Tag: Face

2516. St Werburghs tunnel (102)

One of the most welcome sights on any wall in Bristol has to be the beautiful form and colours of a Tasha Bee stylised face. Distinctive and full of serene character, her work, to me at least, feels like it is very ‘Bristol’ if that makes any sense at all, even though I think, like me, Tasha Bee is not a native Bristolian.

Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2019
Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2019

It would be easy just to focus on the face of this piece at the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel, but that would ignore the fine hair ornament with joyful colours radiating out from a central circle. Unfortunately the piece had been tagged by the time I got to see it… I just don’t understand the point of tagging something as beautiful as this, is it some kind of assertion of dominance from people who are natural undear-achievers? It is difficult to know.

 

 

2507. St George skate park (8)

It is a great pity that I didn’t manage to photograph this piece by Slakarts before it got scuffed up (an occupational hazard for any paintings in a well-used skate park), because it is difficult to make out the true beauty of it. Although I have a few of his pieces in my archives, this is only the second of his pieces that I have written about. Probably about time to break some of his older pieces out.

Slakarts, St George, Bristol, September 2019
Slakarts, St George, Bristol, September 2019

His work often features a face in this style that rather resembles a mask. The subtle colours he has used here are probably more prone to skateboard damage than something that might have been a bit brighter but you can nonetheless get a sense of the rather solemn face. The drips are intentional. More to come from Slakarts soon.

2504. St Mark’s Avenue (3)

In my favourite recently discovered spot, St Mark’s Avenue in Easton, is this great collaboration between Soap and Zake which I had seen previously on Instagram, but never knew where it was. Well now I know.

Zake, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, September 2019
Zake, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, September 2019

On the left is a portrait by Zake that unusually for this alleyway has been altered by some idiot, goofing the eyes and the lips This is a real shame because it gives the character a completely different and rather sinister ‘personality’ than that of the original. Even though it has been altered, I felt it worth including, partly to demonstrate that not everything I get to see is in its perfect pristine state and also to explain why I try to get out regularly to find new pieces before they have been tagged or ruined.

Soap, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, September 2019
Soap, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, September 2019

On the right is some colourful and uplifting writing fro Soap. The photograph is a little bit rubbish, partly because of the rather unhelpful wheelie bin and also because of the width of the lane at this point is quite tight and ‘front on’ pictures are an impossibility without a wide angle lens. Unlike much of the work in this lane it is relatively recent and was painted this year. As an aside, the tag on the bin is one that can be found pretty much everywhere in Bristol – I don’t know the tagger’s name, but it is probably concealed somewhere within the tag.

2490. M32 roundabout J3 (170)

Hurrah… another piece from Lobe, an artist whose work is instantly recognisable and really stands out from the crowd. It is the boldness and simplicity of her pieces that really appeal to me, but take a little look a bit closer and you can see the thought that has gone into the shading and lines that make her style so distinctive.

Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2019
Lobe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2019

Finding her work is still  hugely rewarding as they are relatively rare, but I am sure that over the coming weeks and months we will be seeing plenty more from this emerging talent. Hit me with those big colours!

2488. Upper York Street (16)

An artist who just never seems to stop, and the number of posts on Natural Adventures featuring his work would evidence that, is Face 1st. In recent weeks he seems to have reverted to his charming portraits and hair spelling out FACE after experimenting with full body characters, always female, during the summer. I like it that he is stretching his ‘portfolio’ and that he remembers where he has come from too.

Face 1st, Upper York Street, Bristol, September 2019
Face 1st, Upper York Street, Bristol, September 2019

This one on Upper York Street, adjacent to Hazard’s wonderful frog, is full of soft subtle tones that contrast with the brighht pink background. I’ve rarely come across a piece by this artist that I haven’t liked.

2460. M32 roundabout J3 (168)

What a wonderful piece. This is Face 1st at his traditional best. It was pieces like this that first attracted me to the work of this Bristol artist, and although he has diversified his subjects a little this year, this one is right back to his core work and rather comforting for it.

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

The piece is clean and fresh, it has a crispness about it. The colours in the hair, spelling out FACE, are nicely selected and contrast strongly with the yellow surround. So good to see a piece like this in one of his favourite haunts.

2456. Little Paradise (3)

Finding a gem is always most gratifying and discovering this beautiful understated piece by Gvnly was a real treat. I had been aware of the piece via Instagram, but had no idea where it was and stumbled across it on a random lunchtime walk – often the best way to find new pieces. I have met Gvnly a couple of times, and he has been kind enough to offer tips and advice for which I am most grateful.

Gvnly, Little Paradise, Bristol, September 2019
Gvnly, Little Paradise, Bristol, September 2019

This little piece is so beautifully executed and almost falls into the category of micro-art. Not only is the subject really interesting and skilfully painted, it is also framed perfectly… it is as if this space was always meant to be Gvnly’s. Lovely piece.

2436. Upfest 2018 (158)

I have already posted a very striking Upfest piece by Brighton-based Mazcan but this one slipped a little under my radar until I recently started sorting through another batch of pieces from last year’s festival.

Mazcan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Mazcan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a superb work that looks like it has just dropped off the page of a rather dark comic strip book. There is drama and movement in the way the hair sweeps across the portrait… what is going on here? Her eyes give nothing away. Lovely piece.

Mazcan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Mazcan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

2428. M32 roundabout J3 (166)

In the dim foot tunnels of the M32 it is very easy to miss pieces as the walls tend to be very congested with tagging and bombing. It is the job of a hunter to keep eyes wide open and try to see everything. I had actually walked past these two faces by an artist new to me, Rinsulin, before doing a comedy about turn and taking another look.

Rinsulin, M32 roundabut, Bristol, August 2019
Rinsulin, M32 roundabut, Bristol, August 2019

The pair of colourful 3 eyed-skulls look rather better in photographs than they do in the tunnel and although naive in appearance are nicely thought out. I would guess that Rinsulin is reasonably new to street art, but I mugight be wrong about that.

Rinsulin, M32 roundabut, Bristol, August 2019
Rinsulin, M32 roundabut, Bristol, August 2019

It is unfortunate that both pieces have been tagged by Apeks, a nobody whose contribution is negligible, but i have to say that overall I rather like the colourful and anarchic faces that have a style all of their own.

2414. Brunel Way Bridge (19)

It is great to be able to post this piece knowing that I don’t have to credit it with ‘unknown artist’ because thanks to the great investigative powers of Paulh121 I know it to be by Lobe (@lobe_ita). This is one of at least three pieces that I have photographed by Lobe (look out for the others coming soon) and each one of them is a cracker.

Lobe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019
Lobe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019

Lobe tends to use only a few colours in her work and creates these styalised faces which are typified by the solid bold fills and shadowing. If I were to describe her work I’d probably say that it is like a fusion of Tasha Bee and Kool Hand. I really like this piece, and it is the details I am drawn to, such as the little spike on the white outline to the left of the left eyebrow. I really hope that what we are seeing from Lobe is just the beginning and that there is more to come.