1939. St Werburghs tunnel (58)

I have held back for a long time from posting any work by Spoilt (I am guessing that is the artist’s name) because I know nothing about them nor the work he/she produces. All I have seen is a few pieces of writing about the place with the word SPOILT.

Spoilt, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Spoilt, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

On going back through my archives, the odd piece keeps popping up and maybe the time is right to start posting a few. I have noticed that Spoilt has painted with members of RAW, but I don’t think that Spoilt is a member of the crew – maybe just a friend. Technically this is a good piece which is why I am posting it. One of a growing number of Bristol graffiti writers.

1933. Shoreditch, London (13)

Bonzai is yet another artist I am unfamiliar with, but what a pleasure it was to discover him for the first time. This was one of two recent pieces, as described by the brilliant London Calling blog.

Bonzai, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Bonzai, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

The effect of molten chrome is simply outstanding, and yet if you look at the piece carefully is reasonably simply constructed with colours that trick your eyes. I absolutely love this kind of work and will definitely be on the look out for more from this artist on future London trips.

1924. Wilder Street (25)

Smak is an artist who just keeps on giving. This is yet another perfect example of wildstyle writing at its best. Using the same colour palette chosen by Ments, he spells out SMAK in grey and embellished it with reds, pinks and blues.

Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018

Smak, unlike Ments, always keeps his pieces perfectly proportioned and they are easy on the eye. He has also included a little mouse making a rather rude gesture to the right. The gesture is aimed at the central piece of this triptych by Sled One, which will make since when you see it in a couple of days.

Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018

1919. Wilder Street (24)

This ‘wonder wall’ in Wilder Street is curated by Where the Wall, a Bristol street art tour business and as such it is rarely if ever tagged. It is almost like a showcase wall which guarantees high-quality artwork. The only downside is that the turnover here is glacially slow, maybe every six months or so.

Ments, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Ments, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018

This piece by Ments is one part of a three-piece collaborative wall which includes Sled One and Smak (to follow). Ments has appeared in Natural Adventures many times, but he seems recently to have had an epiphany and he is really branching out from his trademark ‘organic’ work. The writing spells out MENTS and is beautifully worked. The thing with Ments is that he often deviated from any kind of symmetry in his work and does not confine himself to exacting letter shapes or heights etc, which sometimes makes his work look a little out of proportion. I suspect this is deliberate. Lovely piece.

1918. Dean Lane skate park (181)

You can’t hold him back. Mr Draws was planning to go and live in Germany at the end of the summer, but for whatever reason his plans fell through. His loss is surely Bristol’s gain as he continues to brighten up the place with his burners.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

This one has a rather wintry feel about it, the colours and icy drips definitely feel a bit frosty. I love the way that Mr Draws just keeps on going – no matter what life throws at him, he just seems to pick himself up and carry on. It has been a while since I last chatted with him, which is a pity, because he is a really lovely bloke.

1912. Upfest 2018 (108)

With so many artists flooding in to Bristol for Upfest, it is always great to see that there is a good representation of local artists, who keep things real. It can be overwhelming seeing so much street art, and at times awe inspiring, but it is as well to remember the roots of a festival like this whose foundations were built on the work of graffiti writers and street artists who produce work day in and day out on our city streets.

Ryder, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Ryder, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a great piece of writing from Ryder of RAW (Read and Weep) which is technically brilliant as well as rather beautiful. Each of the letters seems to be bursting with character, and the colours and shading are absolutely masterfully worked. Anyone who wants to get more into burners, should take a long hard look at this one and enjoy the technique that has been applied to create it.

1904. St Werburghs tunnel (56)

I am really pleased to see that Face 1st and Soap have teamed up again, it feels like a while since they last collaborated, to produce this beautiful piece. The two distinct halves are joined by the hair of Face 1st’s girl.

Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

I love the concept of Face 1st’s character sketching out an idea in her black book, there is a lovely story unfolding and it brings a whole extra layer to the piece. This really is something special.

Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

The Soap half of the collaboration is yet another great example of just how good his writing is with the blue and lilac elements almost resembling stained glass windows. I always feel these two artists are so modest with their work, and it is a pity that something like this is lurking in the darkness of St Werburghs tunnel…it deserves more prominence.

1903. St Werburghs tunnel (55)

What a wonderfully clever piece this is from Fiva, who has used his trademark block letters to spell out his name but has repeated the word in a different font through the letters in a way that gives the whole thing a 3D look. This piece uses techniques that are used by Pref ID who is a master of this kind of visual wordplay.

Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018
Fiva, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018

As is often the case with Fiva’s work, he leaves us a character as additional interest in the piece. I really like his work and only wish he did more but realise that he, like many other street artists, is likely to have a real job and maybe family and can only get out to play when time and circumstance permit.

1902.M32 Spot (36)

This Deamze burner photobombed a recent post of a Silent Hobo column, but in my view deserves a post all of its own. This writing is one of the forms that Deamze uses in his work. It is much simpler than his wildstyle work, but still has a clean and sharp look to it.

Deamze, M32 spot, Bristol, November 2018
Deamze, M32 spot, Bristol, November 2018

The colours and drift of shading work really nicely and the whole thing stands out and looks so fresh. You could give a hundred artists a can and a wall and ask them to recreate this, but none would be as good. At the top of his game.

 

 

1900. Dean Lane skate park (180)

I think I suffer slightly from Laic217 withdrawal, which is only ever cured by seeing another of his pieces. Of all the amazing artists in Bristol, I probably get most satisfaction when I find a piece by Laic217. In no way does that diminish the other artists at all, it is just that I get a special buzz seeing his work. I suppose it is a bit like getting a special card in a set of ‘Match Attax’ cards – they’re all good, but you cherish the special one.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2018
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2018

This is a fairly regular piece by Laic217, a skeleton character spraying and a nicely composed LAIC lettering. The piece was sprayed together with Cort, to the left and Ugar to the right. These three seem to enjoy spraying together, which is great for me as I like all of their work. I hope it is not too long before I get my next Laic217 fix.