100 Painted Skulls: #64

 To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

I love discovering how much detail can be implied when working loosely. It reminds me of when I took a theatrical scenic painting class in college. That was actually only one a couple of formal painting classes I've ever taken (the other was a summer class on oil painting when I was in middle school).

If you'd like to own this piece you can buy it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.

"Circle, Triangle, Square" Skull

The laws of geometry are on the side of Ryan Todd who submits this shapely skull from his home base in London, UK.

I was never much of a math fan, yet I use it everyday, but geometry was one of my more favorite. You can create almost anything by combining the right shapes. Just look into any basic art book. Thanks for sharing your skull with us, Ryan!

[Flashback Friday] 5.43 - 318. Crayon Skull

Welcome to another addition of Flashback Friday.** This year the guest editors, Tatman, Citizen Agent, and myself, Azurafae are taking turns reflecting on 17 of our personal favorite skulls from the previous four years of postings. So please join us as we visit the archives and add our additional commentary on some of the original pieces.


318. Crayon Skull

About this time two years ago, I was asked to be part of the Skull-A-Day team. I excitedly made a long list of projects to do. Since I didn't become familiar with Skull-A-Day until the end of it's 2nd year, I hadn't seen all of Noah's Skulls. Several on my list, he had already done beautifully, so I haven't done them in addition. This is one of my favorite ideas that he had already done. Why was it my favorite? Because who doesn't like melting things! I probably would have put mine in my oven and come out with a pool of wax that didn't resemble a skull...because I won't risk my iron. Also, I love the beautiful blending of colors where they melted together. Makes me want to break out my crayons (yes, I have my own large box of crayons!) and blend the colors together on paper.


 **Flashback Friday was a weekly countdown of the fan selected top 52 skulls of Skull-A-Day 1.0. Each week during year 3.0 The Skullmaster posted the original skull along with some additional commentary in order from lowest to highest rated, with the #1 skull appearing in the last week of year 3.0, all 52 can be found here. During year 4.0 the editors had their chance to countdown their favorites Azurafae HERE, Citizen Agent HERE, and Tatman HERE.

Scrap Skulls

Garrett Weekly from Denver, Co sent us a collection of skulls created from wood and metal scraps.


Leftover C says:

I adore that you created these works using the bits and pieces from a larger project. Just think of how much art is thrown into dumpsters each day at construction sites. I also adore that you took pride in them and attached some of them permanently to your surroundings. Thank you for sharing these wonderful creations with us, and also for proudly displaying skulls around your homestead.

Dia de la Abby #72: Cut Paper Skull Pendant

One of my favorite pieces I made for Skull-A-Day, is my first piece, my Cut Paper Sugar Skull. I decided I loved it so much, I wanted to make a mini version as a pendant.

Unframed

Framed

This pendant style might also look familiar. I bought a set of them when I made #42: Skull and Heart Necklace. Unlike my first piece, this one took a lot less time. I used the same type of black paper, left over tissue paper, and techniques to create this pendant. To give you an idea of scale, the pendant frame is 1.5" x 1.5". This means the cut paper piece is about 1" x 1". The pendant, like #42, is reversible. The reverse is a square of the paper I used as the background for this photograph. It's a flocked piece of paper. On the reverse of that is a print I used to create the skull for #51: Collage Skull. Today's creation pulls from three of my favorite Dia de la Abby projects.


Every other Thursday in the 5.0 year, I will post my own Dia de la Abby creations   Every Thursday in the 4.0 year, I posted my Dia de la Abby creations and occasionally tutorials with instructions on how I made my pieces. Hopefully you feel inspired by my posts just as I was by Noah's Skull-A-Day 1.0 daily project. Need more of me than just a weekly dose, follow me on  Facebook, Google+ and/or Twitter.

100 Painted Skulls: #63

 To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year...

One of the fun parts of this project is deciding how to crop the skull to fit the square of the panels I'm working. It's been a while since I've done one where I zoomed in and there was no background showing.

If you'd like to own this piece you can buy it HERE.

Skull Guides

Paul Renault from Winnipeg, Canada, drew this piece titled "German Shepard".

This piece, instantly reminded me of the grim reaper and any guides in stories about going to the afterlife. Though I, like many people, have never seen an afterlife to prove there is one, if there was, I would like a guide of one of my past pets or loved people of my life. There is something comforting in the thought of having an afterlife place where passed on people from your life are there to great you. Weather is be true or not, I do enjoy the mythology.

Crocheted Skulls

Pamela from Lake Ridge, VA sent us a pair of crocheted projects she did. She told us: “The backpack is made from the first crocheted skull that I finished. My other creation is a lavender skull scarf.”



Skein C says:

I truely love seeing the variety of crocheted skull projects. It is wonderful to see something like a scarf that starts out with a single creative block that is then repeated and made into a chain forming a wearable piece of art whose outcome appears in so many diverse representations. Thank you for sharing your pieces of wearable art with us.

100 Painted Skulls: #62

 To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

 Returning to the watercolor technique with the unpainted wood as the lightest color.

If you'd like to buy this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.

Snake Skin Skull

Most commonly skulls are featured without their skin, but Susan Scofield has reverted this paper mache skull to include a skin of a different animal.

The only description I can come up with is "simply wicked". I can just imagine this as the skull of some demon from another realm or possibly a piece of Pantera artwork. Stretching this skin over the skull is likewise stretching my imagination, and for that I thank you, Susan.

100 Painted Skulls: #61

 To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

I decided to work without white on this skull (though I used it in the background). Something about the yellow base make it feel like something that would go well on a Heavy Metal magazine cover, don't you think?

If you'd like to buy this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.

Skull Birthday Cake

T.S from Wyandotte, Michigan made this skull birthday cake.

I love seeing creative cakes. This skull cake is both girly with the bow, and eerie with the rats. I've never thought a skull with rats look so tasty, until now. I wonder what type of cake they used. Maybe a nice red velvet cake, so the skull looks like it's bleeding when it's sliced. Reminds me of that armadillo cake in "Steel Magnolias".

100 Painted Skulls: #60

 To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year...

Keeping it light and simple on this one with several thin layers of white and ochre on top of Payne's gray details.

If you'd like to buy this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.43

Today’s simulacra offerings are inspired by a classic song.

♫On the Boardwalk♫
Ken & Heather found this one walking the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ. He wrote: “I am a big fan and probably visit the Skull-a-Day site four times a week or so. I love the seeing the stuff that you share from all over the world. It is amazing to me that so much creativity can surround one single object. I enjoy it all, from the jewelry and crafts to the doodles and the skull images found in the oddest of places. I will be sure to share more simuilacrums as they pop up. You never know what you'll see when you keep your eyes open.”


♫Down by the Sea♫
Skull-A-Day Friend Jay Butler found this simulacra by the sea in St. Augustine, FL. He said: “Saw this skullific image in the coat of arms on an 18th century cohorn mortar at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, FL.”


♫On a Blanket for Baby♫
Shayna from Virginia found this simulacra on a baby’s blanket.



♫With simulacra I C ♫ says:

As always thank you all from our old seekers and our newest finders for the wonderful submissions each week.

Keep sending those pictures in, we always love seeing the diversity of images that our skull hunters find. Anyone is welcomed to participate, it’s fun and it’s easy- if you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address with a little something about what it is really and maybe a little about you or your simulacra team.

100 Painted Skulls: #59

To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

I enjoyed keeping it loose and working with a lot of color on this one.

If you'd like to buy this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.

Aquesous Skulls

J. Coleman Miller is the submitter of these abstractly aqueous skulls. Creating these images with nothing more than digital photography and moving water J. Coleman makes "the most radical departure from traditional photography in the 21st Century".

"Boil"

"Drown"

There's a wide variety of other subjects on J's site and the images will astound you.  It's interesting to see how just a change of color scheme can seem to create two completely different subjects.  Boil & Drown take us from fiery rage to icy death.  Thanks for sharing, J.!

Skull Made in Maine

Artist Josh Dow of Molten Metalworks in Maine sent us a sample of some of his current work.

He wrote: “I love the blog, my wife and I have small foundry in Maine where I've been making these Skulls recently as a side project. I thought you all might get a kick out of them.”

Zombie skull with exposed brain

Cthulhu skull

Green Cyborg Skull

Vacationland C says:

It is amazing the diversity of finished works that you are able to accomplish with your material and finishing methods. I have always loved the concept of the lost wax process in that in order to create you must first destroy what was previously created. It has such a theological nature to it as you are constantly participating in a cycle of birth-death-rebirth. Thank you for sharing this small sample of your recent work with us.

[Flashback Friday] 5.42 - 288. Button Skull

Welcome to another addition of Flashback Friday.** This year the guest editors, Tatman, Citizen Agent, and myself, Azurafae are taking turns reflecting on 17 of our personal favorite skulls from the previous four years of postings. So please join us as we visit the archives and add our additional commentary on some of the original pieces.

288. Button Skull

 

This button skull is one of my favorites because of how playful it is. Buttons are something that many of us use daily to close our clothing. They are can be both decorative and practical. My daughter was given these buttons one day to play with, as we were meeting about the 1st Skull Appreciation Day. She was entertained by admiring their differences and making things with them. I have an extensive button collection, but my version of playing with them, is seeing what hair accessory or clothing I can use them for.


 **Flashback Friday was a weekly countdown of the fan selected top 52 skulls of Skull-A-Day 1.0. Each week during year 3.0 The Skullmaster posted the original skull along with some additional commentary in order from lowest to highest rated, with the #1 skull appearing in the last week of year 3.0, all 52 can be found here. During year 4.0 the editors had their chance to countdown their favorites Azurafae HERE, Citizen Agent HERE, and Tatman HERE.

CONTEST REMINDER: Win a Solid Brass Skull Card Holder

UPDATE: This contest is over and  Sarrah aka Sashi was randomly chosen as the winner. Thanks to everyone who entered for the great submissions. Stay tuned for more contests coming soon.....

Don't forget that you have until Midnight Eastern time TONIGHT to be entered in our giveaway contest for this bad ass brass card holder from Herbert Hoover. Time is of the essence so if you haven't entered yet visit the original post here or click on the ad in the sidebar over there----->

Of course you don't have to wait until the contest ends, or if you want to be sure you're a winner, then visit Herbert's site at POTUS31.com.  There's more bony stuff, jewelry, and even some snacks to enjoy.  Thanks again for sharing, Herb!

Duplo Lego Skull

Henry Ryder made this skull with Duplo Legos, which are larger than regular Legos.

Here at Skull-A-Day, we love Legos...and most toys. We're giant kids...but good at being adults too, of course. I love seeing these classic kid's building blocks made into anatomical skulls. They are way past my skills of making a house out of Legos. Perhaps my daughter and I need to play with her Legos and see what macabre creation we can make.

Rubber & Rivets Skull

Rebecca from Rimrock, Arizona, creator of 365 days of 'Love' sent us this work that she created for her project. She wrote: “Here is a skull that I created from a reclaimed inner tube. This is the FIRST skull that I've ever made! :) ”

Full Work

Liebe C says:

This is an amazing execution for it being your very first skull. You did such an amazing job with the layering of the pieces to create the perfect image. Thank you for sharing this work with us. It is always wonderful to hear from artists that are engaged in their own personal creativity projects.

Skull Riders

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your warning to watch yourselves around this seriously badass set of leather "skull riders" from Eric at Stronghold Leather.  These menacing mitts look to be capable of a powerful backhand.

Handmade and tough as hell!  I can only imagine someone with a supremely gritty disposition being worthy of wearing these.  Like Leonard Smalls from the movie "Raising Arizona" or Conan the Barbarian.  Come to think of it, I could see any of the members of Gwar rocking these too.  Thanks for sharing your wicked work with us, Eric!

100 Painted Skulls: #58

To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day (June 2011-June 2012) I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

Painted directly on the wooden surface with colors thinned with glazing liquid, thus the visible wood grain.

If you'd like to own this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.   

Skull Bracelet and Ring

Today, we have a silver skull bracelet, and a silver and brass skull ring made by Thomas Andrews Jewellery

Bracelet

Ring

I'm a true girly girl, which means I own a lot of jewelry. Of all the pieces I own, the delicate skull ones. When these two lovely pieces came through our submission box, I was immediately drawn to their delicate construction and details. The skulls have stylized sunken cheeks and no nose cavities. These are definitely not human, which always leads my mind to wander what type of fantasy skull they could be. Either human or otherwise, they are beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.42

Today’s simulacra were found by Susan from Serbia while on holiday in Montenegro.


Adriatic C says:

Those are some amazing finds you captured. They are particularly moving considering you found them in an area of the world that was in the recent past engaged in a multi-year war. Thank you for sharing your wonderful collection with us, and I believe you are the first ever Serbian submission to Skull-A-Day.

And to our loyal readers: remember to keep sending those pictures in, we always love seeing what our skull hunters find. Anyone is welcomed to participate, it’s fun and it’s easy- if you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address with a little something about what it is really and maybe a little about you.

100 Painted Skulls: #57

To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day (June 2011-June 2012) I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year... 

 Glad to finally be painting again after my recent travels! Starting simple with a monochromatic piece using Payne's grey and glazing liquid to thin it out.

If you'd like to own this piece you can get it in the Skull-A-Day store HERE.