It seems that I have been a bit of a latecomer to the Lawrence Hill roundabout tunnels… well you can’t be everywhere can you? Although most of the graffiti in the tunnels is nothing to write home about, there are a few decent pieces, including this wonderful collaboration between Tasha Bee and Face 1st.
Tasha Bee and Face 1st, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
I like it when these two collaborate as their preferred soft-tone colour pallets and line drawings match so very well – there seems to be a good fusion of styles, which can’t be said for all collaborations. Peace and love.
Recently Face 1st has been teaming up with an artist I have not been aware of before who likes to paint elephants, Junk. I don’t yet know much about the artist, but I like his simple style which goes so well with a very similar style used by Face 1st.
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
I have actually posted a collaboration by these two before fairly recently, but thought that the whole thing was by Face 1st and that he had branched out into doing elephants…he corrected me via Instagram.
Junk, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
I hope to see more of this pairing…there is something rather calming and meditative about this collaboration… maybe it is an elephant thing.
OK, so I’m cheating a little bit. Some of you might have seen this piece in my Thursday Doors post last week, but it is deserving of a mention in my street art section too. A ‘belt and braces’ approach to sharing this one.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019
It is, of course, a collaboration between PWA members Soap and Face 1st and has such a charming quality to it. Add to that the location on some kind of municipal building behind a secured gate and you have all the makings of great urban street art.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019
I can’t quite figure it out, but there is something about the balance of the piece and the space it occupies that makes this a real winner for me.
I am being a little bit lazy this week and have selected some doors that cross over into my street art posts. I make no apologies…I am a busy man and some weeks I just don’t have the wherewithal to take door pictures.
I would say however that the first door (which was originally going to be the only door for this week) is one of my all time favourite doors, so it deserves a special post really. I will soon be posting it again as part of my street art thread.
The other doors have been lurking in my Thursday doors folder for far too long and need to come up for air. Incidentally Coming up for Air by George Orwell is one of my top ten novels…well worth a go if you’ve not read it.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019Thursday Doors, Bedminster, Bristol, January 2018Stewy, Thursday Doors, Bedminster, Bristol, July 2016
The bear by Stewy might trigger some memories of the squirrel I posted a few weeks back by the same artist.
Well that’s it for this week. I hope I can get out and find some new doors next week TTFN.
Readers will be in no doubt that Face 1st is one of my favourite and most featured artists in Natural Adventures. This beautiful work at the M32 roundabout features his trademark faces and some incredibly sweet elephants…without ears.
Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019
It would appear that Face 1st is not to everyone’s taste and just to the right of the piece is a throw up saying ‘Face Junk’. Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t deface (literally) his work, and the quality of the ‘protest’ simply isn’t up to much, emphasising how much better the Face 1st piece actually is. You certainly have to develop a thick skin to be in this game, but I guess you wouldn’t do it if you were too sensitive. Another work from this gentleman that I can cherish.
One of my favourite pieces of 2018 was this lovely collaboration by Soap and Face 1st. It is one of those collaborations that is more of a proximity of work, rather than a true collaborative merger.
Soap, Ashfield Place, Bristol, January 2018
I must have driven past it hundreds of times thinking that I really must stop and take a picture, but it is close to a road junction and there are very limited parking opportunities. The left hand side is by Soap and is one of his most regularly used designs in a nice metallic silver. The tongues are particularly nice with the purple tinge.
Face 1st, Ashfield Place, Bristol, January 2018
It is the Face 1st piece though that is in my view outstanding. I do so much like his full figurine, and every time I see her, she seems just that bit more special. In this piece it is her hair that is so captivating, and the blue spotted bow. Her eye lashes too are extraordinary. When I spoke with Face 1st not long after he had painted this lady, he told me it was one of his favourites too.
One problem with prolific artists is that it is easy to let good pieces remain in archive, because time and tide wait for no man, blah blah blah. This beauty from Face 1st is from January last year, but is well worth the wait.
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Tucked into one of the pedestrian tunnels, a favoured spot for Face 1st, is this striking face…striking because of its strongly contrasting colours. For every piece by this artist that I post, there is probably one still in archive.
