A skull with dark eye sockets, a nose cavity, and a worm emerging from the right eye socket. The background features a geometric maze pattern.

The Skull Narratives

An 11 Painting Series

Three framed artwork pieces on a white gallery wall, with a central hanging ribbon awards for art.

Bones contain stories, and these paintings tell stories with bones.

Painted between 2010 and 2018, these narrative still life paintings hold a special place in my soul.

Bones contain a wealth of information about the life—and sometimes the death—of the human or animal to which they belonged.

I began drawing skulls and bones as a way to study them, but soon found myself falling down a rabbit hole, exploring our thoughts and fears surrounding death and the valuable lessons it can teach us—if we're willing to step beyond those fears.

At the heart of these paintings is a simple truth: death is life's greatest motivator. A quiet but unwavering reminder to live without regret. Regardless of each painting's narrative, death is present—not as something to fear, but as an invitation to live more fully.

Creating these paintings became a deeply therapeutic process. Painted from life, each composition was carefully constructed before the first brushstroke. As the paintings evolved, I wrote alongside them, leaving me with the words that best captured my intentions. While the narratives vary in complexity, they can be experienced at face value or explored more deeply.

The journey is there for those who wish to take it.

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*All images and words on this page and throughout this website are copyrighted. I do not license my work or words and unauthorized use of either is prohibited.

A painting of a human skull with black tree branches surrounding it, resting on a surface next to two stones, one dark and one light, against a dark background.

sticks and stones

16×20 inch oil on panel, 2015, NFS

Words can create beautiful moments—they can also tear an irreparable hole in someone’s soul. Pause. Think. Speak with purpose. Speak with kindness.

A realistic painting of a human skull with a red apple balanced on top, and a white piece of paper with a painted arrow with a maze behind it.

pondering life: a conundrum

12×12 inch oil on panel, 2016, 🔴 SOLD

Sometimes life is a construct of our own maddening thoughts.

An bison skull with large black horns, decorated with green leaves, white flowers, and ferns, hanging on a beige wall.

after death, life

38×36 inch oil on ACM, 2016, NFS

In the swelling, bubbling ooze of decay, microbes, insects and scavengers flourish and thrive. Unconcerned with what this life once was, they devour rotting flesh and seeping entrails until there is nothing but scattered bones left to bleach in the sun. Enriched by all matter of decaying flesh and plants, endless varieties of fungus and flora grow eagerly in the nourished, aromatized soil.

Live. Die. Decay.

Our view of death and decay should not be one of disgust and dismay, but one of inspiration and unrelenting motivation. An absolute urgency to live life vehemently. Be present in every infinitesimal moment. Breathe deeply. Love with avidity. Laugh abundantly. Sing. Dance. Exploit every opportunity for adventure. And at all times, be aware in your life.

Then, as the last breathy exhale leaves your body and your life is nothing but memories to be held by others, the microbes, insects, and scavengers will return your body to the earth. You will cease to exist. Fungus and flora will grow in the rich soil created by your decay. You will be no more; even so, after your death, there will be life.

fleeting

48×48 inch oil on ACM, 2016, NFS

Can you say, with a resounding yes, that you are living your life without regret, doing what you love, lingering in the small moments—making memories, not taking photos?

We cannot control everything in our lives. Do not fear the fall. In fact, fall hard.

Listen. Sometimes our wishes and dreams fail. If you remain open, you will learn something about yourself, your life, and your purpose.

See. View your life through the eyes of a child. Do not lose the wonder.

Learn. Nature can teach us valuable lessons. Whether it’s about life, survival, or even death.

Look at the fierce hornet colony. There is one purpose—to propagate new queens to ensure the continuation of the colony. Drones working, working, working, then dying. All so another will survive. Admirable, but eye opening.

Time is fleeting. What are you doing with yours?

A painting of a black bird flying near a leafless tree branch, with a large, textural hornets nest and a small, squirrel skull. hanging from the branch on a gray background.

Painting of a wooden tree trunk with a button buck skull hanging on the left side, a wooly bear caterpillar perched on the end of the trunk, and a human skull to the right below the trunk.

all falls are not the end

18×24 inch oil on panel, 2017, NFS

The three objects in this painting symbolically represent three tenses of fall: fell, felled, falling.

While there are many interpretations of an inevitable or symbolic fall, the wooly bear caterpillar gives hope that not all falls lead to an undesired ending, that with a little perseverance, there is hope for a beautiful new beginning.

Painting of a human skull lying on it's side, and it's mandible with a butterfly perched on it against a textured blue background.

it happens

11×14 inch oil on panel, 2017, NFS

It's hard being human. We are prone to emotions which make us do crazy things. Sometimes, we speak out of line or behave irrationally, regretfully hurting other people. It happens. Being human, we possess one trait no other living creature on this planet does, we can take accountability for our actions. We can own our mistakes without casting blame.

This doesn't mean forgiveness will be granted, but, this one selfless act can go a long way in healing those that have been hurt. On occasion, we may be able to rebuild what we tore down—the journey may be long, but it’s possible.

Be hopeful, but don’t be blind to hard truths. Sometimes, damage cannot be reversed, but there is value in accountability—it's called growth.

A painting of a human skull with a bandana that has a star pattern, set against a dark, textured background with gold accents.

do not be blinded by words

16×16 inch oil on panel, 2017, NFS

Do not be blinded by words, whether spoken by friend or foe.

Do not let them spark a fire in you that is fueled by animosity. You have every right to be angry. You have every right to be upset. You have every right to stand up for change. For kindness. For acceptance.

Do so void of hypocrisy. Be temperate with your response. Do not be blinded by words.

soar above your fears

19×28 inch oil on ACM, 2017, 🔴 SOLD

Fear—we all experience it, suffer from it, are paralyzed by it. There are those that claim to be fearless, but maybe the perception of being fearless is a misnomer. When you experience fear, but persist, you still tremble inside—your fear has not vanished. It’s simply been acknowledged, accepted, and kept inward.

If you do not consider yourself to be fearless, stop believing the definition means to be void of fear. Instead, look upon your fears with admiration. Embrace them. Love them for what they are. Do not let your mind defeat you.

Instead, catch the wind in your wings and soar above your fears, if you can see them, you can defeat them.

A painted picture of a scissor tail flycatcher bird flying above an alligator skull on the ground, with a bright yellow and orange background fading into dark brown.

Sketches of birds on paper and a blue flexible curve drawing tool on a wooden workbench.

A painting of a bird with a white body, black tail, and black markings on the wings flying against an orange and yellow background. The painting is on a panel.

Painting of an alligator skull in progress with a painter's palette and paint swatches visible in the foreground.

A dark painting of wolf skull with a sheep mobile hanging above. The background is dark with hints of orange and blue. The skull rests on a wood block with nails on top of a bag of frozen peas. the moon is to the right and a human skull upper left.

insomnia: a maniacal madness

28×17.25 inch oil on panel, 2017, NFS

It’s maddening lying there—wide awake—desperately aware of the darkness. Paralyzingly still or erratically racing, my mind is acutely aware that sleep is not coming anytime soon.

Whether the hours drone on, or, are broken by brief, unsettled slumber, the clock keeps time:

2:40,

3:40,

4:40.

That’s the breaking point for me—4:40 am. Desperate thoughts rattle me; dawn is coming; too late to fall asleep; I’ll have to get up soon; I should just get up.

Insomnia is a private, hellish torture, a maniacal madness that silently creeps away with the rising sun, yet falls madly upon you when the last of it’s glow disappears into the night.

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Weaving together symbolism, mythology, and children’s literature, this painting is heavily laden with narrative and a full breakdown can be found here →