What a wonderful piece. This is Face 1st at his traditional best. It was pieces like this that first attracted me to the work of this Bristol artist, and although he has diversified his subjects a little this year, this one is right back to his core work and rather comforting for it.
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2019
The piece is clean and fresh, it has a crispness about it. The colours in the hair, spelling out FACE, are nicely selected and contrast strongly with the yellow surround. So good to see a piece like this in one of his favourite haunts.
What a lovely surprise, two of my favourite artists collaborating on one of my favourite walls, and look at all that orange. This collaboration went up on the wall where the Inkie piece had been for quite some while and which had become a bit tagged, so it is nice to refresh the wall.
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
On the left Face 1st has painted one of his faces with hair that spells out FACE. I have noticed that several of his recent pieces have taken this portrait format with this rather more obvious writing in the hair, and it is something the artist is obviously playing with at the moment.The colours and fill patterns are wonderful but that winking girl is irresistable.
Daz Cat, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
On the right, is a stunning gold cat from the prolific Daz Cat. I wonder if he is continuing the theme from his piece at the M32 roundabout of gold v chrome, the colours of this piece might suggest that. The writing ‘a cat’ is suitably chrome. Different styles, but together this girl and cat make a lovely pair. More please.
There is something a little understated about this piece by Soap on the footpath under Brunel Way. It is a fine piece of writing spelling out SOAP with nice fills and background, and something of a cosmic feel about it, but for me it just falls shy of the mark, and I can’t get my head round why.
Soap, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019
After a very active spring and early summer, Soap seems to have slowed down a little more recently, maybe he has been away or been working hard, or equally possible I have just missed his works – I cannot be everywhere all of the time. Looking forward to seeing more of his stuff soon.
A gallery of versatile street art and graffiti writing from Bristol’s Pirate Wall Artist – Soap.
All photographs taken by Scooj.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2021Soap, Nightwayss and Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2021Soap, M32 cycle path Bristol, February 2021Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2021Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2021Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2021Soap, Frome side, Bristol, December 2020Soap, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020Soap, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2020Face 1st and Soap, M32 cycle path, Bristol, September 2020Face 1st and Soap, William Street, Bristol, September 2020Soap, William Street, Bristol, September 2020Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2020Soap, Brook Road, Bristol, April 2020Soap, Lawrence Hill roundabout, Bristol, February 2020Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020Face 1st and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020Soap and Bad Taste, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019Soap, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2019Soap and Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019Soap, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, September 2019Soap, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2019Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019Soap, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019Stupid Stupid Meathole and Soap, Sandbed Road, Bristol, May 2019Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019Soap, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019Soap, Lawrence Hill roundabout, Bristol, February 2019Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019Soap and Tasha Bee, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019Soap, Ashfield Place, Bristol, January 2018Tasha Bee, Soap and Supid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018Face 1st and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2018Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2018Soap, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2018Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018Tasha Bee and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018Soap, Tasha Bee and Face F1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2018Soap, St Werberghs, Bristol, July 2018Soap and Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018Soap, Norrisville Road, Bristol, May 2018Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017Face F1st and Soap, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2017Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2017Soap, PWA, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2016
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
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.
This is indeed a special wall because there is not one, but two pieces by Face 1st painted I think at different times. I found these pieces on a walk of St Paul’s with Paul Harrison a couple of weeks ago.
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
Both of the murals demonstrate beautifully the way that Face 1st is developing his art and on the left are twins dressed up like Everton mints. These cheeky girls were painted first, and when I saw them on Instagram I couldn’t work out where they were… probably because I’ve never photographed this wall before.
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
It is the second piece that really captivates me though, where a girl is peering over her sun specs standing in front of some kind of structure (is it speakers?). Her flowing hair is unmistakably Face 1st, and the pattern on the dress a technique shared by fellow PWA member Soap.
Face 1st, Dalrymple Road, Bristol, July 2019
There is something about the form of this young woman that I find incredibly compelling, but I just can’t quite put my finger on it. What a treat to find both of these pieces, and what fun watching Face 1st doing new stuff. I look forward to his next pieces.
I love this little piece in one of the tunnels of the M32 roundabout. It is by Face 1st, and although completely recognisable as his work, it is a shift away from his usual belle, and one that I love. It is characteristic of his branching out and exploring new ways to present his art.
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
It is the eyes that are the clue to the artist, they seem to have an anime appearance about them and are always most appealing. Although it is small and hidden I can’t help feeling that this is representative of the significant shift happening in Face 1st’s work right now.
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
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.
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
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.
Face 1st is doing a great job of switching it up a bit at the moment, and this fabulous column piece in the M32 Spot is a case in point. I really like the full figure pieces that Face 1st has been doing lately that complement his faces so well.
Face 1st, M32 spot, Bristol, June 2019
Here we have a young woman in a stripy outfit sporting a fine head of purple hair sucking on a lollipop. It is a piece that fits the column so well and kind of has a bit of youth culture and attitude about it. It is a fine counterbalance to other columns in this spot that have been painted by Silent Hobo.
Natural adventures 