Snow Day Skull

We don't get a lot of snow in Richmond, VA (though more lately than in the past) so pretty much every heavy snowstorm I try to make some snow art. The most recent snow was too powdery to really stick so I decided to try a relief image on my deck. I made it really, really big (so big it was hard to actually photograph from above). See the lifesize skull in the shot for a sense of proportion. 

I like seeing how things transform over time so I documented it that evening as well as the next day once the sun came out.

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Snowmageddon Skull

My hometown was hit by this year's crazy blizzard and since we're not used to dealing with snow down South, everything shut down. After 2 days stuck at home we all start to get a bit stir crazy. Luckily the sun was out today and snow was finally packing friendly, so I decided to add another snow skull creation to my collection...

And after two days in the sun...

Sunday Simulacara - Version 7.45

As we FINALLY bid adieu to winter here in Michigan(some of you are a bit luckier) I want to send it off with it's own death and memorial and these snow skull simulacrum.  I'm sure some kids had some fun on the snow days away from school, but it's officially over and these images are gladly only memories for now...

The first is a great find from Shayna(Lynn Nelson) on her daughter's coat in Floyd, VA.  The second is the inner skull coming out of Tony Loughlin's deck furniture.  Nice work by both of you to capture these icy figures, who are now happily gone.  If you happen to snap a pic of you own simulacra then be sure to share it with us.  Try for something warm though....

Snow Skull

With Spring finally arriving, yet another snow storm about to hit, I figured another snow skull would fit in fine. Antoine Lemonnier created this snow skull in Fouju, Seine-et-Marne, France. I'm hoping the next storm isn't heavy like past March storms. If it is, I hope to see many snow skulls being made. Below the original photo is an animation Google randomly made, by adding falling snow to the photo. It looked so nice, I thought you all would enjoy it too. If you make a snow skull, please submit it to us.

[BONUS] 424. Polar Vortex Skull

Like many people in the US my hometown has gotten hit with more snowstorms this year than I've ever experienced before. Most of the time it was just too cold and the snow wasn't good for packing, but the most recent (and hopefully last) snow of the season was just right...

See my previous snow skulls HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 7.33

Tim Andrew of The Rave 'N' Iron, "took this photo this summer while hiking with some friends at The Pinnacles in B.C., Canada."

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.

Snow Skull

Coen Velden, from Geldern, Germany, created this snow skull on their garden table, spontaneously last Winter. With the weather cooling down here, snow is on it's way. We don't get much here in Richmond, VA, but Tatman gets feet for months in Michigan. Normally our amount is only enough to make a thin skull like Coen's or this Snow Skull Noah made in NYC  However, there is the rare season every few years where creations like Noah and Paul's Snow Skull is possible. I'm hoping for a Winter like that...granted that I've stocked up with hot coco and popcorn before it arrives.

Collborative Snow Skull

Back in March, Lisa Nichols got a lot of snow in West Haven, CT. Her husband, Jeff Slomba, made this snow skull with his two boys, Luke and Henry.

I love seeing what people create out of snow, especially when it's a skull. This is a fantastic one! I'm glad this was a family creation, as something of this scale definitely requires teamwork. Though Spring has finally showed up here in Richmond, VA, I know several places still have snow. If you still have snow, we fully expect you all to create a snow skull! If you have, please submit it to us!

Sunday Simulacra - Version 6.41

Today's simulacra arrives in the form of Snow from Alex Arroyo in Brooklyn, NY.

Forecaster C says:

It looks like a 100% chance for a simulacra arriving today. Make sure you pack your ghoul-oshes if you go out.  It is hard for me to believe that in just a couple of weeks spring will arrive leaving our winter friend to be just a memory. Thank you for sharing this amazing find with us.

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.

Skull Snow Fort

Jennifer Ferrell's husband Chad built this skull snow fort for their son Parker, a couple years ago.

I have fond childhood memories of making snow forts. We rarely get heavy snow anymore, so my daughter might not get to experience a snow fort while she's a child. However, my favorite snow fort is ICEHOTEL in Sweden. That amazing hotel is built every year. It's the ultimate snow and ice fort. However, it's doubtful many of us will ever get there. If we are lucky enough, we'll get snow were we normally live, and get to sit in our own awesome skull snow fort instead.

Snow and Ice Skulls

Design Student Chessie Rosier from the UK showed off some of the skulls that she likes to create.

Cool C says:

This is a refreshing collection of works to take us away from the “Dog Days of Summer”.  While these works are just memories of  a past season, they also serve as hope looking towards the next change in season as the cycle of  dormant and rebirth continues.  Thank you for sharing some of your work with us here as well as the other great work on your facebook page.

Real and Imagined Skulls

Designer Jim Marson from Minnesota sent us a pair of skulls for today.

First up is a Skullman that Jim assisted with creating.


Next is an imagined monument possibly influenced by the Skullmaster's 116. Grid Skull. Jim didn't offer what it would be commemorating so perhaps it is for June 4th.


Twin C says:

Thank you for sharing these wonderful works with us. Your skullman and his buddy really stand with their heads up proudly. Also I couldn't help but notice a simulacra in the windows/balcony behind the smiling pair. I love the concept of having a large skull monument out there in a city square. However, The Black Prince may not be so willing to share the space- let me offer you another placement- how about along Monument Ave. in the Skullmaster's hometown.

Dia de la Abby: #71 Snow Skulls

On Monday, my daughter and I played in the snow. We made skulls of course. If we ever get a large amount of snow, we'll make snowpeople.

This is my snow skull. I smoothed out the icy snow. Then, I used my finger to poke holes through it, so I could form a skull. The darkness it the soil under the thin layer of snow.

This is my daughter's snow skull. She was having trouble making a sculpture with the ground snow. I suggested she use the snow off the sidewalk and steps to craft something. She decided to pile snow on our large step and make a skull with a bow tie.


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.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.35

Today's skulls were found in various places...

Marie Austin of Edmond Oklahoma found this "Nutty Skull" while chasing after her kitten Motorhead.

Briannaa Ariel found this skull in the melting snow outside of her door.

Shaun Andruk "made this solder skull by accident while using a big 200watt soldering iron."

We need help from our skull hunters. If you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address.

Dia de la Abby: #69 Skull of Seasons

I've been playing with this idea for years...to make a painting that showed one object split into 4 and affected by the seasons.

I choose one of my favorite place in Richmond, Maymont, as inspiration for showing the seasons. They have a koi pond and beautiful foliage, so it was an easy choice with lots of possibilities. The aging of the skull was inspired by old relic skulls found in oceans. Granted that skulls don't float, but depicting it this way made it easier to split it into four parts. The seasons from the top left clockwise, are Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Fall has colorful falling leaves and acorns (in the nose), which are common here (and other places) during the fall. Winter has snow, but we tend to have odd winters. Rain and ice would have been more accurate, but harder to paint. Spring has baby koi and shorter water plants. Summer has an adult koi and taller water plants. The water plants are grass like at Maymont. Every year (probably every few months) workers have to pull large amounts of it out of the pond, because it grows too thickly and hinders the Koi from swimming.

This painting took 3 days to complete. I enjoyed experimenting with painting techniques and taking my time. Painting like this is still fairly new to me, but it's very rewarding to see the finished products.

Halloween Skulls

Artist Gretel Schwartzott based near NYC, NY sent us a few pictures from this year's Halloween festivities.

Ms. Schwartzott, and her family, made the most of the freak winter storm that interrupted Halloween this year in that part of the county by a creating this giant snow skull.

This year's costumes included hand done skull masks for all members of the family.

and one of the masks with the rest of the costume in use before the storm.

Hallow’s C says:

Thank you for submitting these wonderful pictures of your artistic talents. I am happy to see that your family was able to make the most of this year’s wacky weather situation.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.24

This week's set of skull hunters were especially quick to catch these temporary skulls.

Jane Capellaro submits this monumental find. "This skull is an actual image that I shot when I was at the Colluseuum in Rome in 2009. It is simply the effect of the light and shadow. I do not know if anyone else ever saw this or if I am the first."



Katie Longworth captured this snowy skull at a car park in Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom.



And Kipp Sully of Holbrook, MA, "Saw this beauty on my grill cover when I took the dogs out this morning."



Once again we have an excellent assortment from some keen skull hunters. Help us keep this tradition alive by submitting your skull simulacra. You never know where they'll show up.

Sand & Snow Skulls

Today’s skulls are running hot and cold.

The hot was done by body artist, Keegan Hitchcock, in Fort Lauderdale Florida.


The cold was done by David Brawley in Pikesville, Maryland who made this skull one morning while he was shoveling out his car.


Southtown C says:

cue music here... ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Yes, I couldn’t resist it.

Just when I thought winter around these parts was going to go away, it looks like it’s not going to let spring win without one last fight this week. I dedicate today’s skulls in honor of this epic battle for the season and my sanity. Maybe making this burnt offering to the mystical forces around me nature will finally make up its mind.

Sorry, I digress. This isn’t about me, this is about the wonderful art from our wonder readers who take the time to submit their creations as they interact with our world. Thank you both for the taking the time to submit your work and I am sending you both well wishes on any future skulltastic adventures.

PS. It wouldn't be Friday without a little shout-out to some of the Skullmaster’s own sand & snow past.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 4.37

The skull hunters continue to collect their trophies from far and wide and we still have the pleasure of displaying them for you.

Amanda Hicks writes, "I saw this guy while visiting my folks in Ft Collins, Colorado."



Tiki from Southern N.J. spied a sneaky lurker. "One evening when I was sitting in on my boyfriend's band practice, I looked up at the basement ceiling and found this little guy."



And NUNeighbor spotted this eerie skull on campus. "I was walking through Evanston, IL last week and out of the corner of my eye I noticed that, at night, the doors to the Woman's Club looked uncannily like a skull. I certainly couldn't skulk away without taking a picture!"



Thanks for sharing these terrific finds. It's a proven fact that there are hidden skulls everywhere. If you're lucky enough to capture one of your own then please submit it. We love to share the wealth!

Sunday Simulacra - Version 4.35

Today's skulls were found in the snow.

Kristin "Artzy Diva" from Millbury MA sent us this snowy skull. "My husband and son found this on our front walk when they went out this morning. I love it when Mother Nature leaves a skull gift!"

Mike Webber from London, Ontario, Canada sent us this snowy skull. " This is a photo of the hood of my car early on Monday, January 3rd. I found this skull on my car after a light dusting of snow. I'm not sure how the pattern occurred, but I thought it was pretty cool. Nothing bad happened during the day, so we can rule out the whole "evil omen" thing."

While I was outside taking photos for My Daily Nature Photos, I found this snow skull on a leaf of my Camellia bush. It's not from white snow, like the above two are. It's from the snow melting into an ice/snow mixture.