Yet another wonderful, happy piece from Soap which I have uncovered from my January archive… it must have been a busy month to overlook this piece. Without question these are happy mouths, and in recent times have softened.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
The colours are magnificent and I think the way that Soap has laid them down is rather clever and beautifully done. In my mind I am trying to work out the layering and sequence that the colours were laid down in. What I can say is this is an accomplished piece, and another belter from Soap.
The street art posts I bring you here on Natural Adventures are only a fraction of the total that appear on the streets of Bristol every day. My archives swell under the sheer volume of photographs and our computer barely functions due, in part, to disc space issues (time for a new one?). This means that I have to be reasonably selective about what I post, and this piece on my first trawl was marginal, because I have so many Soap pieces.
Soap, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
On a further inspection though it made the cut. I think that it is a wonderful piece, but the colours somehow send the whole thing into the background and if you weren’t on the ball you could easily miss this piece and walk straight on by. A lovely crown and halo, and ‘hair made of Soap tags. Glad I pulled this one out of the folder and posted it.
This brightly coloured piece by Soap looks almost good enough to eat. Lots of stuff in there that looks like delicious confections, and the trademark mouth/teeth seem to be getting stuck in.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
I have said it before about his recent work, that Soap seems to have found a new spring in his step and there is a joi de vivre in his work over the last year or so. It is great to see this, and in my view his work just seems to be getting better and better.
There was a time, and it wasn’t too long ago, when I thought that Soap only ever produced his mushroom-shaped mouths, in a variety of different styles and colours. However, over the last year or so, he has really branched out a whole lot and is doing a lot of writing – it seems many bristol artists are currently doing the same (Decay, Kid Crayon and Tasha Bee has just started too)
In this piece Soap has incorporated his mouths into a rather clever and intricate word SOAP. I love the two triangles that kind of hold the whole thing together and add interest. It reminds me a little of a mint choc-chip…it’s a colour thing.
There is no question about it, Soap seems to have found a new lease of life and appears to be a happy artist. His recent pieces have been an expansion of his basic form and have a sense of joy about them. This one in St Werburghs tunnel is a real beauty.
Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
As well as adding a body to the cheerful mouths, Soap has also adorned the character with hair, cleverly crafted from multi coloured tags – the white one on the left shows clearly what it looks like. He has incorporated further white motifs in the ‘hair’ which look good too. His work is really coming to life and building in sophistication and I really like it. I think other observers are similarly enjoying this journey. Keep it going.
It would appear that Soap is a happy man these days, or at least his mouth motif has a joyous demeanour which may or may not reflect the artist’s own disposition. It is noticeable though that his recent pieces are all a lot more expressive and smiley than some of his older work.
Soap, Lawrence Hill roundabout, Bristol, February 2019
This is a colourful and nicely embellished piece that screams out laughter and fun and is definitely a welcome addition to the rather drab tunnels at Lawrence Hill roundabout. I really like the squiggle decorations around the piece which might be Soap’s original tag. Good work.
OK, so I’m cheating a little bit. Some of you might have seen this piece in my Thursday Doors post last week, but it is deserving of a mention in my street art section too. A ‘belt and braces’ approach to sharing this one.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019
It is, of course, a collaboration between PWA members Soap and Face 1st and has such a charming quality to it. Add to that the location on some kind of municipal building behind a secured gate and you have all the makings of great urban street art.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019
I can’t quite figure it out, but there is something about the balance of the piece and the space it occupies that makes this a real winner for me.
Another artist who seems to have upped his game over the last six months or so is Soap. I’m sure that I struggled to find any of his work for an age but now, I am pleased to say, I stumble across new pieces nearly every time I venture out.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
This is a bad picture (the light was unkind) of a lovely piece by the artist, and one that extends his ‘standard’ motif into something a little more animated and fun. The addition of eyes creates a new sense of mischief and character. Great colours and really nicely worked patterns – this is a corker from Soap.
I am being a little bit lazy this week and have selected some doors that cross over into my street art posts. I make no apologies…I am a busy man and some weeks I just don’t have the wherewithal to take door pictures.
I would say however that the first door (which was originally going to be the only door for this week) is one of my all time favourite doors, so it deserves a special post really. I will soon be posting it again as part of my street art thread.
The other doors have been lurking in my Thursday doors folder for far too long and need to come up for air. Incidentally Coming up for Air by George Orwell is one of my top ten novels…well worth a go if you’ve not read it.
Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019Face 1st and Soap, Mina Road, Bristol, February 2019Thursday Doors, Bedminster, Bristol, January 2018Stewy, Thursday Doors, Bedminster, Bristol, July 2016
The bear by Stewy might trigger some memories of the squirrel I posted a few weeks back by the same artist.
Well that’s it for this week. I hope I can get out and find some new doors next week TTFN.
Turbo Island has taken on a new lease of life since the PRSC (the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft) and associates tidied things up here. They should be really proud of the work they have done to set this wall up as a viable curated street art spot. Just look at this amazing montage of an old Sepr piece on the right, some monstrous advertising hoarding and an extraordinary collaboration by Soap, Hazard and Tasha Bee below it.
Soap, Hazard and Tasha Bee, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
The collaboration itself is nicely balanced and colourful and combines three distinct but complementary styles.
Soap and Tasha Bee, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
Starting on the left is an interesting combination from Soap and Tasha Bee, who are collaborating a great deal at the moment. It is great to see Tasha Bee working on a different design, this time a rather pretty stylised cat.
Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
In the centre of the collaboration is a magnificent grayscale portrait by Hazard…have I said yet how great it is to have her back in Bristol creating these beautiful artworks around the place? And those flowers and cacti bring an exotic touch and richness to the piece.
Tasha Bee, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
Finally, on the right hand side of the collaboration is a trademark Tasha Bee portrait looking on with deep serenity. This is how a great wall should look, and well done to the three artists who do so much to uplift the streets of Bristol.
Natural adventures 