What a lovely big smile in Dean Lane, from an artist called Luke Petty (Instagram @lukesmile91). It is a nice big bold piece and has similarities to the work of Pref 1D without the wordplay element.
Luke Smile, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2017
I have not been able to find out much about the artist other than that it seems he is British but has been travelling in Australia. Since doing this piece in Bristol and an earlier one in Shoreditch, it appears he has done one in Sydney, Australia. So I am guessing that he is back down under again.
At the time of writing (three or four days ago) this piece was still there and in pristine condition, where all around it has changed.A mark of respect.
I have said it before recently, that John D’oh has been busy stencilling this autumn/winter, with much of his work appearing in The Bearpit. He has also done some other highly satirical Banksy tributes in Cheltenham, but I haven’t yet seen them.
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
Always edgy and often political, John D’oh’s work, more than any other artist in Bristol is a target for tagging and dogging. He is clearly not held in the same regard as other artists, but that is the way for political artists…not everyone will agree with them. The Queen stencil has had the eyes sprayed red…which possibly enhances the menace of the piece.
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
I apologise for the quality of the images, which were rather compromised by the low light levels…I was on my way to do some Christmas shopping and the light was fading fast. I thought I’d include them anyway.
I don’t have to say too much about this piece other than that it is by the fantastic Mr Draws, it is on the South steps into The Bearpit and the picture was taken in the failing light.
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
There are some familiar themes, the word DRAW of course and the letters filled with a marbling effect which links to his mountains that he paints. Nice simple piece.
I would never have expected to see this line up in a collaboration, but this is the great thing about the Bristol scene, you should never expect anything, just get out there and take a look. It is a full wall at Deaners by Hire, Drew Copus and Jee See.
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
On the left we seen the jaggedy gothic style of writing we expect from Hire. I am not too sure, but I think the symmetrical looking writing says HIRE. The piece almost looks like is has caught fire and on the right it blends into the second part of this collaboration.
Drew Copus, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
The middle piece is by Drew Copus, who lives near Hastings, but seems to come to Bristol once or twice a year to spray some of his stencils. In this collaboration he has sprayed three bright female stencil figures, each rather peculiar, which is what makes them rather interesting. It would be nice to know a little more about these figures.
Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
On the right hand end of the collaboration is a huge SEISMIC piece from our very own Jee See. It is always great to see his work in Bristol, and I have several pictures of his work sitting in my files waiting to be published. As I said before this seems like quite an unlikely threesome. Maybe they know each other, or maybe they all just turned up in Dean Lane skate park on the same day.
There is a nice little story behind this piece. I made a special effort to get out to Raleigh Road, because I was aware of a new Soker piece that had been sprayed there the day before (post coming soon). Sitting adjacent to the Soker piece was this fine Boba Fett character piece.
Ulow, Raleigh Road, Bristol, December 2017
I was taking pictures of the piece and thinking that I wasn’t familiar with the artist, when a man walking with his family stopped and asked me if my camera was any good. I thought he might be thinking of buying something similar. I replied that it was just a cheap and cheerful Samsung and that it took reasonable photographs. He then asked if I could send him the pictures I was taking of the Boba Fett piece…I must have looked confused, because he followed up his request by saying that he was the artist, and had finished it late the night before, and his pictures of it were a bit poor.
Ulow, Raleigh Road, Bristol, December 2017
This is how I met Ulow, a local artist who from time to time sprays character pieces, and in this instance was contacted by Soker to join in. In looking up a little about Ulow I think I have at least two more of his pieces in my archive, and will have to dig them out and post them. I like this Boba Fett a lot, and especially like the way his helmet and body plates have scratches and reflect the light.
Sadly my pictures are nothing to write home about, but I sent him a whole bunch nonetheless.
A very quick seasonal piece from Biers. I was lucky enough to come across the artist while he was spraying this piece, but all was not well. The walls were damp and the blue paint hadn’t really properly obscured the graffiti behind it, and it wasn’t drying, which made spraying rather difficult.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
There are a few things going on here – the christmas pudding appears to spell out NFS, which might be short for ‘no frills’ a phrase used by Biers in his works. There is deliberate ambiguity here where the pudding might also spell out ‘Noel’.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
Even though Biers was quite unhappy with the whole thing, I rather like it, and it is always nice to see these festive pieces. He told me that it is a shortened version of a larger piece that he has an ambition to do. I won’t spoil the surprise, just on case he ever gets time to do the full thing.
This is an extraordinary three piece collaboration by Face F1st and Soap from the PWA crew (Pirate Wall Art). I have featured Face F1st many, many times on this blog, and recently Soap has made a reappearance. Now the two have combined to create these three masterful pieces.
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
From left to right, the first has a Face F1st face resting atop a soap pair of mouths, which when viewed differently also make the eyes of a skull face. The top face in this piece is very large and the whole thing is clean and has little in the way of detailed work.
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
The middle piece is more colourful and offers more embelishments and detail. This time the Face F1st part sits beneath the Soap.
Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017
The third part of the collaboration is more similar to the middle piece, showing more in the way of detail and decoration. I particularly like the bubbles and patterns in the hair of the Face F1st piece. Another interesting feature is the way that Face F1st has sprayed three circles in the centre of the eyes, those large eyes, which seems to add complexity to the emotion of the face. A lovely collaboration.
I first became aware of PakOne a couple of years back when I found a piece by him that he did for Upfest 2015 in the Steam Crane. Even then I was impressed with the depth he gives to his work through the clever use of shadows and perspective.
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This year’s piece is an absolute gem and utterly beautiful, made even more so by the scattered street furniture surrounding it. A floating rock with a tree in full pink blossom, isn’t this what dreams are made of?
PakOne, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I tried striking up a conversation with the artist, but I think his English is about as good as my French, so we exchanged nods and I went on my way. This is an outstanding Upfest piece.
Natural adventures 