861. Dean Lane skate park (61)

This is an absolutely wonderful piece by Dibz, featuring a character from the animated television series ‘Pinky and the Brain’. This is actually ‘the Brain’ as Pinky is somewhat skinnier and more stupid looking. Lots more from the excellent Wikipedia page on this cartoon.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017

What I like about this work is just how fantastically sharp and clear all Dibz’s lines are, it is a really strong technical piece. He spends a lot of time perfecting his designs before committing them to a wall, and his black book is well worth looking at on his Instagram feed.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017

Care has been taken, even providing a neutral grey background to help the lime green and pink stand out on this piece. One of the best on this wall for a while. Incidentally, and quite by accident, it is on the exact same space as the previous post from Inkie.

860. Dean Lane skate park (60)

Sometimes you get lucky and see pieces by great artists that come and go in the twinkling of an eye. This was a quick one sprayed by Inkie to celebrate the opening of the ‘Graffiti Nation’ exhibition at Upfest back on 28 April 2017.

Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2017
Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2017

Inkie told me that he had sprayed it quickly that day and had also worked on his contribution for the exhibition an the day as well. A busy man. This is a wonderful work, simple in its colour selection but with such beautiful writing and lines.

Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2017
Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2017

When I look at something like this, it appears to have an effortlessness about it, the work of someone completely in command of his craft. It was painted over fairly swiftly.

855. Dean Lane skate park (59)

This is a fun little piece in Dean Lane by Guts, another artist new to these pages. I met him on the same occasion as I met Jimmer Wilson and Lumagro. I have absolutely no idea what the in joke is about, but it made me laugh anyway…”Joe Habgood Rides Scooters”.

Guts, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017
Guts, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2017

This is the type of childish speech bubble that absolutely encapsulates graffiti, I think. A public space sprayed and a cheeky message. Harmless but subversive. It works for me, probably because I have a tendency to be a bit childish too – just ask Mrs Scooj or the Scoojlings. Great colours and great monster face. I like this…and it is still there some weeks on.

If you want to read more about Guts or several other Bristol artists, then I cannot recommend highly enough Auntie G’s fabulous blog post on a recent Bristol exhibition ‘3 is the Magic Number’ – A superb insight into the Bristol art scene and interesting commentary on the crossover between fine art and street art.

836. Dean Lane skate park

This is a wonderful small piece – stylised and anarchic by Lumagro at the far side of one of the Dean Lane walls. I love his line drawings and the humour he brings to this piece. The colours too are fantastic.

Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

This is only the second piece I have seen by this magnificent artist, and it was sprayed on the same occasion as his first. These are so different and really add something to the Bristol scene. More please Lumagro.

835. Dean Lane skate park (58)

This is an unusual and surreal piece by an unusual artist. I don’t really know too much about him, but I know he has been spraying down at Dean Lane for a considerable number of years.

Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

This piece is peculiar in many ways, but there is a big story going on somewhere here. Built around a tank there are mountains, aliens, buildings and a robot character…make something of that.

Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

There is also a tribute to CK One, who passed away in December 2011, but is still remembered fondly in the Bristol graffiti art fraternity.

824. Dean Lane skate park (56)

Well it has been a few days, hasn’t it? this is one of the best Laic217 pieces that I have seen. I think he is moving on to a new level, and he has worked this wall perfectly. As tribute to the quality of this piece, it has remained untagged and intact for at least a fortnight, which shows the respect from other artists.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

Although I have seen this theme before (fire from a spray can) from other artists, I think he has excelled with this, in particular I like the way he has shaded the reflected light on the face and head of the skull, grading from white/yellow to purple/black.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I still have many more recent pieces by this most prolific artist in my archives, and I will unapologetically post them all. Really fabulous work.

823. Dean Lane skate park (55)

This is a historic moment, for me at least. I saw this piece on a lunchtime trip to the Deaners and the paint was still wet. The artist, Lumagro, was hanging out with DC Guts and Jimmer Willmott (pictured). The reason this is history in the making is that this is Lumagro’s debut piece, and what a stunning introduction.

Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I believe the artist may be from Spain or a Spanish speaking country, and there certainly appears to be more than a little Mediterranean/European influence in this piece. I absolutely love it and want to see more of his work.

Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Lumagro, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

Distinctive and classy, Lumagro owns this space…albeit for a short time. I think this piece shows that you can produce a sophisticated simple work without overdesigning. Just brilliant. Bravo.

 

 

822. Dean Lane skate park (54)

I am so very much enjoying the journey Mr Draws is on at the moment. His trademark mountains seem to be a distant memory, and he is vigorously experimenting with his letters. This is a lovely piece, sprayed over the top of a Kid Crayon work (recently featured) which had been tagged.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

Mr Draws is always looking to stretch himself, and uses the walls of Bristol to practice and modify. All the time he is improving his technique and mastery of his craft. This one has a childlike quality to it – candy or marbles or something like that.

820. Dean Lane skate park (53)

I really like the work of Hire, especially as I now know what to look for in his work. His writing is really well disguised and has something medieval about it, swords clashing…or maybe that is just me. I suppose another interpretation would be Gothic.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I think it is the detail and jagged shapes that I like about his work, and although technically good, there is something rather raw about it. Really great graffiti writing.

816. Dean Lane skate park (52)

ON a recent sunny lunchtime walk to Dean Lane, I was lucky enough to meet Jimmer Willmott for the first, and I hope not last, time. A vibrant and chatty fellow, we had a great conversation about art styles and eyes in particular. He was spraying this one while we were talking, but seemed really laid back about being interrupted.

Jimmer Willmott, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017
Jimmer Willmott, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2017

I’m not sure I have consciously noticed any of his work before, but as with meeting any artist for the first time, I will definitely be looking out for more of his work. On the day in question, he was hanging out with a couple of other artists enjoying the sun, DC Guts and Lumagro. Work from the latter to follow. A fortuitous walk, and wonderful eye too.