Tag: Portrait

3494. Purdown HAA Battery (17)

This is the third piece by Big Hev that I have posted in recent weeks, which, I think, brings me up to date with her work in Bristol so far although I can’t be certain  about that. Once again this young artist wows us with a big, bold and colourful portrait filling up one of the concrete walls of the battery.

Big Hev, Purdown Battery, Bristol, February 2021
Big Hev, Purdown Battery, Bristol, February 2021

There is a lot to like about this piece, starting with the great colour selections. It is impossible to ignore this piece as you wander around the old WWII buildings. I am full of admiration for artists who get out there and just do their stuff and I wish I had the courage, conviction and talent to join them. Big Hev will improve her technique, but her style identity is already forming, and I am so excited to witness her progress.

3481. M32 Cycle path (109)

Over the last six months we have been fortunate enough in Bristol to witness some absolutely world-class street art and graffiti writing and it is something of a privilege to see, but the highlight of that period for me has been the emergence of a new generation of artists, at the start of their journey, full of the vigour and hope. Some will dabble and then fall by the wayside, others will hit the scene hard and progress and develop over time into firm regulars, others will develop into established and top drawer artists. I am enjoying that emergence of talent, it all starts somewhere, and Big Hev is one of those that makes what I do so worthwhile.

Big Hev, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021
Big Hev, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2021

Although her work is quite naive, there is a definite style that is hers and hers alone. The portraits are brightly coloured and the lips full and eyes large. Big Hev already has a good understanding of shading and the contours of the face are blended really nicely with layers of three colours of blue bringing out the features. This is going to be a hugely enjoyable journey as we watch it unfold.

3465. M32 Spot (103)

It seems that every week there is another artist new to the Bristol scene, or at the very least new to me. This bright column piece is by a young lady going by the name of Big Hev, and it is a privilege to witness the start of her journey painting walls.

Big Hev, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2021
Big Hev, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2021

There is something very appealing about this portrait, its simplicity and its bold colours. In time the shading and so traits will come, but I really like the striking nature of this piece, it demands to be looked at and enjoyed. I have found one other of her pieces, but am looking forward to many, many more.

3464. Montpelier Park

The fabulous purple patch that Pekoe seems to be enjoying continues with this wonderful portrait piece in the corner of Montpelier Park. There is a lot of joy in the piece, and it reminds me a little of the kind of portraits that Kid Crayon does… bright and unusual colours and a hat.

Pekoe, Montpelier Park, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, Montpelier Park, Bristol, January 2021

I recently visited Montpelier to switch up my walks a little bit and give the dog a bit of variety. It was a fruitful trip and finding this was the jewel in the crown. I knew of its existence, but I didn’t know where in Bristol it was, so I kind of got lucky. Something really likeable about this one and Pekoe seems to be turning out some happy pieces.

3455. St Werburghs tunnel (222)

Pekoe’s portraits just keep getting better and better and seem to flow with the ease of an artist really enjoying their trade. There is something just a little bit special about this one, Maybe it is the RBF T-shirt, maybe it is something else, but it works very well for me.

Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2021

The lighting in the tunnel, as I have said countless times, is dreadful, and I had to adjust the colours to be a truer representation, because my original photograph was ‘yellowed out’. No tears on the face of this young lady, but an emphasis on cheeks and lips. Big hair as always and an all-round wonderful portrait piece.

3452. Brunel Way bridge (87)

My last post featured a piece by Pura Decadensia and in researching that piece I was able to hunt down the artist who painted this mysterious portrait under Brunel Way from a few months back. It is by Moño (she quite rightly stresses the ñ) and it was the first piece painted in Bristol by the Fuerteventurian artist.

Moño, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2020
Moño, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2020

I am staggered by how many Spanish artists we have in Bristol now and I’m not quite sure what we’d do without them. Moño swells their ranks and on the evidence of this piece is a superb addition to our city. I believe Moño is a tattoo artist, but this portrait has some lovely features, in particular the hair which is very nicely done indeed. This is an unusual piece, but really ticks all my boxes. I can’t wait to see more of her work.

3405. Dean Lane skate park (375)

Here is yet another banging portrait piece from the lovely Pekoe who is on something of a roll at the moment. If I didn’t already have a gallery of her work then I would certainly have to pull one together based on her last couple of month’s work alone.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

A bold blue face this time, again in a three-quarter profile, and such sumptuous pink lips. The hair is given the pink treatment too with the black lines and multitude of little decorations such as diamonds, hearts and teardrops. This is Pekoe at her commanding best. There is something about this piece that I find rather calming and serene… it might be the closed eyes and the colour selections.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

This was another of those pieces that I was lucky enough to find before I knew of its existence through social media and that always makes the discovery a little sweeter. I hope that Pekoe keeps this purple patch going because I am having great fun seeking out her work.

3400. M32 Spot (97)

Rosalita has been smashing it out of the park lately and this new column piece under the M32 is just the latest in a string of fine works she has created in the area. From what I have seen, Rosalita is particularly fond of painting carnival faces which she does on walls but also with the application of makeup on people, which she has a talent for.

Rosalita, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020
Rosalita, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2020

Rosalita (who often signs her pieces RAW, has nothing to do with the Bristol-based crew Read and Weep, and that the use of the same initials is entirely coincidental) has used the column space perfectly and flooded it with colour and drama. The piece is a little unsettling, with the orange eyes dripping onto the cheeks. Great to see more from Rosalita. Keep it up!

3392. M32 cycle path (98)

It was while she was finishing off this piece that I first formally met the wonderful Pekoe, thanks to an introduction from Paul H. It was so good at last to meet her, and especially nice because she knew exactly who I was and was appreciative of the posts I had written here on Natural Adventures and on Instagram.

Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020

Pekoe, as well as finishing off her own piece was helping a friend with practising his own art work adjacent to her portrait. The act of a kind and helpful person. Her green three-quarter profile is exquisitely offset by the shock of orange hair collected into a bun, making great use of the space available on the panel she was painting.

Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020

Big hair is a major part of Pekoe’s portraits and in this one she has really excelled herself in my view. The decorations intertwined in the bright orange, red and yellow hair show off her signature style. I love this piece and will always associate it with making her acquaintance for the first time of many I hope.

3377. Ashley Road (21)

Shutters have become a much prominent feature of the city this year because of the increased frequency that shops have had to remain closed due to a sequence of lockdowns and restrictions. This has offered up an opportunity for street artists to either paint new shutters, or for older shutters to be appreciated by a wider public. I guess I am looking for a silver lining to this terrible pandemic… clutching at straws maybe.

Pekoe, Ashley Road, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Ashley Road, Bristol, December 2020

Anyhoo, this is a wonderful addition to the shutter pieces from Pekoe, who has hit a bit of a purple patch lately. I love this portrait, the way it fills the space so perfectly, slightly off-centre and the face is in three-quarters profile, which I love. The woman’s black hair and decorations are particularly nicely done. I think that this is my favourite shutter piece of the year. Bravo! Pekoe.