Bone and Ember

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Painters have been putting skulls on canvas for centuries, a reminder that time is short and the light is worth paying attention to. This one honors the tradition and adds a little fire.

The skull is turned and tipped toward the viewer, built from thick, creamy strokes of white, pale gray, and rose that stand out from the surface and catch the light like real bone. Inside the eye socket and nasal cavity, warm burnt orange and rust glow against the cool white, as if something is still lit from within. Below, the jaw and teeth dissolve into near-black, so the form emerges from darkness rather than sitting in it.

Behind it, broad, scrubbed strokes of slate and charcoal frame the head, with raw canvas showing at the corner and along the bottom edge. It’s a study in light, edge, and restraint, and a strong piece for collectors who like their art with a little gravity.

Details

• Original oil painting on linen panel
• 6"x8"
• Signed and dated (Colligan ‘26)
• Framed
• Ships secured, insured, with a certificate of authenticity

Please note: colors may vary slightly between screens.