Tag: Face

2397. Brunel Way Bridge (17)

Although I can’t be sure, I think this ephemeral portrait might be the work of Annika Pixie… it certainly has many of the ingredients that are common to her work, the lightness of touch and delicate nature of the subject, but I have not seen her paint many walls like this one.

Annika Pixie, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Annika Pixie, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019

As I write this, my curiosity got the better of me and I had a look at Annika’s Instagram feed, and sure enough there is a little video of this piece, filmed in only the way she can do such things. I love her touch, which is full of subtlety and magic and in such stark contrast to the macho work one is used to seeing. Nice one Annika.

2392. Brunel Way Bridge (16)

Wowzer… this is quite the best piece I have seen by Pekoe yet. It is beautiful and I truly believe that in this piece we are witnessing an artist reaching a new level, I see it as a really significant piece. The blue-faced portrait has something very special about it, the expression, the tone, the confidence and of course that amazing hair.

Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019

In this piece I feel that Pekoe’s naive style has transformed into something altogether more sophisticated and mature, and I love it. I would like to think that a lot of thought, care and effort went into this piece, it certainly looks really tight.

Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019

The patterns in the hair are so typically Pekoe, but the addition of three layers of base colour add an extra dimension. The eyes too work well with several dots in each creating a glassy effect, very clever. There is so much to like about this work. Bravo Pekoe!

2368. M32 Spot (45)

Zake pretty much owns these columns under the M32, and what is amazing is that so many of them are still there after more than a year – a tribute to his work perhaps. In this piece, one head is being consumed by another which looks devilish/vampire-like.

Zake, M32 spot, Bristol, July 2019
Zake, M32 spot, Bristol, July 2019

I do like Zake’s work very much, especially the faces created out of three or four tones of paint, however this one misses the mark ever so slightly for me, there is something not quite right about the teeth in the top head that I find distracting. I think I am being a little picky because this is a good piece, but just not one of his best. Looking forward to more from Zake.

2353. Moon Street (76)

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.

2313. Moon Street (73)

I am enjoying the amount of work that DNT is getting through at the moment, and so much of it is within a stone’s throw of my walk to work, which makes it particularly easy to find.

DNT, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019
DNT, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019

This rather intimidating ‘otherworldly’ face is staring out of a set of doors that play host to so many wonderful pieces of street art and which I featured last week in my Thursday doors post. I rather like the way, deliberately or otherwise, DNT has managed to incorporate the work (underneath) of abstract artist Run Z into this by using the same blue to accent the eyes.

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.

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.

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.