I painted the above image titled “Blood from a Stone” (what seems like) a lifetime ago. It marks the last point in my life when I was more passionate, fearless and creative than the person that I am now. I literally bled for it, not in a figurative sense, but literally. Dracula would be lickin’ his chops.
Blood, that red sticky stuff. Now, before you start shrieking “ewww” or “strange”, let me explain a few things:
- Don’t be silly, I used real paint (and whatever else I could throw at it). I had an accident with a thin double-edged razor blade that I used to score deep lines (texture) into the surface of the canvas. I’ll spare you the gory details about pissing blood like a haemophiliac. And YOU can spare me the jokes on cooties.
- I don’t have an Angelina Jolie-like fetish for sharp pointy knives, however, I do have an obsession with getting adopted by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. I’m so much cuter than Maddox or Zahara.
- I have never been a f***ked up, dysfunctional teenager into cutting myself to feel better or alive. Freak, eat a chocolate cupcake - yes, 300 calories, but no sharp blades and loss of blood either.
- I get queasy at the mere sight of real blood, especially my own. It doesn’t help to be cursed with a nose that constantly bleeds.
- Although I’m a maladjusted lunatic, I’m not so bonkers as Vincent Van Gogh that I’ll cut off my ear and give it to my friend. I go to stores to purchase gifts just like everyone else. I h(ear) they’re having a sale at Square One Shopping Centre. Yes, so corny.
I’m neither pretentious nor articulate enough to explain anything well - my feelings, thoughts and doodles, but I’ll try… Let’s start with the title, “Blood from a Stone” - it was partially inspired from the saying “you can’t get blood from a stone” . It characterizes something that is extremely difficult to get, similar to the phrase “water from the moon” . OK, maybe it’s not a good idea to explain that first because the title actually only came after the painting was finished. In fact, it practically named itself.
I initially wanted to do a sculpture with rock, but I didn’t have any chisels (any tools, actually) or a big block of granite. Undeterred, I got this idea to build up the texture (sort of a faked sculptural effect) by layering scrunched up paper on top of each other (like papier-mà¢ché) and then I scored the surface (and my hand, oh I’m feeling queasy) with blades. Yeah, that texture you see is not just painted on - it’s real. Click on the image to the left to enlarge photo. Can you see the layers and grooves?
I used all kinds of art materials (because I’m whacky) - watercolour inks, acrylic paints, ink pens, oil pastels, chalk pastels… and apparently, my own blood. My high school art teacher would really disapprove and yell, “Oil pastels, chalk pastels and blood don’t mix!” I started with the rock base and I was going to paint the entire thing in that gross yellow-brown colour until I started dripping blood on the canvas… and that’s when I got the idea to paint the two hugging men in more vivid hues of red, orange and yellow. I contrasted the central image with a crazy blue background (also “texturized”) so that the image would really pop off the surface.
Explain the image itself? Well, I’ve heard it described (from people who have seen it) as two sinewy rock-men growing or jutting from a big rock, trapped in a permanent homoerotic embrace… floating like a phallic object in a mad, mad sky. Yeah, whatever. Please don’t comment that you’d never hang it up on your wall because yes, I totally hear ya. 
I’m not going to bother with explaining the meaning any further as to do so would devalue it and besides, I’m so bored already with the artsy fartsy babble.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking lately (again, I know)… about that person that I once was. What happened to that person who was so fearless and didn’t put up so many walls? When something went wrong (like blood trickling everywhere, oh I’m feeling queasy again), that person didn’t just give up so easily. That person took a bad mistake and turned it 359 degrees into something else… sometimes, something better, inspired.
So, how do you draw blood from a stone, once again?
Here are more close-up photos of the painting. Click on a thumbnail image below to enlarge photo:
BTW, I’ve pulled out another version of that painting from my ass. I’ve deconstructed it to a simple black and white ink pen drawing. I like it a lot. Come back in a few days to see it! You know, I might still make that sculpture one day… if only I had a big enough block of cheddar cheese…
Wow, this is my 50th entry and it’s a long ass one at that! Oops! 
Adieu,
bloodless orange fruity
P.S. Public service announcement: Kids, pain is not your friend. Sharp pointy things, bad.
That painting is beautiful. I hope you still do it… You’re very talented.
It’s beautiful!
LOL, chocolate is the way to go!
You are very talented!
Take care.
Whoa, that’s a long one! I feel tired just reading that!
I love that image - it’s so vivid and disturbing, just like the creator.
Very nice painting. Keep it up!
Wow. That is pretty awesome. And I love the grooves and textures. That’s pretty cool. I wish I had the patience for that.
Wow. I was seriously amazed. I loved the concept of the art work. When I found out that you made that: you=definitely someone to link.
I thought at first that you actually bled for your art. Passion, sans psycho, entered my mind. It’s actually a good idea but self-mutilation is just not for me. :p
Massa P (I refuse to call you “fruityoaty” - it’s so bleah), you’re one talented crazy monkey.
So, your 50th entry AND YET, none of your posts have been tagged and categorized? Lazy monkey.
And your IMAGERY page - sooo neglected and orphaned, it cries.
Hey hun!
I don’t really understand Art, so I’d rather not give any opinion about it, lol. 
Yeah… chubbing a chocolate cupcake [love sign] is so much better than cutting yourself… that’s only for people who are so desperate and don’t have anyone to talk to [my opinion]… and YUP, SHARPY POINTS, BAD! x)
xx
Hello fellow Aquarius!
That painting is cool.
Nice! I like!
Wow, you’ve got real talent. Nourish it. The painting is great.
Wow. Haha. Geez. I thought this was going to be a blog about a painting that you liked, but instead, it’s one that you painted.
At first I was like huh? But then I read the rest and I guess things started to fall into place.
hearts*
Hey, nice painting, especially with the fake sculptural effect.
Y’know what? You’re a talented artist. I love it. This is something I’d expect to see in music among famous artists’ work.
NNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeaaattt!!!
Hey there!
That painting is very unique. You seem very creative. I only wish I was the same way.
Take care!
Nice painting!! I think you have found your calling. Why are you wasting time on software testing??
You can paint, draw, make beautiful ornaments… What else can Massa P do??
Aww, that painting is beautiful. My boyfriend is very artistic as well and I always admire people with such talent because I’m one of the most least artistic people in the world, haha. Keep it up!
Now that is what I call art. You are so frickin talented. I envy you. Wow. Good job.
Wow, that’s really really pretty. You did an amazing job, and I think it’s definitely true art.
Nice job!
Awesome painting. I could never make anything like that. And my creativity has been sucked out of me as well. I sure do hope it comes back soon!
Omg, that is really nice. You are super talented. I’m kind of jealous. But I could never put too much effort into anything as complex as that, especially since you put a bit of yourself into the painting. I think I will be back to see the other picture. And to be honest, I think it would be something I’d hang up.
Great artwork! Amazing!
Nice work!! I love it. I know how to paint but I don’t have much time for it coz I’m more focused on ballet.