What would otherwise just be deemed “cool” artwork has an added layer of shock value when you find out what materials the artist uses. Vinicius Quesada's series entitled Blood Piss Blues isn't your typical accumulation of surreal imagery. What differentiates his creations from other works is his unorthodox art supplies – he uses blood and urine! His creations are appealing and interesting enough on their own, exhibiting a mix of portraits, slice-of-life moments, pop culture, and even celebrities like House's Hugh Laurie, but the added surprise of learning what materials make up the paintings piques one's interest further. We were so fascinated by Quesada's creative choices that we reached out to him and managed to get in touch with the So Paulo-based artist. Quesada was kind enough to fill us in on his process while assuring us that the project is far less gory than it seems:
“It starts with researching several photographs, so I can set the first collage. From this, I stencil the image on paper, usually with the three main colors of Blood Piss Blues, which are red, green/yellow and dark blue, as a reference to the RGB color system.
“To each one of these colors, I add a specific amount of blood, depending on the tone. Green/yellow receives less blood and I also add urine. Red takes a lot more, but also uses real paint. This is because it's hard to get blood, since I use only mine. I can get like 450 ml every two months. Blood is taken at the hospital, with the help of professionals. I never considered using anyone else's blood and I've never caused any harm to another living creature. It's not something satanic or spiritual. (I'm actually an atheist).
“When the image is ready, it receives computer retouches and special blood for things that can't really be drawn (like the screens on telemptyness). Then, I can enlarge it to the second collage, which is displayed on the streets.
“I've been taking a break since March, saving some blood. People often want to offer me their blood, but I advise them to donate it to blood banks, which need it much more than art.”
Vinicius Quesada's website and Flickr
via [Flavorwire]
