Skull of the Month
Club
Next skull coming in March
Every month of 2024 I’ll be relief carving a new North American animal skull. Printed with Cranfield ink on fine paper, each one will be made to scale of the actual animal skull and will include a variety of species and sizes. Starting in January, and again in June, you’ll have a chance to purchase the first skull solo or sign up for the first 6 months with a new skull mysteriously arriving every month as a surprise. Each month you’ll still be able the purchase the new skull alone, if you’d like to pick and choose as they are finished. At the end of the year you’ll have a beautiful collection to impress all you dark academic and nature nerd friends.
Canis latrans translates roughly as barking dog. Personally I think Canis cantus would have been a better fit, singing dog. First appearing in the Pleistocene epoch about 2 million years ago and adapting over time to inhabit almost all North American habitats, the coyotes’ songs have filled the air way longer than our own.
I chose the coyote for March because of it’s ability to adapt to changing environments. It is a survivor species living deep in the wilderness and in our urban cities. I think the coyote is a fan favorite out here in the West so I wanted to include them in the skull club.
Relief print on Stonehenge
Size options: 8x10 or 6x10
Each one of these prints becomes a study, a close observation of the animal’s skull, it’s orbital cavity, auditory bones, teeth, mandible, everything. These pieces are what allow us to identify an animal from what’s left behind.
This month I chose a comparison between skulls within the Leporidae family. This family includes rabbits, hares, and pikas. I chose to compare a desert cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii. (rabbit) with a black tailed jack rabbit, Lepus californicus, (actually a hare). You’ll notice main differences in size, nasal bone, and external auditory meatus. Feel free to use the diagram to find more differences between the two species.
Relief print on Stonehenge, 2 Prints each 4x6 in
The first skull of the month is the Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias.
A striking wetland bird, Great Blue Herons exude a sense of peace and patience. Standing completely still and waiting for long periods of time, they use their sharp bill to spear prey. Specially developed vertebrae in their necks allow them to strike with astounding accuracy and speed.
I have a fondness for the heron for its association with funeral rites and death rituals within folklore. Sometimes seen as harbingers of death, the heron’s beauty is a sight to beyond on any occasion.
Printed on Stonehenge heavy weight paper in cream
Size 4.5 x 12 in
Every month from January through June you’ll receive a new skull delivered to your door. Starting with a Great Blue Heron, each month forward will feature a different North American fauna skull. The sixth month package will include 4 skulls in the 6-10 inch range, 1 set of smaller 3 inch skulls, and one larger 10+ inch skull. They will be hand carved and relief printed on fine printmaking paper. At the end you’ll have a set of seven skulls ready to display in your abode.
By signing up you get to look forward to a new “surprise” skull to look forward to every month until June. These skulls when displayed salon style together will have a dark academia feel perfect for those bare walls in your home.
Six month sign ups will only be open in January and July and come with a little discount for ordering the set. *Shipping over the six months is reflected in the shipping costs.