ugar, in my view, has an extraordinary talent for filling his letters. His writing tends to be fairly organic and un-uniform, which makes it identifiable, but it is his unique variety of fills that scream out a Ugar piece. Always good and always interesting.

2196. St Werburghs tunnel (78)

I’ve not posted anything by T-Rex for a little while now, but was lucky enough to come across this wonderful piece in St Werburghs tunnel recently. It was painted during quite a large paint jam a week or so ago alongside work by other RAW artists.

T-Rex, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019
T-Rex, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2019

Having just bought some spray paint and tried out a little in my garden, I can’t begin to explain how difficult this is and what exceptional talent and experience is needed to produce a piece like this one. The shapes of the letters, the incredible fill patterns and sharp lines, not to mention the expressive dinosaur, are so well worked. I don’t really understand how these guys do it. T-Rex, I doff my cap. The sooner I pack away my paint the better.

2194. Mina Road (4)

Mina Road, (pronounced my na) rather conveniently runs between the M32 roundabout in St Agnes and St Werburghs, and is a cut-through I use sometimes when I’m out grabbing shots of street/graffiti art. New hoardings are often a magnet for spray-can artists and this spanking new one has landed this splendid Epok piece.

Epok, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019
Epok, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2019

Spelling our EPOK, this is a classic work from the artist, incorporating a complex selection of colours and that wonderful combination of curves and straight lines and angles that he excels at. A really great piece of writing, and how much nicer than the dull woodchip wall.

2191. Dean Lane skate park (210)

Just to prove that he is not a one-trick-pony (which he absolutely isn’t) here is a non-rabbit piece by Nevergiveup in Dean Lane. This is a nicely thought out piece with great colours and elements in it and it is so very easy on the eye. The first thought I get is that it looks a bit brand-like and would work very nicely on a beer mat (do they still exist?).

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019

The letters ZBOK I think are a crew or something similar that Nevergiveup and some other Polish artists use. It translates as pervert or deviant… not an entirely unexpected word for an art form that is edgy and rebellious. I guess there is something a little paradoxical about such a nice design for the word zbok. Great piece by Nevergiveup, just a shame I didn’t get there when it was clean.

2187. Wilder Street (29)

Such a beautiful piece of wildstyle writing from Bristol legend 3Dom. This was part of a recent collaboration with fellow ASK artist Sepr on a wall in Wilder Street curated by Where the Wall.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019

The colour palette is rather unusual, although I do remember a piece by 3Dom some years ago that had some similar colours, but it was a character piece rather than writing. Always such high-quality work fromn this brilliant Bristol street/graffiti artist.

3Dom, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016
3Dom, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016

 

2178. Upper York Street (15)

I have been waiting a long time to be able to post this piece. I have walked past it dozens of times, but cars have been parked in front, blocking anything like a decent picture. Obviously the writing is by Epok but I have a feeling, having seen some tattoo designs on Instagram, that the toadstool is by 3Dom. This is highly possible as the two do like to paint together.

Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019

Surrounded by street furniture and what is left of a bicycle it is virtually impossible to get as clean shot of this wall, so this is about as good as it gets. The rather touching thing about this piece is the three tributes to Mibzy, Buzz and CKOne each one a much loved and admired character from the Bristol street art scene.

2175. New John Street (4)

Last week I was on a bit of a brownian motion walk in Bedminster following the scent of some pieces that Paul Harrison had mentioned to me. On one of my meanders, I walked past this piece by Sofly which I hadn’t seen before probably because it is on a workshop door that is usually open during daylight hours.

Sofly and ?, New John Street, Bristol, April 2019
Sofly and ?, New John Street, Bristol, April 2019

I can’t be certain that the whole thing is by Sofly or whether she had an accomplice who painted the cat on the right hand side (Yala? Tam?). Sofly’s Work is always so crisp and clean and shaded beautifully. It was a real unexpected treat to find this one.

2174. M32 roundabout J3 (142)

 

Ordinarily I’d be a little irritated by the overpainting of a Kid Crayon piece, especially after such a short existence, but in this instance I am more than prepared to forgive Fiva. In fairness, I think the collaboration had already been bombed and so the wall was ready for a new look.

Fiva, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Fiva, M32, Bristol, April 2019

This is a vibrant pink FIVA set on a green bubbly background, which employs all the tricks used by the artist to give a 3D look and feel to the piece. Better still, and I am so utterly made up by this, Fiva has given me my first ever ‘shout out’ in the bottom left hand corner ‘Yo Scooj’. I am touched and honoured to have made it onto such a splendid piece.

Fiva, Scooj, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Fiva, Scooj, M32, Bristol, April 2019

I have never met Fiva, so I must conclude that he has at some point stumbled on this blog and read some of my posts about him. Definitely, definitely need to hook up at some point, although I don’t think he uses Instagram, so getting in touch could be a challenge. Great work, and many thanks.

2173. M32 roundabout J3 (141)

There is no question about it, Rezwonk and Decay enjoy working together, and this collaboration really brings out the best in both. I took this picture while killing two birds with one stone…walking the dog and grabbing some pictures at the same time.

Rezwonk, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Rezwonk, M32, Bristol, April 2019

I think that this is one of my favourite pieces of writing from Rezwonk so far (spelling REZER) – some lovely letter shapes and nice clean lines. The colour selection for the collaboration as a whole is inspired and works really well on a sunny day.

Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019

I have said it before, but I am really enjoying Decay’s current writing period, each piece I see just seems to get better and better.The curves on the letters have a wonderful 3D feel to them and the cheeky Chuck grins on. A great collaboration that has managed to remain for a while in this high-turnover spot.