2846. Brook Hill (1)

At last I have found it and better late than never. Thanks to the lock down restrictions, my driving to street art spots has been replaced by my walking the dog/exercise walks and when you are on foot so many more possibilities are open to you. It is easy to nip down this lane or trundle over to that place without worrying about parking, one way streets etc etc.

I have been aware of this piece by 3Dom for a couple of years now, and without realising it have been agonisingly close to it without ever finding it, that is until last week. I could scarcely hold back my exclamation of joy and sense of relief that it is still in great condition.

3Dom, Brook Hill, Bristol, March 2020
3Dom, Brook Hill, Bristol, March 2020

The work itself has an aesthetically pleasing symmetry to it and although there is nothing specifically 3Domish about it, it is instantly recognisable as one of his pieces. My life is now complete (well that might be a bit of an exaggeration but I do feel a tremendous sense of relief).

The strangest thing about walking in Bristol at the moment is the curious juxtaposition of avoiding other people, by walking out into the road or crossing it altogether, and yet saying hello to them by way of an apology for having to avoid them in the first place. These are indeed curious times.

2754. Princes’ Place

I have waited a very, very long time to get a clean shot of this old piece by 3Dom. Not too far from where I live, this piece was painted several years ago to brighten up the single car parking space outside Bishopston Tiles on the Gloucester Road. It seems that ever since, either cars have been parked there or storage paletts stacked up against the wall or it has been dark.

3Dom, Princes' Place, Bristol, February 2020
3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2020

Finally I had my breakthrough last weekend and got a clean shot of it. The character piece is in a classical surreal cartoon style adopted by this artist with a human body and a face made from a spherical roof, complete with chimney. A customer parking sign never had such class. In a nice touch, 3Dom has painted a whole bunch of tiles on the wall to tie-in with the shop. No 3Dom collection is complete without this fabulous piece.

2745. Picton Mews (2)

I don’t get to see nearly enough of 3Dom’s work. In the five or so years I have been doing this, his pieces have consistently been of the highest quality. Crazy and quirly at times, he seems to be constantly evolving his style and keeping things interesting.

3Dom, Picton Mews, Bristol, February 2020
3Dom, Picton Mews, Bristol, February 2020

This very recent piece in Picton Mews combines two of his fascinations, a skull and his abstract flowers. The dark skull contrasting with the vibrant colours of the flowers kind of gives me a sense of hope, beauty emerging from despair type of thing. As always immaculately executed and beautifully set on a dark blue background – an unusual colour in street art. More of this would be a great thing.

2743. M32 Spot (57)

Although Feek and 3Dom like to collaborate, it is not too common these days to find a new piece by these two. What a lovlely surprise then to find this one down at the M32 Spot. This particular board is becoming a bit of a goldmine, especially during this very damp winter we have been having.

Feek and 3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Feek and 3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

On the left is a beautiful pencil character  by Feek which appears to have drawn the stunning piece of graffiti writing next to it. 3Dom is an alolrounder who seems to be equally comfortable with graffiti writing as he is with character pieces and abstract pieces, he seems to have it all in his armoury. There is some writing on the piece which reads:

The weight of it was killing me… the warmth of it was keeping me alive.

I’m not too sure if this is a quote or to what it refers, but it feels fairly profound. I like the little shout out to Ryder and Decay, whose collaboration was the previous occupant on this board.

2332. Wilder Street (35)

I’m completely bemused by how on earth I can have missed this amazing piece by 3Dom for so long. It is in the mid-section of Wilder Street and I think I have only visited the ends of the street, but nonetheless it is most negligent of me. Paul H tells me it has been there for quite some time.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019

The style of the piece is similar to ones he did at the other end of Wilder Street, in Frogmore Street and in Montpelier, and I think it was a phase he was going through. It is what I would describe as organic abstract piece, so very easy on the eye, with a pleasing symmetry. Love it a lot.

2187. Wilder Street (29)

Such a beautiful piece of wildstyle writing from Bristol legend 3Dom. This was part of a recent collaboration with fellow ASK artist Sepr on a wall in Wilder Street curated by Where the Wall.

3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
3Dom, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019

The colour palette is rather unusual, although I do remember a piece by 3Dom some years ago that had some similar colours, but it was a character piece rather than writing. Always such high-quality work fromn this brilliant Bristol street/graffiti artist.

3Dom, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016
3Dom, Brunswick Square, Bristol, March 2016

 

2178. Upper York Street (15)

I have been waiting a long time to be able to post this piece. I have walked past it dozens of times, but cars have been parked in front, blocking anything like a decent picture. Obviously the writing is by Epok but I have a feeling, having seen some tattoo designs on Instagram, that the toadstool is by 3Dom. This is highly possible as the two do like to paint together.

Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019

Surrounded by street furniture and what is left of a bicycle it is virtually impossible to get as clean shot of this wall, so this is about as good as it gets. The rather touching thing about this piece is the three tributes to Mibzy, Buzz and CKOne each one a much loved and admired character from the Bristol street art scene.

2085. Brunel Way Bridge (12)

I have a feeling that this wonderful collaboration by 3Dom and Epok has been here for a little while, but it is a spot I visit infrequently and so cannot be sure. The wall, underneath Brunel Way is one which I find particularly difficult to photograph, due to the light reflections that encroach from the sides.

3Dom, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
3Dom, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

On the left is a rather large fly by 3Dom with an urban/industrial landscape on its back. The wings are beautifully crafted and the whole insect nicely proportioned…quite what the story is I am not sure.

Epok, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019
Epok, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, March 2019

The right hand side of the collaboration is a piece of graffiti writing from Epok. I never get tired of his beautifully designed asymmetric writing that seems to combine  graphic design and street art so perfectly. This is a fine collaboration from this ASK duo.

2075. Dean Lane skate park (199)

When Cheo and 3Dom get together for a collaboration it is guaranteed to be interesting and of the highest quality, and so it is with this recent piece in Dean Lane.

3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

The whole piece is a clever section of a Cheo character, the inside workings of which are by 3Dom. The character is a graffiti artist, complete with baseball cap, backpack and spray-paint can, primed to do his best. The innards of the character and his backpack are altogether a little weird.

3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

There is a good chance that the piece may be around for a little while, as both artists are highly respected and the paintwork itself is flawless. Having said that, there are no rules. The final photograph just provides a little context for the wall and its surroundings in the skate park. A treat of a piece.

3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
3Dom and Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

1959. New Gatton Road (3)

 

When an artist augments another’s work and it is done well it is both skilful and diplomatic. In this instance, 3Dom has added a fantasy abstract seascape to a remarkable turtle originally painted by Louis Masai a couple of years back.

3Dom, New Gatton Road, Bristol, January 2019
3Dom, New Gatton Road, Bristol, January 2019

3Dom seems to have undergone something of an epiphany recently and is creating some really interesting abstract work at the moment, fantasy scenes that feel familiar but that are utterly imaginary, like the sea bed here. I believe that 3Dom’s work has in some way added to Louis Masai’s work in a sensitive and dignified way. Definitely a case of the sum of the parts being greater than the individual components. Brilliant new work, giving a new lease of life to the wall.

Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016
Louis Masai, New Gatton Road, Bristol, December 2016