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In their pursuit of creating masterpieces, artists often delve into unconventional and distinctive techniques. Some go to extraordinary lengths, venturing into obscure art forms or even inventing their own. The results of their creativity can evoke awe or provoke strong reactions of discomfort.
Certain artists employ unusual materials, such as paints derived from bodily waste or fluids, while others use their own anatomy as tools for painting. Digital creators, on the other hand, utilize unexpected platforms like Microsoft Excel to craft their art. Regardless of their approach, each artist featured here possesses a unique and defining characteristic.
10. Tatsuo Horiuchi Creates Art Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is typically associated with spreadsheets and basic graphs. However, Japanese artist Tatsuo Horiuchi has redefined its purpose, transforming it into a tool for creating art.
Horiuchi employs Excel for drawing, a use that most would never imagine. He began experimenting with the program as he approached retirement, having never used it before. Inspired by the vibrant graphs his colleagues created, Horiuchi saw potential in Excel as a medium for artistic expression.
Traditional graphic software was too expensive for Horiuchi, so he turned to Excel, which came preinstalled on his computer. He found it more intuitive than Microsoft Paint and has since produced stunning artworks using the program.
9. Tim Patch Creates Art Using His Penis
Australian artist Tim Patch, known as Pricasso, uses his penis as a paintbrush. This unique approach to art has earned him the nickname, a playful blend of 'prick' and 'Picasso.'
Patch conceived the idea of using his anatomy as an artistic tool during a Christmas party. After a quick online search, he was pleased to find that no one else had explored this unconventional method.
Initially, he dipped his penis into acrylic paint and applied it directly to the canvas, but the roughness of the surface proved uncomfortable. Now, he mixes the paint with petroleum jelly to create a smoother application.
8. Martin Von Ostrowski Creates Art Using Feces and Semen
German artist Martin von Ostrowski uses his own feces and semen as mediums for his artwork. He gained attention for a portrait of Adolf Hitler made entirely from his poop. He has since created similar works depicting historical figures like Friedrich the Great, Otto von Bismarck, and Kaiser Wilhelm II, all of whom played significant roles in German history.
Ostrowski was inspired to use his semen as a medium after seeing oil paintings depicting ejaculations by an anonymous artist in 1988. That artist had used masturbation to enhance the authenticity of his work. Ostrowski, however, collects and freezes his semen for later use in his art.
Between 2003 and 2008, Ostrowski claims to have ejaculated over 1,000 times for his art, with each portrait requiring 40 instances. The Gay Museum in Berlin, which showcased his work in 2008, noted that the scent of dried semen evoked sexual sensations in viewers. Ostrowski maintains that his approach is simply organic.
7. Milo Moire Creates Art Using Her Vagina
Milo Moire, a performance artist, uses her vagina to create art in a style she calls PlopEgg painting. She inserts small eggs filled with ink and paint into her vagina, then positions herself above a canvas to release the eggs. Upon impact, the eggs burst, creating a unique splatter effect. One of her notable works is titled The PlopEgg Painting Performance #1—A Birth Of A Picture.
Moire, frequently naked during her performances, describes PlopEgg as a feminist statement. However, not everyone agrees. Jezebel humorously referred to it as “the ultimate promotion for Kegel exercises,” while The Guardian dismissed it as “silly” and labeled it a “joke.”
The Guardian further criticized Moire, suggesting that PlopEgg was a bizarre and desperate bid for fame. The publication argued that her work lacked meaning, despite some artists defending it. It also took a broader swipe at performance art, claiming that those who claim to appreciate it are either insincere or easily swayed by absurd concepts.
6. Uwe Max Jensen Creates Art Using His Penis
Tim Patch isn’t the only artist who uses his penis for painting. Danish artist Uwe Max Jensen also employs his genitals as a tool. One of Jensen’s most famous works is a recreation of Kim Kardashian’s iconic “Break the Internet” photo, which featured her bare buttocks.
Jensen created the portrait by dipping his penis into acrylic paint and applying it directly onto the canvas. In a conversation with The Daily Dot, he explained that larger penises are more effective for painting, as they can capture finer details that smaller ones cannot. He also revealed that he held both his penis and the canvas in his hands throughout the entire process.
These penis paintings are just a few examples of Jensen’s eccentric endeavors. He has previously gained attention for vandalizing the Little Mermaid statue and urinating in a water sculpture displayed in a museum.
5. Graham Fink Creates Art Using His Eyes
Graham Fink produces drawings using only his eyes and specialized computer software. He collaborated with a programmer to develop a unique program that tracks his eye movements, utilizing two infrared lights directed at his eyes.
A camera monitors his eye movements and relays the data to the software, which refines the lines he creates with his eyes. These lines gradually form a visible image on his computer, continuing until the artwork is complete.
Fink needs intense focus to finish a drawing, as he uses a single continuous line without breaking eye contact. Any interruption would ruin the piece, and he cannot erase mistakes. Depending on his concentration, completing a portrait takes him anywhere from five minutes to an hour.
4. Ian Sklarsky Creates Art With a Single Line Without Looking
Similar to Fink, Ian Sklarsky uses a single line for his drawings, but he relies solely on his hands, not software. What makes his technique unique is that he never looks at his artwork until it’s finished. This method, known as blind contour drawing, prohibits the artist from viewing their work until completion.
Sklarsky has practiced blind contour drawing since he was a child. He often visits bars and events, creating these drawings for interested individuals. Each piece takes about seven minutes, after which he occasionally adds colors while finally viewing the artwork.
3. Katsu Creates Art Using Drones and Feces
Graffiti artists are already hard to catch, and it’s becoming even more challenging as they adopt drones. In 2015, Katsu, a renowned yet anonymous graffiti artist, made history by attaching a spray can to a DJI Phantom drone to create the first drone graffiti.
His target was a massive six-story billboard featuring Kendall Jenner in Manhattan’s SoHo district. Katsu used the drone to spray red paint across Jenner’s face. Reflecting on the act, Katsu remarked, “It’s thrilling to see drones’ potential debut as tools for vandalism.”
For his fecal artwork, Katsu consumed a large amount of Thai food before defecating into a container. He was so committed to the process that he used a mirror to ensure accuracy. He then proceeded to draw a portrait of Zuckerberg, substituting feces for a pencil.
Katsu later admitted the process was extremely messy, requiring frequent glove changes. He wore a respirator and burned incense to mask the smell. He also noted that drawing with feces is particularly challenging due to its high moisture content, which can ruin the artwork.
2. John Bramblitt Creates Art Despite His Blindness
John Bramblitt is blind, yet he has defied expectations by pursuing a career in painting. While many assume sight is essential for painting, Bramblitt has shattered this notion, proving that vision is not a prerequisite for artistic success.
Bramblitt lost his vision due to complications from epilepsy at the age of 30. This led to a deep depression, which he overcame through painting. He creates his art by tracing outlines with his hands and distinguishes colors by their textures, mixing them without the need for sight.
Remarkably, Bramblitt also paints portraits. Despite being unable to see, he forms a mental image of his subject’s face by touching it with his fingers. This tactile interaction allows him to produce accurate and expressive portraits.
1. Steven Spazuk Creates Art Using Fire
While most artists avoid fire near their work, Steven Spazuk embraces it as a crucial part of his creative process. He doesn’t paint directly with flames but uses the soot produced by fire to craft his art.
This technique, known as fumage, isn’t new. It has been used by artists for centuries, and some historians believe early humans employed it to create cave paintings.
Spazuk creates his fumage pieces by holding paper above a candle or blowtorch, allowing the soot to form dark outlines. He then enhances these outlines with pencils, feathers, or acrylic paints to add depth and color to his work.
Creating fumage on paper is a delicate process, as the paper must be positioned far enough from the flame to avoid catching fire, yet close enough for the soot to form the desired outlines.
Spazuk was inspired to use soot for painting after dreaming of an art gallery filled with black-and-white artworks, which he attributed to soot from a fire. The next day, he experimented with fumage, but the paper kept burning until he switched to thicker cardboard.
