It is always a pity when a nice piece gets dogged, especially when it has only been up for a day or two. This particular collaboration between NEVERGIVEUP and Soge was a perfect piece for the curved wall in Dean Lane skate park. It also marked a return of the monster by NGU, something I’ve not seen for a few months.
NEVERGIVEUP and Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
I had seen the Soge writing on Instagram, and it all really looked rather nice, but I guess some inferior talent had to go and goof it up. I’m all for the turnover of work, especially on ‘legal’ walls, but it is boring to see half-baked throw-ups going up over decent work. Still, we all know the (no) rules and just get on with it.
This collaboration between Sepr and Daniel Leggs came as a lovely surprise about a week ago while taking a small detour on my way to work. I think the piece had been painted only the day before so it was thankfully free of tags.
Sepr, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2018
I am familiar, as will some readers be, with the work of Sepr who I have written numerous posts about in the past, and whose work I hugely admire. This piece just serves to prolong that admiration as we witness a cat and mouse cartoon where the mouse is looking pretty smug because the cat is trapped, as a footstool, under the man’s legs. Got to love the pink crown too.
Daniel Leggs, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2018
Daniel Leggs is not known to me and his Instagram account reveals little other than that he is a graffiti writer. I haven’t seen his work in Bristol before, so I am guessing he’s not from these parts. I think he might have some connection with the No Frills community, and his writing has some similarities with that of Biers. I love the rather abstract colourful fills he has used around the piece, without which it would not be half as good. Another pink crown. Great work boys.
Another day, another Deamze piece…his work rate is really phenomenal and the quality of his designs and their execution is unparalleled. It is easy to become blazé about his work, because his standard is so consistent, but if you take a good look at this piece, there is so much to admire.
Deamze, New Stadium Road, Bristol, August 2018
The colour selection works well with yellow tones set on a blue background. There is a lot of intricacy to the interlocking letters and precision in the shapes. Yet another outstanding example of this incredible talent.
Daa da da da da da da da daa daa dada dada. Getting right to the heart of the matter is this brilliant Simpsons piece from Soker. He really is quite one of the best writers around and this sofa scene totally proves it.
Soker, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
His use of the Simpson characters on the sofa, a scene so familiar to anyone who watches the show, to create his name is inspired, and taking a closer look, there is almost a Picassoesque look to Lisa and Homer in particular.
Soker, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
The whole scene is well observed, with the lampshade and the picture of a sailing boat on the wall, and is indeed a special homage to the genius of Matt Groenig.
Soker, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
I managed to catch up with Soker, which I have never managed to do before, and had a quick chat on the Friday, again on the Saturday morning and later on in the Spotted Cow. I think he had slightly overdone his merrymaking on Friday night and had to abandon painting on the Saturday, nursing a bit of a sore head.
Soker, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
I asked him why sometimes he wrote Soker and at other times Sokem. His answer seemed sensible to me…he started off with Soker (pronounced Soccer), but found the R difficult to write, so changed it to Sokem, before reverting once he found the R easier.
This has to be one of my favourites from Upfest 2018, and is really an outstanding piece.
It would appear that when Inuk came to visit Bristol recently he may have painted two or three pieces. This is the second that I am posting, and the first that I found. I didn’t write about it straight away because at the time of taking the picture I didn’t know the artist.
Inuk, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
The writing is big and bold and spells out INUcK, which I guess is a variation on his name. I very much like the little character at the right hand end of the piece, who offers a little additional interest and decoration on the work.
This spot is always impossible to photograph – I think the only solution is to come down at dusk and use a flash, and if I am honest I’m not sure I am fanatical enough to do that. The piece is, of course, by Deamze and shows off his angular puzzle-like wildstyle writing really well.
Deamze, New Stadium Road, Bristol, July 2018
As is often the case, I am not at all sure who the character is, and think it might possibly be a figment of his fertile imagination. It feels strange, but of all the most productive Bristol artists painting at the moment, I still have yet to meet Deamze – our paths just haven’t crossed. I have a feeling he likes to keep himself to himself. Yet another consistently good piece.
It feels like a while since I saw anything by Soge, so this writing in St Werburghs tunnel recently was a nice surprise. I think it was created during the paint jam which included a lot of PWA artists.
Soge, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Soge, like Hire, uses a rather gothic style in his writing, which may be something they have brought with them from Poland, as it is not a style I see much of from any of the local artists. The letters SOGE are easy to pick out, although the lighting in the tunnel doesn’t really do the piece justice. Strangely I haven’t yet met Soge and so can’t really tell you too much about him.
An eye-catching piece in Dean Lane by Jee See (G.C. – Goshiku Chavu). On a black background, he has worked this neon green seismic piece really well. It reminds me of early green screen computers and video games like Space Invaders.
Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Jee See is another of those Bristol street artists who consistently turns out great work and furthermore he sprays in spots all around the city. Some artists prefer to stick to their own patch. More to come from Jee See soon.
I always look forward to Kleiner Shames’ visits to Bristol, because every time he leaves behind something to marvel at. This is a miraculous collaboration with Epok, and demonstrates what can be achieved by two street artists at the top of their game.
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
The first thing to notice is the fabulous colour selection, which is very much influenced by Kleiner Shames, as I have seen him use these colours several times before. The genius of the piece is in the letters. Epok always writes EPOK and Kleiner Shames writes FOIS. In this piece I can read both…how do they do that?
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
The highly designed style of the piece works to both of their strengths, but the execution is what makes this piece so good. Clean lines, incredible shapes and some really interesting shadows. It reminds me of so many fine artists of the twentieth century. I love this piece and it is without doubt my favourite writing work so far this year. Bravo boys.
Oh I just love it when I make new finds when I am actually looking for something completely different and stumble upon something like this. I was driving round Easton hunting down Andrew Burns Colwill’s new mural when I drove up Devon Road – a funny road that has a dog-leg layout, one part of which is a back street and the other a fairly busy main road.
Deamze, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018
This is of course by Deamze, and I just don’t know how it fell outside my radar, but I am glad I found it nonetheless. Even better is that I know who the character references are which can’t be said for a lot of the 80s and 90s cartoon characters that Deamze uses.
Deamze, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2018
The character is the robot Bender from the TV series by Matt Groening (creator of the Simpsons – who have featured big time at Upfest 2018). It is all very good, and Deamze’s wildstyle writing is exceptional as always. I love the freshness of this piece.
Natural adventures 