3410. M32 Spot (99)

I got lucky a few days back when I got to meet 3F Fino for the first time while he and some friends were spraying a column not too far away from the one featured in this post. I chatted for a while and it turns out that he has only recently arrived in Bristol, I think he said from Reading,  it I might have got that wrong. He has only done a few pieces in Bristol so far, but looks like he’ll be something of a fixture on Natural Adventures going forward.

3F Fino, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
3F Fino, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020

This piece resembles one he painted down in Cumberland Basin and features a woman (?) draped in a headscarf covering most of her face. Although a simple concept, the shading from left to right works really well. I look forward to seeing more from 3F Fino over the coming months/years.

3F Fino, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020
3F Fino, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020

3408. Wilder Street (41)

I shouldn’t think that I will be writing too many more posts from this end of Wilder Street in the future because behind this hoarding is a major new development (probably student accommodation) that is moving apace as the whole district becomes gentrified. In the meantime we can expect artists like Face 1st to continue decorating the hoardings until they come down.

Face 1st, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2020
Face 1st, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2020

This piece is going back to Face 1st basics, with a smiling girl with very big hair in blue and red spelling out FACE. From the look of it I would say that Face 1st probably sprayed this pretty quickly as all the elements are there, but the finessing isn’t quite what it could be. A lovely characterful piece nonetheless.

3405. Dean Lane skate park (375)

Here is yet another banging portrait piece from the lovely Pekoe who is on something of a roll at the moment. If I didn’t already have a gallery of her work then I would certainly have to pull one together based on her last couple of month’s work alone.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

A bold blue face this time, again in a three-quarter profile, and such sumptuous pink lips. The hair is given the pink treatment too with the black lines and multitude of little decorations such as diamonds, hearts and teardrops. This is Pekoe at her commanding best. There is something about this piece that I find rather calming and serene… it might be the closed eyes and the colour selections.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

This was another of those pieces that I was lucky enough to find before I knew of its existence through social media and that always makes the discovery a little sweeter. I hope that Pekoe keeps this purple patch going because I am having great fun seeking out her work.

3386. M32 Spot (96)

It is good to see another Zace piece featuring a stone face similar to the one I posted a short while ago from St Werburghs tunnel. In this little corner of the skate spot, Zace has used the unusual shape of the board to good effect. This is the kind of small piece that will often be overlooked, and it is always fun to find little gems like this one.

Zace, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Zace, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020

Zace has a fairly straightforward style and manages to execute it very tidily. I like the reversed out colours used in the face, with the lighter dots on the darker background and the darker dots on the lighter background – a clever technique. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing loads more from Zace in 202 because I like what I have seen in 2020.

3374. St Werburghs tunnel (213)

Slakarts has been very busy lately, especially with his three-quarter cartoony profile throw up pieces, so it was great to come across this rather more traditional-looking piece from him in the tunnel recently.

Slakarts, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
Slakarts, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020

Slakarts’ work is very distinct and rather different from most of the character pieces you see around Bristol. This particular face is rather austere and serious and contains some nice detail, such as the lines around the eyes. Some great shading and spots round this piece off nicely. I definitely feel a Slakarts gallery coming on very soon.

3349. M32 spot (92)

I think I have featured more new Bristol artists on Natural Adventures this year than in any previous year. It seems that every week or two new talent emerges (or equally, I become aware of someone who might have been painting for a while). Part of this talent pool seems to be home-grown, but because Bristol is a known graffiti city it draws artists in from further afield.

Morph, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Morph, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

This piece is by Morph, who seems to favour the M32 skate spot, and is an interesting green face set on a black bubble background with the word MORPH written as if from a giant Posca pen. There is a simplicity about the piece, but also some nice shading work around the eyes, nose and mouth. It will be interesting to watch as Morph’s art develops over time. The first of I hope many posts showcasing the artist’s work.

3348.St Werburghs tunnel (211)

I had to have two goes to get photographs of this piece because it was raining the first time and when I got home to check the images, they were obscured by a rather annoying water drop on the camera lens – it happens from time to time.

Mes One, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Mes One, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020

On the left of this collaboration is a rather tidy piece of graffiti writing spelling out MES from Mes One. I’m not sure if I have posted anything by the artist before, but he seems to do the odd piece occasionally, and he has collaborated with Slakarts on more than one occasion. I love the red dots at the base of the letters, a very nice touch.

Slakarts, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Slakarts, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020

On the right, Slakarts gives us another of his three-quarter character portraits that he seems to be so fond of at the moment. Together these two fill this particular space at the entrance to the tunnel really well. Looking forward to more collaborations from these two.

3346. Brunel Way bridge (76)

Angry Face is so definitely back on the scene and that is great news. For me he represents the rather more edgy side of Bristol street/graffiti art, and his mega-tag comes in both rough tag and finessed forms.

Angry Face, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020
Angry Face, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020

This column piece under Brunel Way is nicely done, and the characteristic face with spiky and cracked teeth is nicely decorated with little white bubbles on the two shades of blue face. It is always nice to find new pieces by Angry Face, especially when you know they are out there from the social media postings of others.

3342. St Werburghs tunnel (210)

Resembling one of the giant stone head statues of Easter Island is this rather nice and low-key piece by Zace. This is only the second piece I have posted by Zace, and it illustrates the diversity of artists in Bristol at the moment and the rate at which new ones are joining the already sizeable cohort.

Zace, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020
Zace, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020

There is something about this piece that I really like, maybe its modesty or the simplicity. The expression is difficult to read – an enigmatic smile perhaps? There is a lot to like and enjoy in a piece like this one and I really look forward to finding more work from Zace.

3323. St Werburghs tunnel (206)

One of the most recognisable ‘mega-tags’ in Bristol is that of Angry Face. What you see is what you get, and he rarely disappoints. One of the advantages of a ‘brand’ like this is that you can spend time doing a nice one, or spend ten minutes with a single-colour throw up, but they all conform to the stock format and identity.

Angry Face, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020
Angry Face, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020

I mentioned last time that after a long spell away, Angry Face seems to be hitting the walls pretty regularly these days, including with this recent one in St Werburghs tunnel. I’m not sure if the tags either side of the face belong to the artist or not, but the central face is more than enough for me. Good to see.