Writer – Page 54 – Natural adventures

6637. Sussex Street

Haka, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

I rather like my occasional trips to the recycling centre. My most recent, last week, consisting mostly of cardboard boxes, afforded me the opportunity to visit a few spots that I don’t get to see all that often, and I was chuffed to find a clutch of pieces in Sussex Street that I hadn’t been aware of, including this piece by Haka, which looks like it was painted in October 2024.

This is a classic Haka combination piece, with his letters split either side of a character. You’ll have to forgive me for not knowing who the character is, but now that my kids are grown up I have lost touch a little with youth culture. The whole piece hangs together really well, and the writing has a lovely 3d drop shadow drifting to the right. A lively piece that probably looks a lot livelier on a sunny day.

6636. Dean Lane skate park (794)

Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

It feels funny posting this piece by Risky, because it is only the third to have made it onto the pages of Natural Adventures, but I have been photographing his work for at least two years, so I am surprised I haven’t published more. I know little about the artist, and can’t find any socials at all, so until I catch Risky in the act I’ll have to remain ignorant – having said this, I have a nagging feeling that I may have met him a while back, painting under Brunel Way… the old grey matter isn’t what it used to be.

I love it that Risky, like so many other occasional writers in Bristol, turns up from time to time with a vibrant and colourful piece like this one, that really catch the eye. While this isn’t technically high-end, it has loads of things that I like; some great letter shapes and that strong red colour works really hard; some interesting white highlights that help the letters to pop, and some more subtle red highlights, adding a bit of depth to the letters; finally, a green drop shadow and yellow border. Although not the tidiest piece I have seen, I really like it.

6635. River Avon (73)

Klashwhensober, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

This is a curious piece by Klashwhensober, painted alongside Sworm on a low wall that supports one of the bridges over the River Avon – a bridge that doesn’t actually lead to anywhere. It looks like this might have been a bit of a dregs piece, because there are a few colours involved, that don’t necessarily complement one another, and the light blue and yellow look rather thin, and perhaps were running out.

Klashwhensober has been painting a lot of character/writing combination pieces over the last year, and as a general rule of thumb, the more time he spends on a piece, the better the outcome. While all the design elements are present in this piece, it feels a little rushed and rough around the edges. The character on the left is a bit strange, and slightly divorced in style and colour from the writing. Overall, this is an interesting piece, but not one of Klashwhensober’s finest.

6634. St Werburghs tunnel (469)

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2024

I believe that this piece by Mr Klue was painted at breakneck speed. On the day it was painted, I checked out the wall around lunchtime, and there was nothing there. Paul H visited the spot a while later and the piece was completed. This is my account of events… of course I might have had a ‘moment’, or a blind spot and walked past the piece without noticing it, but I simply don’t think that happened. Anyhow, all’s well that ends well, and I managed to snap it up as if it were new, eventually.

2024 was a stand-out year for Mr Klue, and what a way to round-off the year with this fine abstract writing piece set on a festive gold background. The letters spell KLUE, and are more defined here than in some of his more ephemeral pieces. The orange and turquoise work well together and are augmented with splashes of lime green and purple. A fine piece. I am looking forward to another great year from Mr Klue in 2025

6630. Dean Lane skate park (793)

This looks like it might be my last street art post of 2024, a year in which I have published 897 street/graffiti posts and 22 artist galleries, not a bad haul really, and there have been some corkers in amongst that lot. I tend not to do annual reviews or ‘top tens’, but I am sorely tempted to do so this year. Time, of course, is my enemy (and my friend).

It somehow feels good to round off the year with a piece by Haka, a true Bristol combination graffiti writer/character illustrator, who has been presenting children’s picture book and cartoon characters for a long while. In this piece he has painted one of my favourite walls with his characteristic writing and included a faithfully recreated BFG – Big Friendly Giant by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Be safe seeing the old year out and New Year in.

6629. M32 roundabout J3 (646)

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

Although Face 1st has moved away from Bristol, he is still making trips to the city and leaving behind some lovely pieces, including this Christmas piece which he painted alongside Zake and Soap.

This is a sumptuous piece of graffiti writing, in the block style that Face 1st likes to paint from time to time. The ‘gold’ colour is created using two tones, which provide shading and depth. The writing is wrapped up in a festive red ribbon – the perfect Christmas present. Face 1st is, and always be welcome in Bristol.

6628. Sparke Evans Park (114)

Jevoissoul, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, December 2024

Jevoissoul, who prefers to be called @slowlane100 on Instagram has had a very good year, and built up his repertoire from basic character pieces to tidy combination pieces, with writing that has seen a steady improvement. This wonderful piece, in Sparke Evans Park, shows how constant practice pays dividends.

The letters SLOW are bookended with two characters, one with a cap and one without, and both with the characteristic mouth design that epitomises Jevoissoul’s work. There is a lot to like in this combination piece, but overall it is the neatness that comes across most. I am looking forward to a further year of improvement.

6627. Cumberland Basin

Pura Decadencia, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

It is that rather curious work week after Christmas, where not a lot really happens, especially with the New Year’s Day bank holiday stuck in the middle of it. Time to prepare for the year ahead and get the brain into gear. One thing that remains constant is the conveyor belt of street and graffiti art that appears on the streets of Bristol, come rain or shine, and subsequently, my recording of it. Tghis is a recent beauty by Pura Decadencia.

For once, Pura Decadencia hasn’t included the lips and vampire teeth that have become synonymous with her work, allowing us to concentrate on her letters. Pura Decadencia pretty much always writes with large curvy bubble letters, and they are cleverly brought to life with great white accent lines that create a 3D effect. Her colours work nicely together and are lifted by the unusual pink and white striped background. Another wonderful piece from the artist.

Lokey

A gallery of extraordinary anamorphic graffiti writing from Bristol artist Lokey

Instagram: @lokey_bristol

All photographs by Scooj

Mr Riks and Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Lokey (Lokea) and Ember, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2024

Lokey, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2024

Lokey, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2023

Lokey, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Lokey, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, July 2017

6626. Dean Lane skate park (792)

Although this wonderful collaboration from Mr Riks and Lokey doesn’t look particularly festive, I believe it to be a Christmas piece. It is certainly lovely to see these talented graffiti writers out painting together, although I think this paint jam was meant to be considerably better attended.

Mr Riks has such a distinctive style, and he has brought his letters to life with a distinctive blue-green and yellow combination, and for good measure added a little wasp with a spray can in hand. Lokey, meanwhile, remains one of the only anamorphic writers in Bristol, and this wonderful piece rounds off a productive year for the artist. A superb Christmas collaboration.

	hitandrun1964 on Hoarse, again
	hitandrun1964 on 7499. Dean Lane skate park…
	skat on London bound
	cjsmissionaryministe… on Spring
	Sheree on 7501. St Werburghs tunnel…

	hitandrun1964 on Hoarse, again
	hitandrun1964 on 7499. Dean Lane skate park…
	skat on London bound
	cjsmissionaryministe… on Spring
	Sheree on 7501. St Werburghs tunnel…

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