Tag: Face

2272. St Werburghs tunnel (85)

A view of St Werburghs tunnel that I haven’t shared before, seen from the city farm end. The entrance to the tunnel is guarded by a pair of ‘monolithic’ gurning faces by Atchue, one on either side.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019

I haven’t seen much from Atchue lately, so to be presented with these two-for-the-price-of-one faces is definitely a bit of a bonus. On the left is one of his more familiar pink pieces, but the one on the right is in magnificent chrome.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019

The chrome face appears to be in mid gurn and you can almost hear him making a groaning noise. A lovely idea executed brilliantly by Atchue.

2269. M32 roundabout J3 (147)

Back to one of my trusty favourites with this beautiful piece at the M32 roundabout by Face 1st. Here he returns to his winning format of a sweet face covered with sumptuously decorated hair which spells out FACE if you look carefully.

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

I like the way that Face 1st has diversified over the last few months, but kept these great face pieces in his locker. I hope to come across Face 1st again this summer and tell him that he has inspired me to give it a go myself. I tried copying one of his simple faces, but it didn’t work out too well. More to come from this Bristol stalwart.

2259. Thomas Street (4)

DNT is on something of a roll at the moment, painting all spare corners in the Stokes Croft area, which is very much his ‘manor’. This piece is typical of his work using plenty of colour and shapes to create a recogniasble form, in this case a screaming monster face.

DNT, Thomas Street, Bristol, June 2019
DNT, Thomas Street, Bristol, June 2019

I like his style which is quite distinct and unlike other artists in Bristol. It is almost like a stained glass structure, with panels of different colours coming together to make a whole where the individual constituent parts on their own wouldn’t make any sense. It would appear that DNT has found his summer mojo and is enjoying his art at the moment.

2048. Upfest 2018 (150)

Iain MacArthur is an artist and illustrator based in London who only occasionally paints street art pieces, mostly focussing his efforts on designs for t-shirts and skateboards etc. (so his Upfest biography tells me).

Iain MacArthur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Iain MacArthur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a really interesting and somewhat challenging piece that shows a cut-away black and white face with a host of colourful strands bursting out like ideas or thoughts. The whole piece has a distinctive illustrative style, and the circles with the little motif inside them are particularly striking. I’d be interested in seeing more from Iain MacArthur.

2241. Upfest 2018 (143)

Over the course of the three day Upfest street art festival, visitors are treated to a huge display of artistic talent, which includes a some exceptional stencils, most of which are allocated these meter square boards at the St Francis church location. This extraordinary four or five layer stencil is by midlands self-taught artist RJ77 (there is hope for me yet).

RJ77, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
RJ77, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This mysterious image is rather compelling and looking at it I want to know more. What’s the story? Is it simply a pose or is there more going on? I am a bit of a sucker for these monochromatic stencils, and I’ll have to look out for more from RJ77.

2221. Moon Street (69)

I don’t know much about DNT, and have met him only the one time, but recently he has been very busy on the streets indeed and this is just one of several new pieces decorating the Stokes Croft area. DNT appears to be a creature of habit and rarely seems to paint in some of the other popular spots around the city, instead seeming to prefer his own neighbourhood.

DNT, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2019
DNT, Moon Street, Bristol, May 2019

This face is in typical DNT style. Highly colourful, and the whole piece being made up of elements or segments which on their own don’t appear to be recognisable, but when presented as a whole make up a fine picture. I really rather like this piece which has plenty of interest, but also has something mysterious or even absent, if that makes any sense at all.

2218. Moon Street (68)

Aah… Moon Street, one of the last remaining strongholds for street/graffiti art in the Stokes Croft area. Gentrification has arrived and is accelerating and it won’t be too long before most of these walls are gone and replaced with yet more student accommodations. The entire city is being overrun with these, surely the bubble has to burst at some point.

Anyhow, here we have quite an unusual and rather lovely little piece by Face 1st in one of his favoured spots.

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

I think that this might have been a bit of a practice, because since he painted this apple in Moon Street, I have seen it (on Instagram) as part of a collaboration elsewhere in Bristol… I must hunt it down, one of many that I haven’t yet found. Face 1st’s characteristic girl’s face is incorporated as part of an apple which appears to have been sliced and has ‘stuff’ brains maybe falling out. A slightly macabre scene and unusual for Face 1st who normally paints such charming faces. Nice to see him pushing the boundaries.

2213. Wilder Street (31)

You have no idea how much pleasure Hazard’s work gives me. It always seems to be so uplifting and beautiful and has a purity about it that is unusual in street art. This is a wonderful piece completed perhaps a couple of weeks ago on the hoardings of a development on Wilder Street.

Hazard, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Hazard, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019

I remember that the first Hazard piece I saw was at Upfest 2016 I think, and I remember commenting on how she combines a beautiful portrait with interesting and elaborate hair decorations, and she does the same thing here. The feathers are just an additional delight to ponder.

Hazard, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019
Hazard, Wilder Street, Bristol, May 2019

I love the skin tones in this piece which run from tans through to oranges and yellow on the cheeks. A classy work that conveys innocence and mystery combined. Thank you Harriet for brightening up the streets of Bristol, and come back from your travels safely.

2170. Lawrence Hill roundabout (8)

Sandwiched between Soap on the left and Zake on the right is this lovely piece by Tasha Bee. I haven’t seen much of her work recently, so had a little ferret around in my archive to pull this one out from my first and thus far only trip to Lawrence Hill roundabout.

Tasha Bee, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
Tasha Bee, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019

I particularly like the character’s hair in this one, which appears to have symbols from the zodiac although none that I recognise. As with most of her work, there is something calming about this one. Consistently interesting and good.

2127. M32 roundabout J3 (135)

From a couple of weeks ago, this is a fine piece from Zake, whose work has definitely come out into the open after a gestation period in the partial light of the columns at the M32 Spot. I often wonder what his characters would look like with the pupils of their eyes drawn in, their absence gives them a somewhat aloof aura, deliberate of course.

Zake, M32 roundabout, March 2019
Zake, M32 roundabout, March 2019

The happy face, I suspect is about to get a whole load happier judging from the pill on his tongue. I know little of such matters so have to make assumptions. I am really enjoying the evolution and exposure of Zake’s work.