Tag: Face

5049. Brunel Way (194)

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

I wonder sometimes whether Zake gets the credit he deserves, for the sheer volume of work he gets through and the variety of locations and walls he paints. Sometimes he paints with friends and sometimes alone, but wherever you look in Bristol, there is never a Zake piece far away.

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

I remember that the first Zake pieces I became aware of were on columns under the M32 at the skate spot there. How far he has come since then in developing and refining his style. This column piece showcases perfectly his use of shading to create enormous depth. It is extraordinary how deep the mouth appears to be, and what folds of skin on the chin, cheeks and eyes. This is a really classy column piece from Zake.

5048. M32 Cycle path (199)

 

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

It is a curious thing when an artist paints over their own work, but that is what happened in this instance. Maybe Pekoe didn’t like her last portrait piece here, or maybe she didn’t want to paint over anyone else’s work out of politeness, who knows, but the replacement is an upgrade in my view, and anything from her is always a bonus in my book.

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

The portrait is painted in purple tones, with blue hair, and the girl carries a slightly anxious expression. Many of Pekoe’s portraits are tinged with sadness, but I don’t think that is the case here, for a start, there are no tears. Some subtle shading brings depth to the face, and the white circles emphasise the lips and eyes. This is another beautiful piece from Pekoe.

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

5045. M32 roundabout J3 (453)

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

Face 1st has come up with this belter during this PWA paint jam on the M32 roundabout recently. Not one laughing girl, but three, and of course, one of them has an exploding head.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

It would appear that Face 1st has been experimenting recently with finding ways of breaking up his heads, with explosions or slices. I’m not too sure what his unconscious mind is doing here, but it certainly makes for a creative display that is never presented in a gory way, more as a passing interest. Face 1st continues to delight.

5032. Greenbank (72)

Chill, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023
Chill, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023

It took me a little while to work out what was different about this Chill piece from his other work to date, and once I worked it out, I am baffled why it took so long, because it is so obvious. The character is not black and white, but has been filled with pink and yellow, something of a departure for Chill.

Chill, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023
Chill, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023

The character portrait is really tight, all the lines as sharp as can be, and the fills nicely done. The detail work, for example on the teeth is first class, and it is quite easy to see his tattooing skills and attention to detail and precision shine through. The piece is bookended with some delicate flowers, another feature of Chill’s work. A lovely piece from a recent PWA paint jam.

5015. M32 Spot (155)

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

The whole of the M32 spot has become really untidy lately, and the flyposters have been very busy covering every surface with irritating posters. I never thought I’d say it, but I reckon the whole place could do with a bloody good buffing, tidy up and starting over again. Bogat has managed to find some space on this column to paint one of his trademark faces.

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

Although relatively simple in design, Bogat’s work is captivating and packs a punch, and he has a look and feel that is quite unique in Bristol. I particularly like the red cap, which reminds me of my own personal super-hero Jacques Cousteau, who was rarely seen without one. A nice column piece from Bogat.

5012. M32 Cycle path (196)

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

I came in search of a Face 1st piece, but instead found this wonderful Slakarts colour fest, so you win some, and you lose some, I guess. I have noticed that in some areas of Bristol, the turnover has been on the high side, which means that if you snooze, you lose, and I have been doing a fair amount of snoozing recently.

Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Slakarts, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

Although Slakarts has had a fairly quiet twelve months, the pieces he has painted are real belters. I’m not sure that I can convey just how good this piece is technically. The design is great, but the definition between elements with the thick, crisp black lines is outstanding, and the colour fades and shading, to give depth are excellent too. This is Slakarts at his best.

4964. Purdown (49)

Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, January 2023
Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, January 2023

I am guessing that Slakarts is busy these days in his non-street art life, because 2022 has been a very quiet year for him, and this is one of only a handful of pieces I have seen in a long time. This is how it goes for most street/graffiti artists, peaks and troughs of activity for a multitude of different reasons. It was fabulous, therefore, to come across this piece up at Purdown.

Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, January 2023
Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, January 2023

Slakarts tends to maintain his central character, pimping it with ever more elaborate ideas. In this piece, the character is on the left, but the whole piece is a bit of a mash-up of randomly distributed elements of the character’s features, a nose, teeth, an ear and a tongue are thrown into the mix. Nicely designed and thought out. Let’s hope Slakarts can get out more in 2023.

4876. Moon Street (100)

Zake, Moon Street, Bristol, December 2022
Zake, Moon Street, Bristol, December 2022

How has it taken me so long to post one hundred pieces from my beloved Moon Street? I guess, in recent years, painting here has reduced as the gentrification of the area has taken a grip, and so it is not so much of a graffiti destination, with artists preferring St Werburghs, Bedminster, St Paul’s or the River Avon. However, we do stopill get some beauties down there, including this very Zake, Zake character piece.

Zake, Moon Street, Bristol, December 2022
Zake, Moon Street, Bristol, December 2022

The rather disturbing face, exaggerated by its asymmetry, is arresting to say the very least. A slight reversion to his early form of portrait, his strengths come to the fore, especially his use of shading and highlights to create depth of features on the face. A worthy piece for my one hundredth Moon Street post.

4861. Dean Lane skate park (544)

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022

In case you missed it, Face 1st is one of my favourite artists in Bristol. I try to post all his work that I come across, but it is an uphill struggle, so I do what I can. This one is on the famous curved wall at Dean Lane.

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022

This is a stock sure thing from Face 1st, with a laughing girl’s face surrounded with FACE hair. In gold and yellow on a sky-blue background, the piece stands out, and there are some additional drips and bubbles to keep the interest. I haven’t seen any of the PWA crew for a long while, but next time I do, I will have to ask them about the significance of the gemstone, which appears in so much of their work.

4842. Brunel Way (183)

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

I would guess that I only manage to photograph about one in three of Mote’s pieces, which might give you an indication of how prolific he has been over the last few months. This piece under Brunel Way is a bit of a departure from his regular fare.

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

The stylised face is not a monster, but a human portrait, although it has all the characteristics of Mote’s work. Strong lines, solid fills and fine details created with black lines. The danger of painting the familiar, as opposed to wacky monsters, is that the piece will immediately be compared to a human face, there is a benchmark that we all have and recognise, and it is easier to criticise. Stylised works like this one work well, because they are self-knowing that they are representative of a face, but not an actual face. Great experimentation from Mote.