There has been a noticeable uptick in the quality of Klashwhensober’s work recently, and it feels like he has reached a new level. He is certainly broadening his horizons with letter styles and the introduction of ever-more sophisticated characters accompanying his letters.
Klashwhensober, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023
In this recent piece from Dean Lane, Klashwhensober has gone for a simpler, smoother letter style which is very tidily finished. The fills of turquoise and orange blend well and are an eye-catching combination. The three little toadstools with faces on the right are a curious addition to the piece. Great work from Klashwhensober.
Since the appearance of the Bristol Mural Collective, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of artistic murals by fine artists, illustrators and designers who have transferred their skills from the studio to the streets and the overall impact has been to broaden further the incredible diversity of street art we have in Bristol. This unusual piece by Sarah Trotter is a great example of the kind of work that has been unleashed.
Sarah Trotter, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
The piece, Love like a Lobster, is very well described by the artist on her Instagram feed, and I recommend that you read what she has to say about the piece. The hand on the left is tenderly dancing with the lobster on the right, in a beautiful feast of colour and movement. I like the way that Sarah Trotter has really thought about the piece and the surroundings, including paying attention to the textures on the wall. There is a great more depth to the piece than first meets the eye. I’ll be looking out for more street art from Sarah Trotter.
So far this summer, there have been some magnificent collaborations, occupying large walls, some from the NTS crew, but others that appear to have been stimulated by the return of Fade to Bristol. Fade is clearly an artist who enjoys collaborating. This outstanding wall is by Dibz, VZA (Veeez) and Fade.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz and Fade have done that thing where they write each other’s name, which, for anyone unfamiliar with their styles could be confusing. Even when writing letters other than DIBZ, Dibz’ style and sharp finish gives him away every time, no signature required. I like the subtle colour transition in the letter fill from blue to red scanning left to right.
VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
The centrepiece is by VZA and features an incredible lay sharp and vibrant alien character that is simply constructed and beautifully executed, making it very easy on the eye. The bright colours make it very difficult to ignore, and it rather steals the show in this collaboration.
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
To the right, Fade has written DIBZ in colours and a letter style that remind me a little of Scooby Doo, don’t ask me why. Fade seems to enjoy painting characters and backgrounds almost as much as letters, and here he has included some lovely rolling hills and a couple of trees, which he is adding the finishing touches to.
We are spoilt in Bristol to be able to see so many extraordinary and ephemeral pieces of art, and part of the purpose of this blog is to record and share these amazing works for a wider audience that they surely deserve.
Since first encountering Raid earlier this year, he has been one of the most productive forces on the streets of Bristol, and right now, that is some achievement. I have met the artist on a couple of occasions, and he seems to be a really decent bloke, he also told me how he is enjoying playing with his letters, trying new ideas, but with the same general style.
Raid, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2023
These pinky-purple letters on a light pink background are easy on the eye. His fills have been very nicely executed and provide plenty of interest, and the turquoise/white sparks running through the piece add a detail that rounds the whole thing off nicely. More in the pipeline from Raid.
From Bacerlona, an artist whose work I have definitely seen and captured before, makes his Natural Adventures debut with this assured and vibrant piece of graffiti writing down at Dean Lane. The Spanish artist is one of several who meet up at weekends under the loose crew name of Sunday Lovers.
From Bacerlona, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
I haven’t yet worked out what the letters spell, but they are similar in style, to a certain extent, to those painted by Claro_que_sssnoh, in particular the arrows and rows of diminishing spots. The piece is joyful and leaps off the wall, with plenty of detail and different shapes to feast upon. I have to say that I really like this piece and need to be more mindful of posting his work, perhaps going back through my archives and digging some of it out.
Although totally unplanned, I have managed to post two consecutive pieces from the same wall. The previous one was by Dibz, with his tag-style graffiti, and this one from Todoaciem is a delightful calligraffiti script piece, which is really rather unusual.
Todoaciem, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Todoaciem and Stivs probably jointly hold the crown for calligraffiti in Bristol, and you can understand why. This piece takes the regular standard form of calligraffiti to a new level by introducing a script-style font and the result is really effective. Painted on a blue and green bubble background, the whole thing is a delicious feast for the eye.
Back in old Blighty, but what a disappointment – it has been windy and raining almost constantly since we landed at Heathrow yesterday. I knew we should have gone away for two weeks. The only thing I have missed is the dog, and a ready supply of street/graffiti art to keep me sane.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
This is a remarkable and clever piece from Dibz which has been painted to look like a tag drawn with a marker pen, and just to illustrate the point he has included a character hand with a pen to the right of the writing. The tag-style writing spells out Dibz One, and, as if we needed further evidence, demonstrates the depth of Dibz’ supreme skill.
Dibz and Fade with a Cheo bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Dibz and Cheo have been at it again, with this outstanding collaboration in Dean Lane. Dibz has provided the writing and Cheo the wonderfully faithful Disney Donald Duck character. What is so clever about the piece is how Dibz has picked up on the lively character of Donald Duck in his writing, really bringing it to life.
Dibz and Fade with a Cheo bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
It is so pleasing to see Cheo getting out and painting walls again after what felt like a very long lay-off. In fact I am having some difficulty in keeping up with his work, but have to see that as a good thing really.
Fade with a Cheo bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
We head off to Assisi today, so that’s your lot I’m afraid from a hot and windy Italy.
UPDATE: in the comments, you will see that the Donald Duck is by Fade and not by Cheo, although the bee is still there from a former Cheo piece. All is not as it seems. Any credit above afforded to Cheo needs to be transferred over to Fade, who has been smashing it since his return to the UK.
I was a little lazy with photographing this magnificent fish piece by Hire, and decided to squish through the leaves of a thick hedge, rather than walk round the perimeter of the swimming pool area to get a clean shot.
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Hire has cleverly disguised his writing BF into the body of a rather fierce looking fish, which isn’t a proper representation of a real creature, rather it is more of an archetypal fish, with an extra dorsal fin. I am always up for some fish graffiti’s although there is something about this one that makes me feel a little uneasy.
Is sitting in an ancient medieval monastery in Umbria, Italy, desperate to get out and join the others in the pool, so this will be a short one. #DFTE, continues to delight with his short phrases, written in his distinctive style which he is starting to adapt a little with some extras, in this case some monster drip work.
#DFTE, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
He asserts,’happiness is being confidently weird’. That might be a #DFTE philosophy, which would fit him perfectly. Sometimes it might be equally appropriate to consider being spontaneously weird or not weird at all to be happy. I do, however like his sentiment and it makes for a good wall message. Ta ta for now, off to the pool. Splash!
Natural adventures 