100 Painted Skulls: #46

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... 

It's been even longer since I've done a stippled, soft focus piece. I find it a very different way of working with the brushes. It takes a lot of control and a lot of layering and I find it particularly tricky to do the transitions between the black and colored areas. 

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

Skull Teapot

Henry Ryder drew this skull teapot.

I love a good cup of tea, and the pots some tea is served from. This particular one reminds me of Noah's "(I'm A Little) Teaskull" clay skull teapot. They would both serve a delicious gloom warming cup of tea.

100 Painted Skulls: #45

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... 

It's been a little while since I did a piece in an impressionistic style with looser more visible brush strokes.

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

Skull-A-Day Press: Totenkopfe

The German edition of the The Book of Skulls was recently released and not only does it have my work in it, like the American edition, but my Skulledelic image is also featured on the back cover!

More information on the German edition (in German) can be found HERE.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.37

It seems that skull simulacrum are becoming scarce these days. Our assemblage of trophy photos from the skull hunters are starting to dwindle. Here's 3 great examples showing you just how dangerously close you are to these coniving craniums.

EJ writes, "I opened my face lotion one morning to find this skull peering back at me!"

AutoPilot took this photo on the NYC subway. I hope this makes your day rad!

And this waffle was eaten and photographed by Lauren Montiel of Asheville, NC.

This is a haiku 

To remind the inner you

To submit your finds

Seriously speaking, we all enjoy these secret finds that all of our great skull hunters bring, but we are seeing less and less these days. Let's not disappoint the future generations of skull hunters by letting this excellent tradition fall by the wayside. Won't somebody please think of the children?!?! Anywho, be sure to shoot us a pic of your shot and we'll be happy to share. Thanks, skull hunters!

A Pair of Skull Paintings

Let me send a thank you to the friend of Bart Kucharski who directed him to our site. Bart submitted these paintings for our viewing pleasure.

It's still a pleasure to see the skull created with soft outlines and loose borders. The always hard and bony surface takes on a new life when we look at it in a different light. Just like life; the perception changes when we change our view. Thanks for the submissions, Bart!

Illustrated Skull

Illustrator Cem Guney Ceylan from Istanbul, Turkey told us: “ I've been following Skull-A-Day
for some time, so I wanted to send in this skull illustration that I recently made for myself.”


Bosphorus C says:

It's nice to hear from fans of the site in this way. We always love to see the work of artists who are inspired into creating something to share. Thank you for submitting this piece for us to share with your fellow fans out there.

Elin Waterston - “ Jeannie”

On June 4, 2011 Skull-A-Day celebrated Skull Appreciation Day with an exhibit of over 100 skulls at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. If you didn't have a chance to make it to the gallery while the show was up, we now proudly present: "Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition".

Elin Waterston - “ Jeannie” $150.00

Please visit the artist’s exhibit page for information on if this work is available for purchase.

More of Elin Waterston's art can be found at http://www.elinwaterston.com/.

The 2011 Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition was a collective art show celebrating the 5th anniversary of Skull-A-Day.com and its tremendous audience of artists and readers.Throughout year 5.0 we will be featuring artwork from the show a few times a week. This is a chance to see all of the excellent skulls that were on display, and FOR SALE. Some of these pieces may still be available and this is a wonderful opportunity to own an original piece of skullriffic artwork. There are many well known artists who have contributed very reasonably priced works and many of them have donated their portion of the sale to benefit a great charity, the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Please take a moment to view all of the remarkable work that was created for the onset of this annual festivity. Your skull will appreciate you for showing it some love.

Home and Garden Skull

Shawna Hannam "made this skull from an old Home and Garden magazine."

This piece makes me want a skull shaped garden with a pond that has a creepy eye at the bottom. I attempted to do something similar with my mom's old gardening magazines, but they didn't have enough close ups to work with. I like how the separate flower sections all blend together well. I feel like plotting out a skull garden now. I'm sure my conservative neighbors wouldn't mind...

Sketchy Skulls

Today's skulls were created in that moment.

First up is Scott Lewis who told us: “I got inspired one day and finished a skull that I've had lying around in sketch form for several years. I like the finished art, but the sketches have an aesthetic all their own.”


Next is a current 365er & Interior Design student, Anna Grace in Knoxville, TN who said: “I've been sketching lamps for as long as I can remember. With a new appriciation for skulls, I had to incorporate one into a lamp! This is my original sketch I did while in History class(I'm a diligent note-taker of course!), which was actually the third skull I've ever drawn!


And last is Allegra from LaLa Land, CA who wrote: “Im obsessed with skulls...I draw these things EVERYWHERE! Just ask my boyfriend, he is the one who sent me your link- right after I sent him this same scanned image from work.”


DaVinch C says:

The rough drafts, doodles, and studies are the places from which great ideas grow from. Every art collection in the world includes at least some sketches from an artist’s private notebook. Thank you all for opening your notebooks and sharing with us the drafts of your present and future greatness.

Madonna Dersch- “ConSkullation”

On June 4, 2011 Skull-A-Day celebrated Skull Appreciation Day with an exhibit of over 100 skulls at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. If you didn't have a chance to make it to the gallery while the show was up, we now proudly present: "Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition".

Madonna Dersch- “ConSkullation”

Madonna Dersch- “ConSkullation” $75.00

Madonna Dersch is an artist, historic house owner, designer, teacher, urban homesteader, preservationist, chanteuse, dancer, kerner, conversationalist, attempter of mindfulness, Fairy Godmother, Amazon, and house maker at TheHappyHomemaker.org.

Growing up fancying cowgirls, Ella Fitzgerald, and Patti Lupone as Evita, Madonna continues to aspire to be a jazz-singing, cowgirl serving as an appointed spiritual leader of a romanticized musical nation.


Please visit the artist’s exhibit page for information if this work is available for purchase.

The 2011 Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition was a collective art show celebrating the 5th anniversary of Skull-A-Day.com and its tremendous audience of artists and readers.

Throughout year 5.0 we will be featuring artwork from the show a few times a week. This is a chance to see all of the excellent skulls that were on display, and FOR SALE. Some of these pieces may still be available and this is a wonderful opportunity to own an original piece of skullriffic artwork. There are many well known artists who have contributed very reasonably priced works and many of them have donated their portion of the sale to benefit a great charity, the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Please take a moment to view all of the remarkable work that was created for the onset of this annual festivity. Your skull will appreciate you for showing it some love.

CONTEST REMINDER: Win a Nicole Pangas Ceramic Skull Mug

This contest has ended. Congrats to MedicalArtMofo for being the randomly selected winner, and thanks to everyone for all of the great comments and supporting Nicole's wonderful work.

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter our contest for this groovy hand made skull mug from Nicole Pangas. You have until Midnight Eastern time TONIGHT to get in so don't delay. See the original post to enter here(or click the sidebar ad over there---->).



And if you can't wait to get your own mug or cup, or if you're just not that lucky, then you can be 100% sure of getting a piece you love from Nicole's Etsy store.

Nancy Brizendine- “The Pearl”

On June 4, 2011 Skull-A-Day celebrated Skull Appreciation Day with an exhibit of over 100 skulls at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. If you didn't have a chance to make it to the gallery while the show was up, we now proudly present: "Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition".

Nancy Brizendine- The Pearl $250.00

For information on purchasing this work please contact the exhibit curator at:

The 2011 Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition was a collective art show celebrating the 5th anniversary of Skull-A-Day.com and its tremendous audience of artists and readers.

Throughout year 5.0 we will be featuring artwork from the show a few times a week. This is a chance to see all of the excellent skulls that were on display, and FOR SALE. Some of these pieces may still be available and this is a wonderful opportunity to own an original piece of skullriffic artwork. There are many well known artists who have contributed very reasonably priced works and many of them have donated their portion of the sale to benefit a great charity, the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Please take a moment to view all of the remarkable work that was created for the onset of this annual festivity. Your skull will appreciate you for showing it some love.

"X-ray" Skull Illustration

Every Martin is a Belgian illustrator who submitted this loose skull illustration and this note: "The skull is an ancient symbol of death, but also for life in different cultures and religions. This drawing can be seen as a symbol but also as an x-ray in the medical field. I want to create new life into an ancient symbol by showing only a projection of the ancient symbol."





This is a great example of some of the ideas that Noah has had with trying to create the skull using a minimalist approach. It's fascinating how little is needed to give us the perception of what we think we see. Thanks for the drawing, Evert!

Live Skull

Joel Weldon, from Fort Erie Ontario Canada said this is "A painting I did in front of a live audience in 10 minutes."

I wish I could have been in that audience when Joel painted this. This is impressive piece regardless of time to paint it. However, the speed in which to create this detailed piece is also impressive. This is reminiscent of 1960s pop art. It's somewhere in between Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, but more gruesome.

100 Painted Skulls: #44

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...

Another one done in watercolor style, though I painted the background with solid black so that the image would pop more. I also covered this with gloss medium to give it more depth.

Here's a further away shot of it on my desk where I do my paintings...

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

[BONUS] The Gift of Skulls - Mail Art

I love getting mail and even better when it's mail art done as part of a daily yearlong project! I got these two lovely pieces recently...

Skull-A-Day friend Wenchkin kindly included me in her 366 Mail Art project with this fun piece...

and Flo Kane made this piece for me as part of her Card-A-Day project...

Thanks again!

p.s. If you want to see more great daily projects check out my other blog MakeSomething365.com!

Skull-A-Day Press: Nerdist & Archie McPhee

Just had to share two nice mentions of Skull-A-Day online recently...

I am a fan of The Nerdist blog & podcast so it was a nice surprised to discover that they mentioned Skull-A-Day and my new books/blog:

Read the entire article HERE.


I'm also a fan of Archie McPhee, a fun company, whose store I actually visited when I was in Seattle. They gave my Googly-Eye Skull a kind shout out on their blog Endless Geyser of Awesome...

See the full post HERE.

CONTEST REMINDER: Win a Nicole Pangas Ceramic Skull Mug

This contest has ended. Congrats to MedicalArtMofo for being the randomly selected winner, and thanks to everyone for all of the great comments and supporting Nicole's wonderful work.

Don't forget to enter our contest for this groovy hand made skull mug from Nicole Pangas. You have until Midnight Eastern time on Wednesday February 8th to get in so don't delay. See the original post to enter here(or click on the sidebar ad over there--->).



And if you can't wait to get your own mug or cup, or if you're just not that lucky, then you can be 100% sure of getting a piece you love from Nicole's Etsy store.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.36

It's Sunday again and time for more skull hunting simulacra trophies.

Skull-A-Day friend Josh Warner from Good Art Hlywd found this paint splatter skull while doing some remodeling.



And Sven Oros of Dortmund, Germany, "found that my Schnitzel looked a little like a skull."



Edible or not, these hidden skulls are lurking everywhere. Keep your peepers peeled for them and send us your finds to keep this Sunday tradition going. Thanks!

Skull of the Year 2011

Skull-A-Day friend Eike has announced this year's Designers Skulls Skull of The Year recipient (of which I was the proud winner in 2009)...

Congratulations to Vladi Rapaport and his beautiful Skull Chair (oh how I would like to be the owner of one of these!). See more about the contest, including all of the nominee's for this year's award HERE.

Super Artboy Dancing Skull Saturday

If "artboydancing" isn't a name that catches your eye, then perhaps his photo skull renditions will. While working as an artist and photographer in Berlin he was introduced to our site and instantly fell in love(thanks).











Unfortunately I couldn't post all of the great images that artboydancing sent to us so I tried to pick a diverse group. This also reminds us that no matter who you are, or where you come from, or what time you lived in, skulls are a part of all of us so be sure to keep yours safe. Thanks for sharing!

Rhinestone Skull Mask

Long time fan of the site, Kathleen Conahan in Portland Oregon told us: “This last year for Halloween I decided to combine my love of skulls and everything shiny, so I was Damien Hirst's ‘For the Love of God.’ Did you know you can buy rhinestones by the pound?”


F.I.T. C says:

I have known people in the past who dressed as certain charaters in art, but I have never seen someone dress up as a particular art object. This is wonderfully done! Thank you for showing us this inspired creation and for continuing to be a contributing fan of the site.

Be sure to flashback to Kathleen’s other skull creations which include fingernails, flags, and a laptop.

Amy Black - “I Shine, Not Burn”

On June 4, 2011 Skull-A-Day celebrated Skull Appreciation Day with an exhibit of over 100 skulls at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. If you didn't have a chance to make it to the gallery while the show was up, we now proudly present: "Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition".

Amy Black - “I Shine, Not Burn” $250.00

Please visit the artist’s exhibit page for information on if this work is available for purchase.

Artist Amy Black owns Trademark Tattoo in Richmond, VA.

The 2011 Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition was a collective art show celebrating the 5th anniversary of Skull-A-Day.com and its tremendous audience of artists and readers.Throughout year 5.0 we will be featuring artwork from the show a few times a week. This is a chance to see all of the excellent skulls that were on display, and FOR SALE. Some of these pieces may still be available and this is a wonderful opportunity to own an original piece of skullriffic artwork. There are many well known artists who have contributed very reasonably priced works and many of them have donated their portion of the sale to benefit a great charity, the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Please take a moment to view all of the remarkable work that was created for the onset of this annual festivity. Your skull will appreciate you for showing it some love.

CONTEST: Win a Nicole Pangas Ceramic Skull Mug

This contest has ended. Congrats to MedicalArtMofo for being the randomly selected winner, and thanks to everyone for all of the great comments and supporting Nicole's wonderful work.

Right down the road from me is a talented ceramicist who goes by the name of Nicole Pangas. You may have seen her wonderful work here before, but this time she's back with a piece for one of you lucky skull lovers. This loopy looking bonehead wants to brighten your days by being a part of your collection of cups, and Nicole is looking to make those days arrive.



I can attest that Nicole's work is of excellent quality since I do have my own skull cup from her.

Nicole works in clay and mixed media collages. You can see more of these works on her site here and you can find everything you like about her on facebook here. Currently she has been working mostly with ceramics, especially on skull cups and mugs which can be found in her Etsy shop and several galleries. Nicole draws on the essence of the mediums she crafts to find her inspiration. " I embrace the inherent characteristics of each material I work with, each adding its own influence and expression with my work."

Nicole makes the cups, but she can't fill them for you. To be entered to win this skull mug leave a comment stating what non-alcoholic drink you would put in it to get you going for the day, and give a skullified twist to the name. For instance, I enjoy Haze'skull'nut coffee. (If you're not too witty then it's no biggie. Just let us know what you would drink from the cup).

[NOTE: If you're reading this on Facebook or Google+ then be sure to leave your comment on the original Skull-A-Day.com post if you want to be officially entered in the contest.]

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to include a way of contacting you(either an email in the post OR be sure your blogger profile has a working email link for you). Entries are only valid with this information.

You have until Midnight Eastern time Wednesday February 8th to enter so don't wait... do it now.

Note: Nicole agrees to pay for shipping the mug to residents of the United States and Canada only. Sorry to everyone else. Ceramics are heavy and costs to ship them are also.

Of course you don't have to wait until the end of the contest to get your own mug, cup, or tumbler. Nicole's Etsy store has loads skullware so don't fret if you don't get this one. She'll keep making more. Thanks, Nicole!

Down Under Skull

Skull enthusiast Web from Bayswater, Victoria, Australia sumbitted another of his skull creations. This is a pen and ink piece that he did in the 1990s.

This piece is full of fine details that help bring it to life. The cross hatch shading adds a textured depth to the smooth bones. The features of the skull feel more sunken. The addition of the lopsided blank sign is interest. When ever I see blank signs in artwork, I wonder what that sign could say. Similar to filling in the speech bubbles/balloons of comic strips, what would you have this skeleton's sign say?

Skull Mask

Myresa “Mitza” Hurst in Dallas, Tx showed off her Dia de los Muertos skull mask that she made.


Big C says:

Being a mask aficionado myself, I really enjoy finding others who share this desirable art form. Thank you for sharing this creation with us.

Carolyn Tuttle- “Green Man”

On June 4, 2011 Skull-A-Day celebrated Skull Appreciation Day with an exhibit of over 100 skulls at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA. If you didn't have a chance to make it to the gallery while the show was up, we now proudly present: "Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition".

Carolyn Tuttle- “Green Man”

Carolyn Tuttle- “Green Man” $200.00

Please visit the artist’s exhibit page for information if this work is available for purchase.

The 2011 Skull Appreciation Day - The Exhibition was a collective art show celebrating the 5th anniversary of Skull-A-Day.com and its tremendous audience of artists and readers.

Throughout year 5.0 we will be featuring artwork from the show a few times a week. This is a chance to see all of the excellent skulls that were on display, and FOR SALE. Some of these pieces may still be available and this is a wonderful opportunity to own an original piece of skullriffic artwork. There are many well known artists who have contributed very reasonably priced works and many of them have donated their portion of the sale to benefit a great charity, the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Please take a moment to view all of the remarkable work that was created for the onset of this annual festivity. Your skull will appreciate you for showing it some love.