# Painting With Ants Chris Trueman Uses 200,000 Ants to Create 'Self-Portrait With Gun' By Michael Hines | Published 2010-06-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chris-trueman References: [aolnews](http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/for-painter-chris-trueman-dead-ants-make-for-strange-art/19489493) & [christrueman](http://www.christrueman.com/antpiece.html) Artist Chris Trueman used an [unusual medium to paint](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pointillism) a piece he calls 'Self-Portrait With Gun.' Trueman used [dead ants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shiyuan-xu)--200,000, to be specific--to paint a [portrait of his little brother](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portrait-mom) holding a rifle. Chris Trueman's 'Self-Portrait With Gun' was a labor of love because the artist hated killing the ants needed to complete it. The end result was worth the ant genocide, as the painting is fetching offers of $35,000. **Implications** - Consumers in modern society are attracted to designs that feature an unconventional aesthetic. Products that contain a unique detail are attractive to those shoppers who want to differentiate themselves from other shoppers. Coming out with more one-of-a-kind items could help a company grow its name. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.0/10 - Popularity: 84% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Unconventional Aesthetics:** Exploring designs with unconventional aesthetics can attract consumers looking for unique products. - **One-of-a-kind Items:** Creating more one-of-a-kind items can help companies stand out and grow their brand. - **Differentiation Through Detail:** Products that offer unique details can appeal to shoppers who want to differentiate themselves. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art and Design:** The art and design industry can explore unconventional mediums and unique aesthetics to create distinctive artworks. - **Fashion and Accessories:** The fashion and accessories industry can design and produce one-of-a-kind items with unique details to attract customers seeking individuality. - **Home Decor:** The home decor industry can develop products with unconventional aesthetics and distinctive details to cater to consumers who want to differentiate their living spaces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Insect-Inspired Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-bronze-sculptures.md) - [Oil Painting-Inspired Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antonio-santn.md) - [Leftover Househouse Paint Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paint-drop.md) - [Bug-Inspired Jewelry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/murder-hornet-ring.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Snack Artwork Auctions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mischief-by-chester.md) - [Artist-Edition Jigsaw Puzzles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artistedition-jigsaw-puzzles.md) - [Human Hair-Made Pots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/range-of-pots.md) - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md)