And my friend Christine (who actually appears in my skull #229) discovered this sneaky fellow hiding at a chain sandwich restaurant, hmm...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday Simulacra - Round 8
Tyrone shared a couple of fun simulacra skull finds. He says, "The hair clip simulacra was found in my mother-in-law's bedroom which explains the shroud of darkness and deathly chill whenever I enter, the robot-like skull was found at the bottom of an airport urinal in Cleveland... They act like they've never seen someone take pictures of a urinal before... Don't worry, I washed my hands afterwards."
And my friend Christine (who actually appears in my skull #229) discovered this sneaky fellow hiding at a chain sandwich restaurant, hmm...
And my friend Christine (who actually appears in my skull #229) discovered this sneaky fellow hiding at a chain sandwich restaurant, hmm...
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Kids' Stuff Skulls
7 Year old Tara in Canberra, Australia made this fun bead and safety pin skull! Her mom says she made the skull, "at a recent Girl Guides camp with a pirate theme. She loves your site (as does my 5 year old son), and was very keen for me to send in a photo."
And 11 year old Phoebe and 6 year old Indivar in Kirkland, Washington made this neat fused bead skull...
And 11 year old Phoebe and 6 year old Indivar in Kirkland, Washington made this neat fused bead skull...
Friday, August 29, 2008
[ANNOUNCEMENT] Feast Your Eyes
Folks in the Portland, Oregon area will be able to get their fill of skull-themed art at the Feast Your Eyes show at Diesel Fuel Gallery which opens September 5th. This lovely image created for the show by Mark McCormick gives you a hint of the type of work that will be featured...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Mr. Potato Skull Jr.
12 years old Vincent Drayne of Silver Spring, Maryland made this lovely potato carving!
Which ended up in a pot of split pea soup...
Which ended up in a pot of split pea soup...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Lacy Skull
Guido Corvett from Rosario, Argentina made this really beautiful skull illustration (be sure to click to see details in the enlarged version)...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
And the winner is...
By a landslide 40% of the vote you've chosen #222 Rorschach Skull to be the next T-Skull! There are still a few more of the Ornament(al) and 13 Line T-skulls to sell off before I have room to store the new shirts, so please consider buying one or two. And while we're at it, you can help me figure out how many of the new T-skull to order in which sizes, by voting in the new poll at the right! Thanks.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Jolly Roger Skull Cake
My friend Christi made this fantastic cake for her boyfriend's 40th birthday! She says, "The party had a pirate theme so I decided to turn the cake into a jolly roger flag. The icing was dark chocolate fondant dyed black with food coloring. The skull and crossbones were cut freehand out of white fondant. The cake itself was red velvet and it ended up being 15" x 11" x 4". I don't think I'll ever make a cake that big again, but I certainly enjoyed playing with fondant for the first time." Before...
and after...
and after...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday Simulacra - Round 7
Mike says, "While changing my 2 yr old's ( Hayden) diaper today, we kicked the baby powder off the shelf above, it fell and hit him on the forehead. As it did it puffed powder on to the wall and gave me the resulting images. I showed it to him, and he said "pirate"(which is what he calls any skull). And he thought the powder hitting him in the head was funny also. I know it should be a simulacra, because it was an accident, but I'm telling everyone that he made his first skull at age 2, because it did bounce of his head to create it. Thanks for an amazing site, Hayden and I love to look at it every day. Also thanks you for all the work you have out in and continue to put it to the site."
Brandon said this bird poop just missed hitting him...
Paul says, "This is a bite mark I left on my friend's hand during a drunken endurance contest at a music festival. We think it looks like a skull wearing a German helmet."...
Brandon said this bird poop just missed hitting him...
Paul says, "This is a bite mark I left on my friend's hand during a drunken endurance contest at a music festival. We think it looks like a skull wearing a German helmet."...
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Dinner Skull
Ale Psycho from Milan, Italy sends this cute/gross food skull, saying it's "a typical Bangkok plate with chicken cooked with oyster sauce and a fried egg...it was skullicious"
Friday, August 22, 2008
Smoking Skulls
Stephan Gross showed off his awesome sculptures "The Doomies", indoor garden gnomes, which emit smoke when incense is burned inside of them...
See them in action here...
See them in action here...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Block Print Skull + 365 Interview
Elin Waterston of Will.Love.Logic made this excellent wood block image as part of her own daily art project! Her 365 Interview follows...
S-A-D: Why did you decide to do a 365 project?
E: I was inspired by two artists who were working on daily projects. One, of course, was the Skull-a-day project. The other was Michael Lease's SameTime photography project, in which he and another photographer took a photo wherever they were and whatever they were doing at 7:15 each night.
S-A-D: On average how much time do you spend each day on your pieces?
E: The average time is about an hour a day, which includes drawing, carving and printing, but I spend a lot of time thinking of subjects and researching. The portrait of Barack Obama and some of the little teeny ones, like the mouse and the flying saucer only took me about 10 minutes. The Siren took the longest - that was about 4 hours. Sometimes it's just about being in the zone - when I'm in the zone I can draw and carve very quickly, when I'm not, it's more of a struggle.
S-A-D: Was this your first blog?
E: I'd already been blogging before my block printing project started, and sometimes I blogged every day, but for short periods of time, with breaks in between. I actually love the daily blogging, though I don't always write anything (or much anyway), sometimes it's just a picture.
S-A-D: What did you expect to get from this experience?
E: I really just did this project to see if I could carry it through and have the discipline to do it without missing a day. What I didn't expect was how much I enjoy the comments and reactions from readers. I guess I didn't think about anyone following it daily - I just thought people would stumble upon it once in a while. But I have regulars who check in daily and people write to me with subject requests. It's wicked cool. I've even inspired a few people to start carving.
S-A-D: What have you learned about yourself in the process of doing this?
E: I learned very quickly that I'm a perfectionist. Well, I guess I already knew that, so I guess I learned that sometimes you have to let go of perfectionism. At first, if a block didn't work or if I wasn't pleased with the outcome, I would re-carve it. I've gotten better about not doing that as the year has progressed. Not that I'm thrilled with every print I make, just that I can say "well, that's not my best work" and move on, without the need for a do over.
S-A-D: How has this process affected your creativity/skills/style?
E:An important element of this project has been that it's all mine, meaning that I'm not creating these block prints for a book or magazine, I'm not following anyone else's rules or regulations. As much as it's been a lot of work, it's also been somewhat freeing and empowering because of that aspect. The project has affected my style in that I've been incorporating block prints into other art (like my art quilts).
S-A-D: What is your favorite so far and why?
E: The aforementioned 4 hour block, the Siren is easily my favorite. I'm not sure I know why. I love the subject and feel that I really captured some ethereal quality with that image. I liked most of the blocks from that series, mythological beings, I think in part because the subject interests me so much and I liked reading up on all the myths. My son thinks the siren is a self portrait, so that might have something to do with it too - that I feel a connection.
S-A-D: What is the best thing that has come from doing this project?
E: The most exciting thing is all the connections I've made with readers.
S-A-D: At this point do you think you would commit to doing another 365 project?
E: I think I would commit to a once a week project for 2009. Maybe by 2010, I'd be ready for another 365 project. And can I just point out that 2008 is a leap year, so I'm actually doing a 366 project!
S-A-D: Any advice for people considering starting their own 365 project?
E: Try to develop a project that you feel you won't tire of, and that you can explore for that length of time. And just stay committed.
S-A-D: What's next for you?
E: I co-wrote The Art Quilt Workbook (with Jane Davila), which was released in 2007, and we've just released a DVD based on some of the lessons from that book (Jane Davila and Elin Waterston Teach You Art Quilting Basics) Our second book, Art Quilts at Play, will be released early next year.
Thanks Elin!
Elin Waterston is an award winning textile and mixed-media artist. She has a BA and an MFA in design. She is the Visual Arts Director, as well as an art instructor, at the Katonah Art Center in Katonah, New York and an Art*o*mat participating artist. She is the co-author of The Art Quilt Workbook and a frequent contributor to Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines. Her work is in many public and private collections and has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums. Elin lives in South Salem, New York.
If you have done or are in the midst of a 365 project and would like to be interviewed drop me a line. Priority will be given to folks who have made a skull image as part of their project.
S-A-D: Why did you decide to do a 365 project?
E: I was inspired by two artists who were working on daily projects. One, of course, was the Skull-a-day project. The other was Michael Lease's SameTime photography project, in which he and another photographer took a photo wherever they were and whatever they were doing at 7:15 each night.
S-A-D: On average how much time do you spend each day on your pieces?
E: The average time is about an hour a day, which includes drawing, carving and printing, but I spend a lot of time thinking of subjects and researching. The portrait of Barack Obama and some of the little teeny ones, like the mouse and the flying saucer only took me about 10 minutes. The Siren took the longest - that was about 4 hours. Sometimes it's just about being in the zone - when I'm in the zone I can draw and carve very quickly, when I'm not, it's more of a struggle.
S-A-D: Was this your first blog?
E: I'd already been blogging before my block printing project started, and sometimes I blogged every day, but for short periods of time, with breaks in between. I actually love the daily blogging, though I don't always write anything (or much anyway), sometimes it's just a picture.
S-A-D: What did you expect to get from this experience?
E: I really just did this project to see if I could carry it through and have the discipline to do it without missing a day. What I didn't expect was how much I enjoy the comments and reactions from readers. I guess I didn't think about anyone following it daily - I just thought people would stumble upon it once in a while. But I have regulars who check in daily and people write to me with subject requests. It's wicked cool. I've even inspired a few people to start carving.
S-A-D: What have you learned about yourself in the process of doing this?
E: I learned very quickly that I'm a perfectionist. Well, I guess I already knew that, so I guess I learned that sometimes you have to let go of perfectionism. At first, if a block didn't work or if I wasn't pleased with the outcome, I would re-carve it. I've gotten better about not doing that as the year has progressed. Not that I'm thrilled with every print I make, just that I can say "well, that's not my best work" and move on, without the need for a do over.
S-A-D: How has this process affected your creativity/skills/style?
E:An important element of this project has been that it's all mine, meaning that I'm not creating these block prints for a book or magazine, I'm not following anyone else's rules or regulations. As much as it's been a lot of work, it's also been somewhat freeing and empowering because of that aspect. The project has affected my style in that I've been incorporating block prints into other art (like my art quilts).
S-A-D: What is your favorite so far and why?
E: The aforementioned 4 hour block, the Siren is easily my favorite. I'm not sure I know why. I love the subject and feel that I really captured some ethereal quality with that image. I liked most of the blocks from that series, mythological beings, I think in part because the subject interests me so much and I liked reading up on all the myths. My son thinks the siren is a self portrait, so that might have something to do with it too - that I feel a connection.
S-A-D: What is the best thing that has come from doing this project?
E: The most exciting thing is all the connections I've made with readers.
S-A-D: At this point do you think you would commit to doing another 365 project?
E: I think I would commit to a once a week project for 2009. Maybe by 2010, I'd be ready for another 365 project. And can I just point out that 2008 is a leap year, so I'm actually doing a 366 project!
S-A-D: Any advice for people considering starting their own 365 project?
E: Try to develop a project that you feel you won't tire of, and that you can explore for that length of time. And just stay committed.
S-A-D: What's next for you?
E: I co-wrote The Art Quilt Workbook (with Jane Davila), which was released in 2007, and we've just released a DVD based on some of the lessons from that book (Jane Davila and Elin Waterston Teach You Art Quilting Basics) Our second book, Art Quilts at Play, will be released early next year.
Thanks Elin!
Elin Waterston is an award winning textile and mixed-media artist. She has a BA and an MFA in design. She is the Visual Arts Director, as well as an art instructor, at the Katonah Art Center in Katonah, New York and an Art*o*mat participating artist. She is the co-author of The Art Quilt Workbook and a frequent contributor to Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines. Her work is in many public and private collections and has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums. Elin lives in South Salem, New York.
If you have done or are in the midst of a 365 project and would like to be interviewed drop me a line. Priority will be given to folks who have made a skull image as part of their project.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Scherke Sunday
We're going to take a detour from Sunday Simulacra this week to feature the work of Scherke from Germany (whose Skuddly Toys skull, was featured a few weeks back). In the course of about 10 days he sent these additional four original pieces to me! In reference to his prolific output he said, "Despite your cry for help concerning the flood of submissions I can't do anything else (besides posting some suggestions on your site) but add fuel to the fire. Pandora's Box really seems to be an ossuary...".
Glow in the dark stars....
...A collage titled "We are Skull"...
...Windows OS...
...and "Turkish Skull", made out of the letters s, k, u, l, l in a stylized typeface!
He also made a desktop pattern version of Turkish Skull for download as well! Get it HERE.
Great work Scherke, I look forward to see what you come up with next!
Glow in the dark stars....
...A collage titled "We are Skull"...
...Windows OS...
...and "Turkish Skull", made out of the letters s, k, u, l, l in a stylized typeface!
He also made a desktop pattern version of Turkish Skull for download as well! Get it HERE.
Great work Scherke, I look forward to see what you come up with next!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Carved Skulls
Trevor A. Gordon made this awesome carved almond skull!
And Amie M. Blasi of Petersburg, Illinois made this fun peach pit skull using an x-acto knife! She says, " It took me about 2 1/2 or 3 hours to carve and then another to clean it, paint it and turn it into jewelry. Even though I accidentally gave it a gaptooth (one of the teeth I'd carved popped out when I was cutting up the seed inside) I still like it a lot."
And Amie M. Blasi of Petersburg, Illinois made this fun peach pit skull using an x-acto knife! She says, " It took me about 2 1/2 or 3 hours to carve and then another to clean it, paint it and turn it into jewelry. Even though I accidentally gave it a gaptooth (one of the teeth I'd carved popped out when I was cutting up the seed inside) I still like it a lot."
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
[BONUS] Skull-A-Day Skulls In Use
Darren spiffed up his effects pedal board with my stencil!...
Mel from Germany, made this great embroidered dress using my Skullphabet #1 font!...
JC in France, took this lovely photo of my Papercraft Skull (see more in a Flickr set HERE)!...
Mel from Germany, made this great embroidered dress using my Skullphabet #1 font!...
JC in France, took this lovely photo of my Papercraft Skull (see more in a Flickr set HERE)!...
Paisley Skull
Artist/Designer Bradie Shemke in Orange County, California shared these great pieces...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Painted Ladies Skulls
Rita Vovna from Auckland, New Zealand made this awesome painting!
And Merilee Phillips painted this beautiful piece titled, "Zylphia"!
And Merilee Phillips painted this beautiful piece titled, "Zylphia"!
Monday, August 11, 2008
T-Skull Voting!
Even though I'm still not done selling off the remaining Ornament(al) and 13 Line T-skulls, I wanted to do some preliminary work on the next shirt. So here are 4 possible designs for you to consider. Vote for your favorite to the right! The poll will be open for two weeks and shirts will be made when the rest of the existing stock is gone...
