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RedLetter1 day this weekend for local artist Tes One

Photo by James Ever Whittinghill

Tampa artist Tes One, known for his oversized artworks painted on wood box frames, incorporates graffiti-style murals and graphic design into his pieces. He'll show his new work Saturday.

By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2009

Updated: 10/01/2009 05:45 pm

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TAMPA - When most of the city is fast asleep, chances are Tampa artist Tes One (aka Leon Bedore) is busy working.

"I think sleeping is a waste of time. Sometimes it's to my detriment, though," Tes said. "And when I do go to bed I'll be looking at the ceiling thinking about the ideas in my head."

No, the Tampa Bay area native isn't crazy.

In fact, the talented artist who hangs with the likes of Ales "Bask" Hostomsky and Neal Stoll (aka DJ Mega) is getting ready for his upcoming solo exhibit of new works and prints at RedLetter1 on Saturday.

The event ain't no art party either, he said. The after party is later at Czar bar with DJs Nak 1 and Mega.

"A lot of art shows are an excuse for having a party," he said. "I'm a career artist who wants a serious art show."

The 32-year-old Tes, known for his oversized artworks painted on wood box frames, incorporates a fusion of graffiti-style murals and graphic design in his pieces.

The Tampa artist was born and raised in St. Petersburg. A son of an artist -- who shared coloring books with his mom as a kid -- he graduated from Gibbs High in 1996. Although he was part of the school's notable Pinellas County Center for the Arts program, he considers himself self-taught.

To know about Tes is to know that he loves his family and loves his friends. Yet, before that, he loves his art.

"I was always drawing, I had a natural ability for it," he said. "I give all of my talent props to my mom."

In addition to hanging art on walls (or spray painting them) across the Bay area, Tes has shown his work in the major art cities of New York, San Francisco and Miami. He will show in Miami again in December as part of Art Basel in December.

"I wasn't trying to be the neighborhood terror, I just wanted to put art on walls," he said.

His art chops allow him to live anywhere, but he has stayed in Tampa with his wife, Rose. He now works solely for himself full time, a leap he made last year. Constantly trying to push himself creatively, he's still reaching for something different, he said.

"I do shows in those cities and I love the openings and it's a great time, but this is home," he said. "This is what I do, and thankfully because I love what I do it's not like work."