Tag: Face

5712. M32 roundabout J3 (534)

Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

It is a funny thing, but when you have been observing and documenting street art as long as I have, you get to notice things that many others simply wouldn’t, and you can pretty much always spot talent and promise from the vast spectrum of artwork and graffiti appearing on our walls daily.

Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

To Many, this piece by Alex Arnell wouldn’t elicit a second glance, but the child-like scribble is a deliberate style that challenges the status quo. One of the indications that this piece is by a capable artist is the shading on the character’s nose, giving it depth, something a child would not do. The grotesque and alarming face is surrounded with slogans and words, and there is even another head that mimics the central character. I couldn’t end this post without mentioning the butterflies that are associated with some of Alex Arnell’s work, and the little Banksy rat that has been given the Arnell treatment.

5695. Brunel Way (249)

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023

As we approach Christmas and the end of the year, I expect my posts to get slightly shorter, possibly a little bit more reflective, and maybe even a little bit rushed. I suffer from ‘ground rush’ before breaking up for a holiday period, when a whole bunch of work needs to be tied up and out of the door in an ever-diminishing time slot. Alright, I get it, I am getting my excuses in early, and that is the way I roll.

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023

Zake has had an extraordinary 2023, where his work has not only been more frequent, but it has blossomed, and he is pushing all of his boundaries to develop his unique portrait style. I first became aware of his work through his column pieces under the M32 in May 2018, and they have been a regular feature ever since, as you can see in this updated gallery of his work. There is lots of depth created by light and shadow in this piece, and a fair amount of expression in those wild staring eyes.

5691. M32 Cycle path (239)

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023

There is a special reason for really admiring this piece by Slakarts, and that is the skill with which he has painted this roughly textured and flaky hoarding without appearing to compromise his final outcome in the slightest. The piece jumps out from the wall and oozes quality.

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023

Slakarts, as I have mentioned recently, has seriously taken his foot off the gas with his street pieces, so it is always a real treat to find one. The piece tends towards the abstract, merging a couple of his iconic stylised faces into one. The yellow and green colour combination works particularly well on this rather dreary wall. Great stuff from Slakarts.

5682. Leonard Lane (43)

Ejits, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Ejits, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023

Ejits is an artist I associate more with legal festival murals and commissions than with a paint jam in Leonard Lane, and yet here she is rubbing shoulders with all sorts of artists in this central Bristol spot. I suspect that it was painted as part of the recent paint jam in the Lane.

Ejits, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Ejits, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2023

The stylised cartoon face is typical of Ejits’ work, characterised by dark outlines and solid fills, with no blending of colours. In this piece she has added a whole load of yellow doodles surrounding the face and adding interest to the piece. Annoyingly, the piece has been tagged, although it is not entirely unsurprising in this spot. I would love to see more of her work on the streets in addition to her commissions.

5676. M32 roundabout J3 (531)

Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023
Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023

A year or two ago, Slakarts was one of the more prolific artists in Bristol. I have a feeling that he is busy with work these days, which is, of course,  good thing, but it means we get to see fewer pieces on the streets. These days, every piece is a very welcome surprise, like this one on the M32 roundabout.

Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023
Slakarts, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2023

Slakarts has developed his style considerably, developing his trademark faces into something altogether more sophisticated. This sophisticated abstract piece incorporates his face design into a busy mash up of facial features, letters and symbols to create a bright and exciting experience. I would love to see more of his work, but have to be grateful for small mercies.

5626. M32 Spot (174)

Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023

Theartofsok is not an artist I am particularly familiar with, so when I first saw this unsigned piece I c was a little puzzled and had to do a bit of homework. I could be certain it wasn’t by a Bristol artist but by a visitor, beyond that I was stumped. It is an outstanding piece from the South Wales artist, and one of two in the area from a visit he made a couple of weeks back.

Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023

The piece is very confidently painted, with strong, sharp black outlines and assured solid fills. There is a simplicity about it, but do not be fooled, behind the simplicity lies great technical skill and know how. The expression on the character’s face and movement around him is all rather special. Theartofsok is welcome to return anytime.

5615. Greenbank (100)

Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2023
Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2023

My one hundredth post from Greenbank and what better way to celebrate such a landmark than with this stunning face piece by Zake. Over the last few years, Zake has been one of the most regular artists in Bristol, either painting solo or with his PWA friends.

Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2023
Zake, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2023

In this piece Zake has gone large, and to give you some idea of scale, this portrait stands at about 7-8 feet tall. As always with Zake’s work, the contours and texture of the face are created by a wonderful contrasting of light and shade, giving the appearance of deep furrows and folds in the subject’s skin. Zake pretty much always paints in this cartoon style and I think it would be really interesting to see if he could paint something a little more realistic in terms of proportion and features, just as a one-off… I think he would smash it.

5609. Dean Lane skate park (656)

Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

I try to keep my finger on the pulse with artists who are breaking onto the Bristol scene, one of whom is Jevoissoul. There is no mistaking that he has made his mark very quickly, with several pieces scattered in the Dean Lane and Brunel Way areas, leading me to think he probably lives in south Bristol somewhere, reinforced by his use of the BS3 postcode which takes in the Bedminster area.

Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

I have posted two quick pieces from smaller spots in the skate park. I think that Jevoissoul will produce plenty of these character faces, practising his skills and technique, with a view to producing some rather more expansive and creative pieces – something he has already started to do.

Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023

Whilst not particularly exceptional, I am posting these as a benchmark from which to measure his progress over time. I’m looking forward to the journey.

5565. M32 roundabout J3 (517)

Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

I got that tingle of excitement when I came across this piece by pekoe, just as I always do when I find her work. Pekoe is one of those handful of artists that I associate with being the beating heart of the current Bristol scene, giving the city a strong sub-culture identity.

Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023

The piece was painted as part of an RBF paint jam, one of two over a short space of time. I would say that this is not one of Pekoe’s best pieces, there is something a little peculiar with the proportions, but it marks a subtle change, especially with fewer busy elements in the character’s hair and in the background than usual. I think that the portrait lives up to the Resting Bitch Face moniker rather well. So good to see a Pekoe portrait, it feels like it has been a little while.

5563. Brunel Way (238)

Jevoissoul, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Jevoissoul, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

Today, being a Sunday, I have a little bit more capacity to write a third post, which is rather necessary, given the vastness of my backlog. Let me introduce you to a new artist on the scene, Jevoissoul, who I met at this exact spot a couple of weeks after he painted this interesting column piece. When I first saw the piece, I wondered if an artist called Panskaribas (whose style is similar to this) had returned to Bristol, as there are many shared characteristics between the artists, such as the cartoon Picassoesque style.

Jevoissoul, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023
Jevoissoul, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023

What is most impressive is that Jevoissoul has jumped straight from sketchbook to walls, using this area under Brunel Way to practice his spray can control and technique. When I spoke with the artist, he told me that this was just the beginning and that he was planning to do a lot of painting, and indeed that is exactly what is happening, his work is popping up all over the place. I think I am going to enjoy watching how Jevoissoul develops as a street artist from this encouraging start.