3647. Dean Lane skate park (410)

I don’t know how he does it, but Dibz just keeps on turning out pieces of the highest quality with the minimum of fuss. No fanfare, no selfies, just a modest and quiet approach to his outstanding work.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

This is a magnificent piece that draws on the genius of the Jurassic Park film franchise. I’m not sure what the ‘From up Above’ tag line refers to, probably a musical reference that is way over my head. The dinosaur logo is fantastically done, and in such sharp detail.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

The writing too is skilfully done with two main colours fading horizontally, and the top half incorporating some red stripes into the green. Such a striking piece and another in a series that has kept people like me very happy over the last six months or so.

3646. Dean Lane skate park (409)

It looks like Flava136 may have spent a few days in Bristol a week or two back and during that visit he left us two very nice pieces indeed, this being the first one. Flava136 has worked hard on perfecting his monster style and his execution seems to improve with each new piece I see.

Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Flava136, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

Although this piece didn’t last too long, it certainly made a lasting impression. When I took this picture, Varo was painting next to it. He offered to move his trolley, but I said that trolleys were all part of the picture and he needn’t bother. It almost looks like Flava136’s monster is about to devour the trolley. I love the way that Flava136’s work is becoming this mash-up of abstract and character art. Great colours too. This is a lovely fresh piece.

3641. Dean Lane skate park (408)

It took me several goes to get a half-decent photograph of this rather nice piece from Dott Rotten. The first set of pictures were very dark for some reason and the second set had the palette board completely in the way. It kind of came together on the third attempt.

Dott Rotten, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Dott Rotten, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

I learned a lot about Dott Rotten when I met him recently at the other end of town and told him that I was very much enjoying his current productive spell on the street, which he seemed to be enjoying too. This ska nice SPOILT piece with the 3D shadow dropping down vertically in blues and purples. One of a very fine series of pieces.

3617. Dean Lane skate park (407)

Slim Pickings (Tes), has been painting a lot of his distinctive three-letter pieces so far this year, and I have only posted a fraction of them. I have the feeling that I might have to break from tradition and post a job-lot from the past couple of months just to keep on top of them.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

This one in Dean Lane is a particularly nice big one that was painted alongside Dibz a short while ago. There was an overall alien theme to the wall and there are a couple of spaceships above the ‘Tes’ letters. The letters are painted on a cloudy blue background and are on point as usual. There is comfort in Slim Pickings’ consistency.

3615. Dean Lane skate park (406)

More fabulous Pekoe work… this artist has been going paint crazy over the last few weeks and keeps turning out beautiful portraits. Painting this one would have involved climbing over an iron railing (rather her than me) to access this swimming pool wall.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021

This face-on portrait in blue with bright yellow hair certainly grabs attention. The subjects cheeks are emphasised with circles in which sit Pekoe’s trademark tears. I feel sad when I see the tears as it makes me think that the artist herself is sad and expresses her sadness in this way. Of course, it might simply be a thing that has no deeper meaning at all. This is another fine Pekoe portrait, yet another one in a superb series.

3589. Dean Lane skate park (405)

It has been well worth the wait to see these two collaborating once again. Once a common sight, since last March, I think these two have only painted together a couple of times. This is back to the classic style for both artists, with their jagged spikes lettering.

Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

On the left of the collaboration, set on a vibrant pink backwash, which if you look carefully is a tropical beach scene with ocean waves and palm trees, are the letters SOGE in an irregular formation. The letters look like the thorn forest in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

To the right is writing from Hire who has taken a break from his more recent representations to revert to old style work with a great result. These two artists absolutely smashing this style of writing which seems to be pretty unique to them in Bristol – I can’t think there are any other writers who do this. Great to see them back together and I am hoping it is the first of many more.

3586. Dean Lane skate park (404)

Shade One and Dibz have painted some fabulous collaborations over the last six months, but this one is probably the pick of the bunch. I was lucky enough to watch their progress for a while and have a quick chat. I’ve not met Shade One before, but he seems to be an affable guy, and I don’t seem to be able to avoid meeting Dibz at the moment, I think our biological clocks must be in sync.

Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

This is a beautifully crafted piece and both artists are meticulous with the detail and clean lines. Dibz’s writing is as complex as ever with horizontally layered colours and shadows the offer a deep perspective. The writing serves as a foundation for the character piece by Shade One.

Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Dibz and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

There is a wonderful symmetry and balance to this collaboration that makes it very easy on the eye indeed. I think the circle being referenced at the bottom in Dibz’s writing is really clever and brings a resolution to the whole composition. A brilliant piece from a couple of artists in peak form.

3584. Dean Lane skate park (403)

It may only be a small piece, but it is significant. I haven’t seen anything new from Lokey for such a long time, definitely more than a year, so finding this little gem on the side of a skate ramp was an absolute delight.

Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Lokey, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

Lokey is well known for his clever anamorphic writing which is created by some carefully designed letter shapes and shading techniques. I think that this little piece spells out LOKI from top to bottom. It was a sunny day when I took this picture and the whole thing is a bit bleached out which is a pity, but you can still see the quality and class ooze through this small work.

3572. Dean Lane skate park (402)

This is a very nice piece from Mr Draws from a couple of weeks back. I was passing by when Mr Draws was painting it and I think I gave him a fright when I told him the Dibz piece underneath it had been dedicated to his mother-in-law. Fortunately it was not a tribute piece, but a birthday celebration… it is not the done thing to go over a tribute.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

It is great to see Mr Draws looking so well and up-beat these days and he seems to be enjoying his painting a lot. It is always interesting to see a work in progress to get an understanding of how the piece comes together. Here Mr Draws has drawn his outline and is filling it in horizontal rows.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

The finished product is a bright and colourful ‘DRAW’ in four colour bands and a rather special red 3D shadow. The piece really benefits from good wall prep too which was probably left over from the Dibz predecessor. An uplifting work.

3567. Dean Lane skate park (401)

Dibz is turning out new work at an extraordinary rate at the moment which is great to see, although keeping up is proving to be something of a challence. I was lucky enough to catch up with him while he was painting this one and he stopped for a bit of a chat.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

Even though he didn’t buff the wall to start with, which is something he does more often than not, the quality of this piece shines through. Either deliberately or accidentally, this piece somehow blends in with the Slakarts and Mudra collaboration beneath it, complementing them well.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021

I guess I am labouring the point a bit, but Dibz is right up there with the very best in Bristol in his finishing. Every piece is so clean and tight, which given the intricacy of the writing is nothing short of miraculous. Another outstanding piece.