pastel painting of a skeleton holding a ferret

Old (Dead) Masters series

Old (Dead) Masters

Old (Dead) Masters are my tongue-in-cheek take on classical works of art. Not only do I enjoy copying beautiful paintings, I absolutely love putting skeletons in the places of the original figures. It makes me laugh. You can’t laugh too much in this world, and who would have thought that skeleton faces could be so expressive?

I learn new things every time I copy a famous work and this is knowledge that I use in the pieces that come later. My aim is to be faithful to the original works but I am after an authentic feeling to the painting, rather than a stroke by stroke reproduction.

Old (Dead) Masters is a favorite theme of mine, so check back often for new work.

About skellies

I love skellies because they’re fearless and free. When painting them I find that they take on a life of their own! If they make you laugh, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. Life is short! Skellies are forever! Read more about how I got started with my skeleton art here.

Purchase an Old (Dead) Master of your very own!

Many skelly originals are available and you can email me about whichever you’re interested in. You can purchase from my Fine Art America shop, Etsy, or Signed Cards. If you’re in the area, stop by Four Directions Alchemy, Ludington Area Center for the Arts, or Art on the Town in Pentwater.

Marie Marfia, Blue Skelly Dancers, soft pastel on paper, 16x16"
Blue Skelly Dancers, soft pastel on paper, 16×16″.
au moulin rouge parody painting
Au Moulin Skelly, soft pastel on paper, 19.5 x 17″.
pastel painting of the Mona Lisa with a skeleton
Bona Lisa, soft pastel on paper, 12×18″.
Frida Skelly with Monkeys, soft pastel on sanded paper, 12×18″.
Green Stripe Skelly is a parody pastel painting of Henri Matisse's Green Stripe painting
Green Stripe Skelly, soft pastel on gessoed mat board, 6×9″.
parody pastel painting of Edward Hopper's Ground Swell
Ground Skel, soft pastel on gessoed mat board, 16×20″.
Madame X-Ray is a parody pastel painting of Madame X by John Singer Sargent
Madame X-Ray, soft pastel on sanded paper, 12×6″.
Salvador Skelly is a parody pastel painting of Salvador Dali photo
Salvador Skelly, soft pastel on gessoed mat board, 6×9″.
Skelly Dance at Bougival, parody pastel painting of Renoir's Dance at Bougival
Skelly Dance at Bougival, soft pastel on paper, 24×12″.
pastel painting of a skeleton in a red turban
Skelly in the Red Turban, soft pastel on paper, 18×12″.
pastel painting of a skeleton holding a ferret
Skelly with a Ferret, soft pastel on paper, 10×8″.
The Kiss (Skelly Lovers) is a parody of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss painting
The Kiss (Skelly Lovers), soft pastel on gessoed gator board with gold foil, 18×18″.
the skelly dance II is a parody of Henri Matisse's The Dance featuring skeletons dancing in a circle on a green hill
The Skelly Dance II, soft pastel on paper, 20.75×28.75″.
parody painting of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Skelly with a Pearl Earring, soft pastel on paper, 10×8″.
The Very Last Supper, pastel painting parody of da Vinci's The Last Supper
The Very Last Supper, soft pastel on gessoed gator board, 12″x24″.
pastel portrait of Vincent Van Gogh as a skeleton
Vincent Van Skelly, soft pastel on paper, 10×8″.
Original art
High Skeller, soft pastel on paper, 20×16″.
Skelly on the Half Shell parody of Botticelli's Birth of Venus
Skelly on the Half Shell, soft pastel on paper, 15×24″.
pastel painting of Skelly Godiva skeleton art
Skelly Godiva,soft pastel on sanded paper, 17×22″.
Cheers! skeleton cowboy on a skeleton horse in the snow
Cheers!, soft pastel on paper, 24×18″.

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