If you’ve read this previous post, then you’ll recognize the image above - it’s another version of my “Blood from a Stone” painting, sans the infamous real blood from a tragic accident with an evil razor blade. And yes, I’m only kidding - no garlic infusion. Just 7 essential vitamins and minerals. Uh-huh.
First, let’s be clear on this: I did NOT mutilate myself to harvest blood for paint. I’m neither psychotic nor so poor that I can’t buy art supplies. (So, do you know why starving artists are starving? Because art supplies are so frakking expensive.) A CSI ultraviolet light test will reveal that the painting contains trace amounts of blood from my horribly disfigured finger. I shall never play the piano ever again. Oh wait, I never played the piano. Damn, this entire paragraph was so hammy that a vegetarian would disapprove.
Of course, blood paintings are nothing new. Cavemen punks were doing wall graffiti with animal blood loooong before my finger accident. In fact, according to this article, “PREHISTORIC people in Australia and Tasmania used human blood as the red pigment in their rock paintings.” A Google search turned up more recent examples: Petra Paul’s menstrual blood art (WTF, ewww) and heroin-infused blood paintings by Pete Doherty (lead singer and songwriter for British band “Babyshambles” and ex-boyfriend of model Kate Moss, another heroin-addicted mess). Oh, those crazy kids.
The image to the left is one of Petra Paul’s strange oeuvre which showcased in the Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health (MUM) in Maryland, U.S.A. (MUM officially closed in 1999). So, that blood spattering image contains… yup, her very own… menstrual blood. Lovely. 
MUM’s (not) the word. Gross is the word. Much.
Look closer and you’ll see the obvious Jackson Pollock influence. LOL. OK, sorry… lame joke.
Heck, why stop there? Imagine the possibilities of using menstrual blood in arts and craft projects. And why use blood when you’ve got other bodily fluids and matter? Oh, and just imagine - hair and toe nail clippings! Ewww. 
OK, enough of that nonsense… Let’s move on to my other version of “Blood from a Stone” - drawn with felt-tip pens on white paper. I like to use almost dried-up pens so that the drawing almost looks like it was done with thick pencils. Nicer, smudgy-looking shading. Fresh felt-tip pens would result in thick lines from the full-on ink bleed. Another example of using almost dried-up ink pens is this previous drawing of Billy Idol, except that one was a stipple drawing (dots, dots, dots). So, version 2 of “Blood from a Stone” ? I really like it a lot. One could even say I was applying the asymptotic concept of perfection through repetition and reduction. 
Wax on, wax off.
Adieu,
bloodless orange fruity
P.S. Thanks for all the comments on the last two previous posts. I’m working on trying to return your comments via your websites.
Yeah, the menstrual blood painting is gross. But as weird as I am, I’d probably visit that museum if it was open! Your painting is awesome. I just wish I could paint!!
I love the song “Whether You Fall” by Tracy Bonham you have “NOW PLAYING” btw.
Menstrual blood paintings?! *throws up* X__X
Both versions of Blood from a Stone look good.
I actually like VERSION DEUX (ink pen and paper), sans Massa P blood. BTW, I’d imagine Dracula would say Massa P blood tastes just like veggie chicken.
The B & W version has such clarity and impact. Beautiful lines, contrast and shapes. I’m impressed, fellow Browncoat.
That Petra Paul’s menstrual blood painting is eew. No wonder it was displayed in the museum. It’s gross, interesting and controversial all at the same time.
Wow. That’s very nice.
Hey, ooh nice pic. I could never do anything like that.
I have visited every so often only to see awesome work. I wish I was able to apply myself so I could even try to draw, paint, etc. Oh the joys of having 3 boys. I also discovered Snap Shots Plugin through your site. Nifty little thing. I think I might love that plugin. There is also nothing like seeing menstrual blood in a painting, especially in the morning. That is perverted.
There’s something about your art which is soo… I don’t know. But it’s definitely something positive. I wish I could do art, but I’m more of a music person, while my best friend is the artist.
How much blood would it take to actually get a painting or artwork done? I mean, that could probably cause anemia or something.
Hmm, menstrual blood. At least it didn’t go to the bin. Eeek. Haha.
I absolutely adore both versions of Blood from a Stone. Makes me wish I could draw/paint. I moved a few months ago and whilst unpacking found some old drawings of mine, drawn when I was about 13, and man were they horrible. I remembered then why I stopped drawing, or let’s just call it attempting to draw.
The menstrual blood thing actually sounds like something I could try. It doesn’t seem like you need to meet many requirements for that one. I’m female and I’m not terribly creative. Who needs creativity when all you need to do is just splatter some blood onto something? Or maybe there’s more to it than that. Let’s not try it after all, or maybe I will in some drunken stupor. I’m glad those don’t occur too often.
If you think blood art is bad look at the sperm cube. The site has exceeded its bandwidth limit at the moment.
It asks for contributions. :S
I love the concept you came up with for your painting.