UPFEST 2015

This last weekend I went with the family to Upfest 2015 in Bristol.  It was advertised as Europe's largest Street Art & Graffiti festival and is now in its seventh year. As well as a celebration of urban arts, it raises money for NACOA - The National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

We went near the beginning so many of the artworks weren't complete.  They were mostly works in progress.  It was really interesting to see the different approaches by the artists.  Some used complicated stencils and others were done freehand. Most started with a sketch, plan or picture. There were all sorts of styles and subjects - brushes and spray cans were mostly used to apply the various types of paint. There was a overwhelming smell of  fumes from the sprays cans - it was a good job it was in the open and the weather was good!  However,  it was great to see art on such a large scale.

The festival was spread over 30 venues in South Bristol and there were workshops, and in some cases,  participation was encouraged.  Theo, my grandson was shown how to use a spray can - see the photograph above, which he throughly enjoyed.  He is now threatening to paint his parents' garden fence!