Tag: Face 1st

2353. Moon Street

As someone who loves the work of Face 1st, I can honestly say that I don’t think that this is one of his best pieces. Admittedly it has been a bit tagged over the face which detracts from it a bit, but overall it doesn’t have the heart of some of his recent pieces.

Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2019
Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2019

What it does have though is hair, and the hair in this one is in a slightly different style from his usual work and much more obviously spells out FACE. Everyone has good and not so good days, and I know Face 1st can do better, but I am always charmed by his work, and even his ‘could do better’ stuff is great in my book.

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2331. Dalrymple Road

This is indeed a special wall because there is not one, but two pieces by Face 1st painted I think at different times. I found these pieces on a walk of St Paul’s with Paul Harrison a couple of weeks ago.

Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019

Both of the murals demonstrate beautifully the way that Face 1st is developing his art and on the left are twins dressed up like Everton mints. These cheeky girls were painted first, and when I saw them on Instagram I couldn’t work out where they were… probably because I’ve never photographed this wall before.

Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019

It is the second piece that really captivates me though, where a girl is peering over her sun specs standing in front of some kind of structure (is it speakers?). Her flowing hair is unmistakably Face 1st, and the pattern on the dress a technique shared by fellow PWA member Soap.

Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019

There is something about the form of this young woman that I find incredibly compelling, but I just can’t quite put my finger on it. What a treat to find both of these pieces, and what fun watching Face 1st doing new stuff. I look forward to his next pieces.

2321. M32 roundabout J3 (151)

I love this little piece in one of the tunnels of the M32 roundabout. It is by Face 1st, and although completely recognisable as his work, it is a shift away from his usual belle, and one that I love. It is characteristic of his branching out and exploring new ways to present his art.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

It is the eyes that are the clue to the artist, they seem to have an anime appearance about them and are always most appealing. Although it is small and hidden I can’t help feeling that this is representative of the significant shift happening in Face 1st’s work right now.

2301. Sparke Evans Park (1)

I found this wall quite by accident a couple of weeks back. I had spotted a whole ton of graffiti (nothing much to write home about) along the bank of the River Avon, but to access it I had to go through Sparke Evans Park. I had never been here before and didn’t even know it existed. On the outer boundary wall of the park I spotted some bright colours behind the trees and it turned out that there were several rather nice pieces here, including this collaboration between Face 1st and Tasha Bee from some time in 2018.

Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2019
Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2019

I had seen this piece on Instagram, but had no idea where it was, so it was good to get closure on it. I don’t really need to tell you how much I like the work of these two artists, and they have a style and preference for soft colours that makes their collaborations so easy on the eye. The two central figures are by Tasha Bee and the faces on either side by Face 1st. To have found this alone would have been reward enough, but on this particular walk I managed to find a bunch of other stuff too. I think the turnover on this wall is very slow, so I don’t think I’ll be returning too often, it is a bit out of the way.

Thursday doors – 4 July 2019

Door 77 – Same door, different faces.

Happy 4 July to all those for whom it is a holiday. Here in the UK it is just another day, but it is Thursday, and that means doors.

I am being a little lazy this week using archive material to bring you the same door in Moon Street, one of my favourite street/graffiti art spots, but with different looks over the last few years – I might do this with a few more graffiti doors when I am pushed for new content.

With apologies to regulars who might have seen most of these images before.

Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2019
Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2019
Panskaribas, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019
Panskaribas, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019
Run Z, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2019
Run Z, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2019
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2018
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2018
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Coloquix, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017
Laic217, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2017

That just about wraps it up for this week, maybe some more Dorchester doors next time. Please go take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

All the best

Scooj

2291. Dean Lane skate park (224)

It is the simplicity of Face 1st’s work that I am drawn to. It is unpretentious but full of joy and beauty – uplifting. This modest piece in a copper colour was neatly tacked onto the end of the long wall at Dean Lane skate park. I don’t think it lasted very long, but then nothing here does last very long.

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

I find this one particularly pleasing on the eye, the lines are good and proportions fantastic and the colour combination works very well. One of the features to look out for in his pieces is the ‘ƒƒ’ signature, often placed on the hair of his beauties. I love this piece.

2287. M32 Spot (42)

Face 1st is doing a great job of  switching it up a bit at the moment, and this fabulous column piece in the M32 Spot is a case in point. I really like the full figure pieces that Face 1st has been doing lately that complement his faces so well.

Face 1st, M32 spot, Bristol, June 2019
Face 1st, M32 spot, Bristol, June 2019

Here we have a young woman in a stripy outfit sporting a fine head of purple hair sucking on a lollipop. It is a piece that fits the column so well and kind of has a bit of youth culture and attitude about it. It is a fine counterbalance to other columns in this spot that have been painted by Silent Hobo.