Tag: Dean Lane

1691. Dean Lane skate park (156)

Each year in August there is an event held in Dean Lane skate park called DLH, or Dean Lane Hardcore. It is a fairly crazy affair with skaters, wild music and a lot of booze. Before the event, streetartists come down and do a bit of decorating on the ramps and walls, which ends up looking pretty good on the videos.

Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

For at least the last two years, and probably longer than that, Feek has taken on the large ramp at the bottom of the park and given it an extreme makeover. I made it to Dean Lane while he was working on the piece, but he disappeared and I never got to meet him which is a pity.

Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

The monster glaring out of the ramp is brilliantly done and suits the event perfectly his previous years piece was not dissimilar. All good work. Unfortunately, I think this year’s DLH was a bit of a wash out…you can’t skate in the rain.

Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017
Feek, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017

1680. Dean Lane skate park (155)

Just as Upfest was waking up to the Saturday morning influx of visitors, I took a look in Dean Lane to see what was happening, because it is usually pretty busy down there during the festival. I took shelter from a downpour with a couple of artists who worked on this lose collaboration.

Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

On the left was a half finished piece by Unity, an artist from Cardiff. I very much liked what I saw, but regrettably it had been painted over by the time I came back to see it at the end of the day. I had a great chat with her while we waited for the rain to abate and discovered that I probably have one or two of her older pieces in my archive…time to dig them out.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

The middle section was by Rusk who had already finished and left the scene – maybe to work on his ‘official’ piece in South Street park. This quick one was of the high quality you expect from Rusk – he never disappoints.

Cyst, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Cyst, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

Finally, on the right of the collaboration was a piece by Cyst, from Cheshire. I was pleased to have been able to meet him, because it can be difficult sometime to identify work from visiting graff writers. All three pieces were very short-lived, but that is what you expect in Dean Lane, especially so during Upfest. Nice collaboration

1676. Dean Lane skate park (154)

The other day, just before heading off to Italy, I had a quick trawl around my favourite spots in Bristol just to get as up-to-date with new pieces as I could before missing out on a week of photographing street art. Dean Lane was fairly busy, as it was being prepped for the annual Hardcore funday that weekend. Feek was working on one of the large ramps (to follow) and I met DJPerks (a fellow admirer of street/graffiti art) for the first time. I think that we ‘hunters’ (I’m not sure if I like the tag) are almost as elusive as some of the artists. While talking to him, this green piece caught my eye.

Nightways, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
Nightways, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

It is by Nightways, a visitor to Bristol, but I am not too sure where he calls home. He sprayed this piece as a three colour challenge, and I think it has turned out rather well. His Facebook page is a little cryptic, and he seems to have a thing for bears, although looking at his Instagram it all seems to be monkeys. Whatever his thing is, I rather like this piece, and hope he comes to visit again soon.

1675. Dean Lane skate park (153)

I only took this picture a couple of weeks ago and it has been buffed over at least twice since then. It is by the irrepressible Laic217 who never tires of creating these wonderful skulls and skeletons in various guises.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

This skull is donning a gas mask, or is it a sophisticated protection mask from the fumes of spray paint? I guess perhaps the latter and the yellow patterns are the paint fumes. It works either way really. The detail in the eye sockets of the skull is awesome and the bucket hat with the smiley so full of character. Laic217 has smashed it with this one.

1670. Dean Lane skate park (152)

It is always a pity when a nice piece gets dogged, especially when it has only been up for a day or two. This particular collaboration between NEVERGIVEUP and Soge was a perfect piece for the curved wall in Dean Lane skate park. It also marked a return of the monster by NGU, something I’ve not seen for a few months.

NEVERGIVEUP and Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018
NEVERGIVEUP and Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2018

I had seen the Soge writing on Instagram, and it all really looked rather nice, but I guess some inferior talent had to go and goof it up. I’m all for the turnover of work, especially on ‘legal’ walls, but it is boring to see half-baked throw-ups going up over decent work. Still, we all know the (no) rules and just get on with it.

 

1657. Dean Lane skate park (151)

A beautiful ‘TES’ from Slim Pickings, this time in the wonderful claret and blue colours that we might associate with Burnley or West Ham. Once again, and as one would expect, the lines are crisp and clean and the fillings solid and neat.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

I think this is the last of Slim Picking’s work that I have in my archive, so I rather hope he will be out there at Dean Lane or somewhere else doing his stuff that he does so well.

1632. Dean Lane skate park (150)

An eye-catching piece in Dean Lane by Jee See (G.C. – Goshiku Chavu). On a black background, he has worked this neon green seismic piece really well. It reminds me of early green screen computers and video games like Space Invaders.

Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

Jee See is another of those Bristol street artists who consistently turns out great work and furthermore he sprays in spots all around the city. Some artists prefer to stick to their own patch. More to come from Jee See soon.

1631. Dean Lane skate park (149)

I always look forward to Kleiner Shames’ visits to Bristol, because every time he leaves behind something to marvel at. This is a miraculous collaboration with Epok, and demonstrates what can be achieved by two street artists at the top of their game.

Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

The first thing to notice is the fabulous colour selection, which is very much influenced by Kleiner Shames, as I have seen him use these colours several times before. The genius of the piece is in the letters. Epok always writes EPOK and Kleiner Shames writes FOIS. In this piece I can read both…how do they do that?

Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

The highly designed style of the piece works to both of their strengths, but the execution is what makes this piece so good. Clean lines, incredible shapes and some really interesting shadows. It reminds me of so many fine artists of the twentieth century. I love this piece and it is without doubt my favourite writing work so far this year. Bravo boys.

1630. Dean Lane skate park (148)

This is another fine crisp clean piece from Slim Pickings, whose work I am really enjoying at the moment. I took these pictures just as he was finishing off the piece and was able to meet him for the first time. I was full of enthusiasm, having just finished my spray session at the Upfest shop on North Street. In the course of our conversation he told me he had been spraying for some 30years, which I found humbling and mildly embarrassing as he had only recently crossed my radar.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

I love his clean lines and fills – each one of his pieces striving to be better than the last. Slim Pickings is clearly a man who loves his art and constant search to keep up the high standard. He gave me a few tips, for which I am grateful. Nice piece.

1619. Dean Lane skate park (147)

It is only about three months ago that I first found out about Slim Pickings. Since that time, I have met him, posted about him and found quite a few of his pieces in my archive. This one is rather interesting because it is a mirror image of his usual tag.

Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018
Slim Pickings, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018

I don’t know if this would have been easy for him to do, or a real challenge. I would find it very difficult, because I struggle with mirror image layout. I know this because I live in a semi-detached building which has a mirrored layout on each side. When I have been next door, it does my head in. I can’t transpose the reflection in my head. Slim Pickings has left us with a perfect reflection beautifully sprayed in chrome. More to come from this No Frills artist.