1984. Stokes Croft, Turbo Island (3)

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
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
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
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
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.

1966. M32 roundabout J3 (118)

It is obvious from this collaboration combined with Instagram posts from each of these artists that they not only paint well together, but they are really good friends too. Jointly, Hazard and Tasha Bee are at the vanguard of female street art in Bristol, although if I am honest an artist’s gender to me is not as relevant as the quality of their work, both score highly on the latter measure.

Hazard, M32, Bristol, January 2019
Hazard, M32, Bristol, January 2019

The Hazard piece on the left is a copy of the one she painted in Stokes Croft a couple of weeks earlier and has that amazing blue and red shadow thing going on.

Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2018
Hazard, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2018

It is so good to have her in Bristol for a while because we get to see her work first hand, rather than via social media – I need to photograph her most recent piece this lunchtime (by the time you read this it was a couple of days ago).

Tasha Bee, M32, Bristol, January 2019
Tasha Bee, M32, Bristol, January 2019

The Tasha Bee piece on the right is in such a different style – flat rather than 3D and highly designed, fitting the ‘Tasha Bee brand’ if that makes any sense at all. I love the work of both of these artists, and although I have met Tasha Bee several times, I would love to meet Hazard too and see her at work. Wonderful collaboration.

1940. Dean Lane skate park (183)

Although not her best work technically, I love this piece by Tasha Bee in Dean Lane, because of the incorporation of the budlia bush as the character’s hair. I love it when artists incorporate the surroundings of a piece into the work, and Tasha has done it beautifully here.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

I think that this was done as a little extra while she participated in a recent collaboration with Soap and Stupid Stupid Meathole, posted a week or two back. A quick one with that touch of magic.

1927. Dean Lane skate park (182)

These three, Tasha Bee, Soap and Stupid Stupid Meathole, seem to be getting on famously at the moment. This is a fine collaboration in Dean Lane with all three painting typical trademark work.

Tasha Bee and Soap, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Tasha Bee and Soap, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

On the left is a serene figure by Tasha Bee, whose work seems to go from strength to strength and gain in confidence. The hair on this one is breathtaking. In the middle and on the right of the work are faces by Soap looking rather cheerful.

Stupid Stupid Meathole and Soap, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Stupid Stupid Meathole and Soap, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

Sandwiched between the two Soap contributions are two rather weird looking faces by Stupid Stupid Meathole. On first inspection of these pink delights, I hadn’t noticed the teeth, but once I had spotted them, I couldn’t keep my eyes off them.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

All in all a thoroughly delightful and light-hearted December collaboration from three very busy artists.

1870. M32 Spot (34)

Sadly I didn’t get to this lovely piece by Tasha Bee quickly enough before it had been tagged. Hers was not the only piece on this column that had been tagged, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. I really do wonder what goes on in some people’s heads that they think it is ok to spoil deliberately other people’s work. I guess I’ll never really fully understand.

Tasha Bee, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2018
Tasha Bee, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2018

Here we have two of her serene characters, one atop the other, almost as if they are in a moment of meditation. A decent column piece from this prolific artist.

1861. M32 roundabout J3 (104)

Busy, busy, busy like a bee, a Tasha Bee, who I fear may have ants in her pants. It seems that Tasha Bee never sits still and is just incredibly productive, spraying her beautiful faces here, there and everywhere. I cannot keep up.

Tasha Bee, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2018
Tasha Bee, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2018

This gorgeous one is from a couple of weeks back and has a lovely colour palette…there is something about that soft green face that due to its faintness draws you in to take a closer look. This is Tasha Bee at her best.

1805. St Werburghs tunnel (47)

The first time I saw this piece, the bright sun was streaming into St Werburghs tunnel from the right hand side, cutting this piece in two. I had to discard the pictures and return a second time. Fortunately the work, by the fabulous Tasha Bee, was exactly as it was previously and untouched by taggers.

Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

It has been so good watching the development of Tasha Bee over the last year or two and this piece demonstrates how far she has come. I am starting to notice a lot more tone and shading coming in to her work, giving her characters a more rounded look. This I believe is one of her finest to date…the colours work really well, especially the yellow which offsets the blues and purples. Looking forward to seeing more and I know I won’t have too long to wait.

1773. St Werburghs tunnel (41)

In this piece, we have everything that I like about the Bristol street art scene. First, it is a collaboration between Tasha Bee and Soap – firm friends and painting buddies. Second it is bright and vibrant and in a highly stylised form. Third, the location, St Werburghs tunnel is just sooo Bristol.

Tasha Bee and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Tasha Bee and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

The two characters in the collaboration work so very well together and the colours read-across seamlessly. I am more used to seeing the large mouths that Soap is recognised for, and indeed there is a hint of that on the hat of his character, but it is this wonderfully expressive face that he paints from time to time that I really like. I was so happy to come across this piece, especially as the turnover in the tunnel is particularly high at the moment.

1768. Fairlawn Road (1)

Ubiquitous is one of the words I would use to describe the work of Tasha Bee. It doesn’t seem to matter where I wonder, I end up finding some of her work. This piece I found while taking the dog on a long walk around Montpelier – I wasn’t even hunting it down.

Tasha Bee, Fairlawn Road, Bristol, September 2018
Tasha Bee, Fairlawn Road, Bristol, September 2018

Tasha Bee I think also wears the crown at the moment for being the most prolific artist in Bristol, giving Laic217 and Nevergiveup and Facef1st a run for their money. I have said before how much I love the serenity of her faces, and am enjoying more and more the fills she is using for the hair. Great work.

1749. Dean Lane skate park (170)

I arrived at this piece a little too late to see it in its original condition. It had been a collaboration between Mr Draws (in the middle) bookended by Tasha Bee. However, before I managed to get to see it, Oner had made a little contribution of his own.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018

I have to admit that I rather like Oner’s burners. There is a certain honesty about them, unpretentious but nicely turned out and often just a little bit edgy. Tasha Bee has rapidly made it into my group of favourite Bristol artists with her stylised characters and pretty flower motifs.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2018

She is very prolific, and even today on a long walk with the dog I found a couple more of her pieces. There is something rather spiritual about her characters, it might be something to do with the simplicity of the lines or the closed eyes or the little peace and love signs, I’m not sure, but they ooze serenity. It is a pity I didn’t see the Mr Draws bit in the middle, but I can imagine it.