Just recently Biers has been rather busy in Dean Lane, and this is the first of two pieces I am posting. Biers likes this particular wall and has sprayed here before. I think I got here just a little late, as it has a rather incongruous line “cocaine is good for your brain” scrawled across the piece.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
In this wall I think he has included alongside the letters BIERS the cartoon character Willo the Wisp, the voice of which was expertly provided by the late Kenneth Williams. A nice tidy piece on one of my favourite walls in Dean Lane.
My absolute favourite piece of the year so far. This is an outstanding collaboration between two of the Bristol ASK masters, Sepr and 3Dom. As well as the composition, which is brilliant, the location is also cleverly chosen.
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018
This wall was home to a 3Dom piece of writing that had remained here for a long time, completely untouched. I do hope that this piece is offered the same level of respect. On the left is a snorkeler in blue, with gold trunks and a starfish on his head expertly sprayed by Sepr.
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018
If this isn’t weird enough, 3Dom has painted the most incredible jelly fish in rich and vibrant tones wearing a WW2 sea mine on its bell and with a chain trailing behind in its tentacles. A thing of quirkiness and real beauty.
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018
The whole thing comes together magnificently, the contrasting colour palettes of each artist marking their work but combining in the centre of the piece. So sharp and fresh, this is a really high quality piece. being in quite a narrow lane, it is quite difficult to capture in a phiotograph, but it is a real beauty.
This stunning piece was the second by Oze Arv at the festival and one of several astonishing pieces he sprayed in Bristol while he was visiting. On the basis of seeing only these few pieces, I can without any doubt say that I admire his work hugely and hope he returns for this year’s festival.
Oze Arv, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
He uses a wonderful range of colours and combines an abstract form with superb wildlife illustrations, captured in a carefully balanced composition. In this piece it is a humming bird takes centre stage…in his other festival piece it was a ram. If I had the space and cash, I’d love to have a piece like this hanging on a wall at home. Classy stuff.
This is a small section of a larger wall which was sprayed by the Lost Souls crew for Upfest 2017. The concept for this wall was for each of the artists to produce a kind of playing card with a character piece on it. Here we have a pairing of SPZero76 and Squirl.
SPZero76, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
SPZero76 has created an incredible skeleton figure, rather disturbingly holding a whole bunch of lollies and sweets. It would seem that he enjoys using these blues and purples in his work, as I have seen them in many many of his pieces.
Squirl, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
The Squirl piece is also a skeleton but of something altogether different…a horse maybe or perhaps a dog (see the flying bones) but the dentition is all wrong. What is it with street artists and death? The horse/dog is interacting with the female skeleton, maybe he wants the sweets.
Both of these pieces combine well and are technically beautifully sprayed. More from the Lost Souls to come.
Sophie Long is an established artist in Bristol whose wildlife pieces with stunning drips are well known to those who look out for such things. I recently posted her fabulous shark piece in Cheltenham road which I walk past pretty much every day.
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This upright orangutan is rather beautiful and conveys so well the sombre disposition of these incredible creatures. we are reminded of our evolutionary closeness to them and our utter disregard for their environment. Orangutans have become an emblem of despair, but also of hope for the future. This fine piece would sit comfortably on any naturalists wall.
At last year’s Upfest, 23 Magpies had a board all to herself, rather than her usual wheatpastes dotted around the place on utility boxes and lamp posts. I am a big fan of her work and am the proud owner of one of her small creations.
23Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This work at Upfest is a clever piece of artwork purporting to be a National Geographic cover. A nice political message up front and lovely illustration, which chimes very much with the National Geographic house style. Packing a punch and an evocative image.
What a remarkable collaboration this was for Upfest 2017 between Guy Denning and Yatika Fields. The work can be found on Dean Lane, in one of the more difficult spots to view. There is a tree a few yards in front of it, which presents the viewer and photographer (let alone the artist) with all sorts of light related challenges.
Guy Denning and Yatika Fields, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I don’t know if these two regularly collaborate, but their two distinct styles come together to create a fantastic whole. The central face is by Guy Denning which if inspected closely is made up of carefully stencilled letters and patterns to make up the composite face – brilliant work.
Guy Denning and Yatika Fields, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The patterning and abstract work either side of the face is by Yatika Fields, who has spent most of his time working on the East coast of the USA. On their own, neither of these pieces would carry the same impact as they do together.
Guy Denning and Yatika Fields, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
The reference and portrait is of Tara Houska Zhaabowekwe (I had to look her up) who is the national campaigns director at ‘Honour the Earth’, and a native North American.
Natural adventures 