Tag: Portrait

2821. Raleigh Road (8)

Painted at the weekend (I think) this is a real beauty from Rusk (I told you there was more from him coming) and Jody. I can’t really articulate just how good this collaboration is and although the writing and the portrait don’t integrate, they certainly complement each other brilliantly.

Rusk, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020
Rusk, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020

On the left The expected high standard and tight work from Rusk delivers in bucket loads. A horizontal mix of bright and dul colours with some ‘glinting’ accents together with some nice inter-linking letters, a lilac outline and grey shadow – a lesson in how to make the complicated look simple.

Jody, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020
Jody, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020

To the right is a sensational portrait which is a tribute to Nipsey Hussle by the brilliant Jody. OK, so I’m old and my musical tastes although broad are not comprehensive and I have never heard of Nipsey Hussle before. He was an Ameican rapper, activist and entrepreneur who died in 2019, shot outside his Marathon clothing store in Los Angeles. I might have to go and dig out some of his music, and I thank Jody from bringing him to my attention.

Rusk and Jody, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020
Rusk and Jody, Raleigh Road, Bristol, March 2020

I had seen this collaboration on Instagram and got myself down to Rakleigh Road a quickly as practical because one never knows just how long these things might last. This is a real beauty.

2820. M32 Spot (62)

This little area of columns at the M32 Spot is very much favoured by Zake and there are a few of his pieces that have remained here for about a year untouched by taggers or other artists – quite unusual really and perhaps a gesture to his unusual face pieces.

Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2020
Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2020

The inclusion of a portion of neck lends itself well to spraying character portraits on these narrow columns and Zake has perfected the art. The absence of pupils gives Zake’s pieces a ghostly appearance that is a little unsettling, which combined with humorous expressions leaves the viewer on edge slightly. I like his work and am pleased that he has started painting again after a quiet winter period.

2807. Moon Street (81)

I couldn’t hold this amazing black and white portrait piece back any longer. ‘Why hold it back at all?’ I hear you ask (in my fertile imagination), well, it is another of those pieces that I know absolutely nothing about, despite some fairly intensive Interweb interrogations.

Kosc, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2020
Kosc, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2020

Moon Street has be host to many different pieces of street art, but nothing like this one in my experience. I don’t know who P. Jacobs is, and I guess the date is a date of birth. Is this a tribute to somebody famous or to somebody dear? What do the formulae mean? There is so much in this work to figure out before even marvelling at the superb portrait itself. This is a piece painted by an accomplished artist, but not someone that has crossed my path before (I think). Those eyes are amazing and follow you around.

Could somebody out there put me out of my misery and telll me who this is by and what it is about?

Thank you Paul. This piece is by Kosc, who has painted this door before.

2803. Purdown HAA Battery (3)

I took these pictures back in January this year, but the wonderful piece by Tasha Bee (Keep it Colourful) is way older than that. I have included it in part not only because I love her work but also because I haven’t seen anything new from her for such a long time, which is a great shame.

Tasha Bee, Purdown Battery, Bristol, January 2020
Tasha Bee, Purdown Battery, Bristol, January 2020

I know that Tasha Bee is working on some other projects at the moment, but maybe once the weather gets a bit nicer she will be lured out to brighten up all of our lives again. The piece is classic Tasha Bee and features a stylised portrait with wonderful ‘big hair’. Everything that is great about street art is right here in this piece. It left me smiling.

2798. Armada Place (19)

Lobe is probably one of the most distinctive artists in Bristol, with her portrait pieces composed of strong black outlines, solid fills with shading against the black lines, all contained within a white outline strip. How amazing it is to see how her work has developed over the last year or so. (Note to self, time for a Lobe gallery?)

Lobe, Armada Place, Bristol, February 2020
Lobe, Armada Place, Bristol, February 2020

I believe that this piece was painted at the same time as a recent Rusk piece although it is not part of a collaborative effort. It is great to see Lobe ‘hitting’ this board as I consider it to be a much under-used spot by decent street/graffiti artists. Enjoying the ride.

2787. Dean Lane skate park (286)

What a dazzling portrait from Pekoe on Dean Lane. It is so good to see that she is painting a lot already this year and that this is the fourth piece I have posted (I think) from her so far in 2020.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

I would say that the facial features on this piece are as good as I have seen on a pekoe face to date, and that maybe having a solid fill rather than shadings has accentuated the features. I would make a further observation, which is a very minor point because I do really like the piece, that the hair on top needs to go a bit higher for the whole head to be in proportion. I am guessing that the height of the wall here was the limiting factor, not the talent of the artist

2775. M32 Spot (59)

Another lovely portrait piece from Lobe, taken through railings at the M32 Spot. You can see the chanelled River Frome behind the pillar. The river passes under the city centre in a culvert, beneath Cabots Circus and Broadmead shopping centres, beneath the old fire station, beneath the fountains in the centre, along towards the Arnolfini, then it is siphoned underneath the floating harbour before eventually discharging into the New Cut. If only Bristolians knew what lies only a couple of meters beneath their feet.

Lobe, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Lobe, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020

Back to the art and this wonderful face in the typical style of Lobe, that is with thick bold black outlines and strong fills in only two or three shades. I’m not sure if those are eyes or half-moon spectacles. If they are the latter, then they are upside down. More from Lobe to come.

2768. Dean Lane skate park (284)

This beauty is the second recent collaboration from Dasco and Oseque. I know that Dasco is Bristol-based, but haven’t seen any of Oseque’s work before now, and have kind of assumed that he is not from these parts. I have done a little checking on the Interweb, and as far as I can make out, Dasco is from the Canary Islands and Oseque (José Castillo) is from Granada, but also seems to have a connection with Bristol. Either way, I hope we get to see more from this pairing.

Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Dasco and Oseque, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

The piece itself is a beautifully merged collaboration with the character portrait rising out of the letters. The colours are quite dulled and although really impressive as it is, give the whole thing a low-key feel. Oseque has a way of making his portraits look like they are drawn into a sketchbook rather than sprayed on a wall. Really nice work.

2766. Dean Lane skate park (282)

Modest and understated, Pekoe just goes about her business from time to time. No fanfare, no fuss and she turns out pieces like this beauty behind the railings on the swimming pool wall at Dean Lane.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020

This is the second piece by Pekoe that I am aware of this year, the other was down by the M32. Typically, Pekoe has painted a portrait, this one in three quarter view, with characteristic big hair decrated with rain drops, stars and an unhappy ‘smiley’. Many of her pieces are tinged with sadness which I hope is not indicative of her own state. It is always a pleasure to find her work.

2580. Upfest 2018 (171)

Well I don’t know about you, but I am getting rather excited about the return of Upfest which will be running in Bristol from 29 to 31 May, although some of the premium walls will be painted during the week before the festival, to make sure they are completed when the main pulse of visitors come.

Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

So (I hate anyone who begins sentences with so) just to whet your appetite I thought I’d take a little look back at Upfest 2018 and some pieces I haven’t yet got round to posting, starting with this beauty from Sake One. In the WIP photograph the artist was taking a break with his (I assume) family, which was lovely to see. Quite a lot of artists had their families and children buzzing around which made the whole thing feel a bit more inclusive.

Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018
Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, September 2018

I didn’t get to see the completed piece until some while after the festival, mainly because I think he finished it after I had left. Alas, this is another one of those spots that seems to have a car permanently parked in front of it, so you’ll just have to make do with these pictures. A fabulous piece from a fabulous artist.