Skulls 4 All - Carving and Scrimshaw Artistry

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Skulls 4 All Mortal Carvings

I started carving wood in 2014 which quickly progressed to antler, shell and animal bones.

My preferred subject matter has always been the Human Skull and skeleton and this led to meeting new friends and associates that were within the medical/oddities collectors communities.  I was asked if I ever worked with Human bones and it struck me that I must.

So over the past few years I've accrued a small list of ethical suppliers from within the medical/oddities collectors communities.  All the bones I use are retired medical specimens from colleges and schools that teach the Doctors that treat us all.

In 2016 I started my journey with Scrimshaw.  It is a dying art form dating back to the 16th century.  Scrimshaw is the art of engraving fine lines, dots, and shaded scenes into ivory, bone, antler, horn, or modern ivory substitutes, then filling those cuts with pigment  ink or paint) so the image becomes visible.

There are currently less than 500 professional Scrimshaw artist worldwide, I'm the only one who specializes in using Human bone for this practice.  

I feel there is a poetic irony in what I do. I take a piece of someone who's life is over and create Art with it.  In most cases wearable jewelry in which the new caretaker will treat the piece with usually more respect than the person it came from by being placed in velvet lined boxes or safes for storage and to be worn on special occasions to show and amaze others.

This is very special material to me and I'm fortunate enough to live in a state where I can legally do this.  I hope this helps everyone understand at least a little about what I do.

 Thank you for giving me any of your attention.  I am humbled.