Twin Watercolor Skulls

Today's twin twofer is from Wendy Bussard of New Jersey. Both pieces are watercolor and ink and are inspired by her "love life of the sideshow" and her childhood passion of cemeteries.

I really like both of these because I am a twin myself. I've often wondered how similar our skulls and skeletons are underneath the external facade that so closely resembles each other. Although I suppose we're all pretty similar on a skeletal level. Thanks, Wendy!

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.

Skull Transformation

Gina Connors from Pittsburgh, PA, used Photoshop to draw a skull over an image of herself.

Most uses of Photoshop on faces are to alter the person's appearance to make them more youthful and slimmer. This always bothers me, because I find natural beauty more desirable than altered beauty. Seeing Photoshop used to transform a face into an artistic skull is a different take on a digital face transformation. I like that this altering keeps the drawing like texture, vs the overly airbrushed textureless skin that we've becoming eerily accustomed to.

Skull Appreciation Day 2012

Just a reminder that June 4th is Skull Appreciation Day!

The editors of Skull-A-Day will be partnering with our friends at Philadelphia's Mütter Museum for a special one-day event!

 If you're in the Philly area I hope you'll stop by the museum between 10am and 5pm for an exhibition of 50+ original skull sculptures, plus dozens of pieces of skull mail art sent directly to the museum from artists from around the globe!

The event is FREE with regular museum admission! Museum information can be found HERE and a map of the location is HERE. Hope to see you there on June 4th!

And hey, even if you can't make it, we want to hear from you about how you plan to spend your day and of course we want to see pix of the aftermath!

100 Painted Skulls #90

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... 

Only 10 left til the end of the project!

Designed Skulls

Chad Wehrle from Ohio said: “I am a graphic designer by day, but after hours I push myself to be creative on my own. I have been a big fan of this site/blog/idea since I stumbled upon it a few years ago and have checked it every morning since. I’d like to submit a few pieces of my own. I recently purchased Noah’s Skulls book and have really enjoyed it. Everyone I have shown it to is overly impressed with the dedication to a project lasting 365 days.”

Skeleton Marionette. Soldered metal and fishing line. Fully functional with hinged limbs. 7” x 17” x 2”

Human Skull, 2009. Pencil on paper. 6 1/4” x 9 ¼”


Skull, 2011. Pencil on paper. Homage piece to the amazing Stephen Gammell. 4 ½” x 6”


Strings Attached C says:

Thank you for being a fan of the site. We always love to get submissions from our loyal readers. I am impressed by your marionette I really like sculpture that is beautiful and functional at the same time. Thank you for sharing your “after hours” work with us.

Passé Décomposé

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of sharing with you some beautiful filigree skulls from Allain Bellino.  Well, his daughter Elsa has been spending time with him and now has her own bit of recycled metal skullery.  Engraving her filigree into the remnants of mostly spoons.

Like father, like daughter. I'd say Elsa is well on her way to blossoming into a fine artist as well. Be sure to check out her store if you'd like to own one of these for yourself. Merci, Elsa!

League of Space Pirates: Cabinet of Cosmic Curiosities

Just a reminder to the Skull-A-Day fans in the Richmond, VA area, my band is hosting an appropriately skull-y event this Saturday...

After touring the farthest reaches of the universe League ofSpace Pirates return to Earth with a Cabinet of Cosmic Curiosities!

On May 19^th, the League of Space Pirates will perform with a gaggle of intergalactic oddities for an one-of-a-kind experience at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA

Participants will…

• Experience the cosmic rock-n-roll of League of Space Pirates!
• Drink in the unbelievable acts of The Lady Aye!
• Bask in the sonic landscapes of The Madness of Two!
• Bear witness to the levitational skills of Jebidiah Stone!
• Feel the power of the sultry movements of Khalima!
• Shake a robotic tail feather to the mixage of Mikemetic!

Plus…

• Mutate yourself with out of this world body painting by Shelia Gray!
• Document your experience at first ever Intergalactic Photo Booth documented by Spiderbite Studio!
• And More!

May 19 Gallery 5 200 W. Marshall St. RVA
$15 or $10 Dressed as a Space Pirate at the door Doors open at 7pm
$10 Advance sale tickets available for a limited time HERE.

100 Painted Skulls #89

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... 

 

Mother's Day Skull

Yesterday, was Mothers' Day. At school, my daughter Alex, made me a card for the occasion...a skull card.

Alex has being making more complicated cards, over the years. This is the most complicated one she's made. The left inside said "I love you mom", but the right inside had this...

100 Painted Skulls #88

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...

[BONUS] Skull Mail

Just wanted to thank everyone who sent in their self addressed stamped envelopes for the limited edition Skull Appreciation Day pins! They're going in the mail this coming week. In the meantime I just wanted to show off some of the fun envelopes and items that arrived along with them including a set of cool stickers from Emila(sp?) and a nifty origami folded dollar from Charles T. Mayer!...

I hope you find a fun way to celebrate Skull Appreciation Day on June 4th wherever you are, and of course if you're in/near Philadelphia I hope you'll join us at the Mütter Museum for a fun one-day exhibition. Speaking of which, there's still time to send in some mail art to be put on display there! Details are HERE.

100 Painted Skulls #87

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... 

Another mix of watercolor style with a more opaque white for highlights.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 5.50

Today's twofer addition to our trophy room come from Josh Haplea in Ohio.

This robotic style skull on a coin operated island view finder from Marblehead, Ohio...

...and a broken tower fan base.

These are a splendid pair of simulacra. Being that these are man made and not natural could be a clear indicator that we unconsciously incorporate skulls into our everyday products. Or maybe I just like to think that. Be sure to submit your hidden skull finds so we can keep the hunt alive. Thanks, Josh!

100 Painted Skulls #86

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... 

Skull Shrubs

Janelle Rene is going green with a victorious cry of, "I'll have your head on a stick!"  She whipped up these bad boys in an attempt to bring renewed life to the deadliest symbol around.

Remember the Knights of Ni? I'll bet those guys would have totally wanted a skull shrub if one had existed.  Luckily, we are appeased by Janelle the Shrubber with a most worthy shrubbery to brighten our day.  See how to make your own over at her blog.  Cheers to you and your craftiness, Janelle!

All Is Vanity Reception

Just a reminder that the reception for my show All Is Vanity, featuring 60+ pieces form my 100 Painted Skulls project, is tonight from 7-9pm!

If you're in the Richmond, VA area I hope you'll swing by Clippi Headren and say hi. Even if you can't make it out tonight, the show it up until the end of July, so definitely check it out when you can...

ALL IS VANITY

May 4 – July 31

Clippi Headren

929 Meyers St.

Tues & Friday 10–5pm

Wed–Thu 10–8pm

Sat 10–4pm

100 Painted Skulls #85

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... 

Woodblock Skull

Brazilian artist, and past contributor, Ramon Rodrigues, returns with another pair of his intricately designed woodcut prints.

Complex C says:

I am truly in awe of the amount of detail that you are able to achieve from your designs. Your subject matter in this pair reminds me of the classic images that appeared in periodicals and books that were on blocks set up for printing by hand , long before the invention of the camera, half-tones, or steel plates. Thank you once again for sharing your work with us.

Dia de la Abby #74: Spilled Skull

Today, while looking for something, I bumped into my box of sequins and seed beads. The box hit the floor, spilling it's contents. While cleaning it up, I decided the sparkly pile deserved to be a skull. It's a symbol of the death of my tedious organization of the box contents.

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.