Bloodletting (or blood-letting) is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluids were regarded as "humors" that had to remain in proper balance to maintain health.

For me... one of the greatest gifts art has given me is my voice.  I am able to express with art far more than I am able to say with words.... I have more courage with art.

This image has been on my mind for a while.... perhaps because I have felt somewhat low lately.  I realize, that I feel things intensely....joy, pain, love, grief ..... and sometimes the sadder emotions overwhelm me.  When this happens I will turn to my sketch book and safely explore the darker corners of my mind.  Sketching allows me to explore.... without fear.

This image is of a deep cut, that is bleeding out pain...the pain drips down through the cloud to be safely explored by the small hand reaching out to examine a single drop.  I can't explain it completely, but this image gives me peace, and calm.  It opens the pain up to examination.

It is a scary thing for me to share these kind of thoughts...but I don't think I am alone.  I think that emotions come and go and sketching, for me, is a good way to examine them for a time, and then release them...... kind of like breathing them in and then out.

​Ah.... life is always interesting.  :)

  

Leonardo da Vinci once said that " a painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light".

I found this to be a very interesting observation... especially since most of my paintings start with a black canvas.  I vary it a little, sometimes using purple, blue or a dark green.. but mostly black.  

I love black.

Some artists believe that you should never use black, but rather make your own black by mixing colours.  I believe that you should do what works best for you.  I use black gesso, and mix in purple, blue, and black fluid acrylics.  This gives it a bit of a shine.  

I use it to give form to the elements in my painting, and to create high contrast areas which attract the eye.  It is satisfying to see a painting come to life out of a black canvas.  

Thank you Leonardo for your insight.  :)