It’s a bit slow on the old print front today, which gives me the opportunity to launch a new feature, I ♥ This Artist.

Kicking us off is Julian Opie, who combines bright colours and bold lines to create dramatic portraits, landscapes, sculptures and large-scale outdoor installations.

His style is simple, unique and iconic and I absolutely love his work.

Have a look for yourselves: http://bit.ly/olJqQ.

I♥TA #1 Julian Opie

Kate by Julian Opie

Until next time.

The Wall Pimper

Check out my online art gallery: www.pimpyourwalls.co.uk

5 Banksy Rats – £35,000 ($50,000)

Banksy Grim Reaper Original Print – Stencil Art – This was one of the few prints at the exhibition £11,000 ($17,000)

Banksy Kate Moss Print, one of 20 – about £15,000 ($25,000)

Original Banksy Art – Mona Lisa – Said price was POA, so it's got to be pretty expensive

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Devon Police – Another one priced at 'POA'

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Chimp – Paint, on board

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Chimp – Paint, on board

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Rat and Saw (2002) – Paint, on board – £150,000 ($225,000). Yup, that's a lot…

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Rat and Saw – Hard to see, but yup, £150k…

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Bomb Hugger – £95,000 (about $150,000). That is expensive…

Original Banksy Stencil Art – Bomb Hugger – £95,000 (about $150,000). That is expensive…

Nick Walker Stencil Art, Graffiti – Hollywood – £11,000 ($17,000)

Original Nick Walker Stencil Art, Graffiti

The boards down the road may be black, but a more interesting darkness went up further up the road over the weekend. The kind of work that’s had people getting in touch asking who it’s by.

So ta to Vermin for the pic, It’s by Kid Zoom from Australia, Vermin from round these parts ish, and a stencil by Remo, also from Australia. Nice big pic, as revelealed by clicking on it.

There’s a new Petro piece on the shutters of the shop by Turbo Island on Jamaica Street too, but as with this time of year, the shutters are only down when it’s dark. Worth a look if you’re round that way though.

After them getting repainted again a couple of weeks ago with a more political message than normal, it seems the Hillgrove Street boards have been repainted black again. Not got a photo, but you all know what they look like when black by now.

Seems it might have been at the owner’s request though, apparently he was heard shouting “This is not a free painting space anymore”. Feel sorry for the bloke in a way, he tries to do something good to help brighten up the local community and ends up in a world of hassle between the council, painters and police.

Given the last work done on there (in the link above) wasn’t done with permission initially, perhaps Stokes Croft needs a system of signs giving the status of each painting wall there. Those that are open to paint whenever, those that need permission and those that are off limits. Not in the spirit of graf, but then Stokes Croft is more ‘Street Art’ these days anyway isn’t it. Just a thought, feel free to flame it in the comments!