In my work I deal with all that impacts me, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.
So at times, the heady issue of dealing with ones own mortality, rears its freakish head. And what is the ancient symbol that most people gravitate to ? The Skull.
The skull was a common indicator of the ultimate demise of the mortal body and Christians meditated on them as a reminder of the imminent day of Gods judgement. And though I don't attempt to understand how God judges or deal with it in my creations, mortality is very real for one such as I and others, that have lived, at times, on the edge of homelessness, and/or the edge of despair. So even though I believe the skull is, in a way, a beautiful grinning form, I don't draw it to be cool or edgy. Mortality is too real. Too immense.
So the Skull finds its way in my work when needed. When life seems to be wavering, fragile. But one can turn this sense of fragility into appreciation for each day. For who's to say how many more days we will see the miracle of a sunrise and a sunset ? The faces of the ones we love.
Above image. LAST KISS.