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I Decorate Skulls With Golden Mandalas To Honour Fallen Creatures
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I Decorate Skulls With Golden Mandalas To Honour Fallen Creatures

@essence.of.ash
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I am an archaeologist and have a keen interest in animal skulls. I grew up on a farm near Tisdale, Saskatchewan and became a nature enthusiast from a young age.

After visiting India in 2013, I began creating mandalas using gold ink. Mandalas are a geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically. Eventually, these mandalas laced the skulls that I accumulated legally and ethically from taxidermists, hunters, trappers and navigating forest trails.

These skulls would otherwise have been discarded and I wanted to honour the animals by painting intricate patterns on them. My art combines other elements in nature including crystals, moss and wooden frames. Essence of Ash celebrates the life that once ignited the skulls and it explores realms of consciousness through meditation during mandala making.

More info: essenceofash.com | Instagram

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@essence.of.ash

@essence.of.ash

Author, Community member

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Nature enthusiast and lover of astral travel. Seeking balance and trying to find divinity in the everyday mundane.

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@essence.of.ash

@essence.of.ash

Author, Community member

Read more »

Nature enthusiast and lover of astral travel. Seeking balance and trying to find divinity in the everyday mundane.

Read less »
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kindelladair avatar
Kindell Kosmetschke
Kindell Kosmetschke
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely LOVE these! Beautiful, intricate mandala's on a unique canvas.

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1gowreesaovi avatar
AnInrovert
AnInrovert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're amazing! Don't you feel weird coloring on skulls, though?

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jessesmithrocks avatar
Jesse Smith
Jesse Smith
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's interesting . . . and really sweet! Your artwork is exquisitely delicate!

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carole-roy6 avatar
Komi
Komi
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love it, verry beautiful and creative. I love the idea to honor theses creatures by painting on their skull.^^ I always wanted to do the same, but i'm not good enough in painting/sculpting.

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csfusta avatar
Fustacapri
Fustacapri
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Linxs and wolves are protected species your art is beautiful but killing innocent animals

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ajp534 avatar
Ash Sophia (Post author)
Ash Sophia
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have the required permits to purchase and sell these Lynx and Wolf skulls. They come from a taxidermist in rural Saskatchewan. The permits are given from Environment Canada and all appropriate legal processes are followed. Many times, the skull is discarded, this way at least the skull of these animals is being honoured.

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h_bean avatar
Heidi Bean
Heidi Bean
Community Member
8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

You are so VERY talented! Your work is so intricate and it's just exceptionally detailed and beautiful! I truly wish there could be another medium of which you could showcase your talents upon. Have you thought about becoming a tattoo artist? A sculptor? A graphic artist? I say this because I had a girlfriend once, that brought home an entire wing of an eagle (the bird was obviously dead and she found it in pieces on the side of the road after being hit by a truck) and then she proceeded to put it on display in our home! I freaked out because I thought it was disrespecting the creature. I demanded she take it out of the house. I am not really saying that this what you do is disrespecting, as much as I think it's morbid. But, who am I? had been killed I'm sorry, but I feel the bones of the departed

POST
kindelladair avatar
Kindell Kosmetschke
Kindell Kosmetschke
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely LOVE these! Beautiful, intricate mandala's on a unique canvas.

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
1gowreesaovi avatar
AnInrovert
AnInrovert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're amazing! Don't you feel weird coloring on skulls, though?

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
jessesmithrocks avatar
Jesse Smith
Jesse Smith
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's interesting . . . and really sweet! Your artwork is exquisitely delicate!

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
carole-roy6 avatar
Komi
Komi
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love it, verry beautiful and creative. I love the idea to honor theses creatures by painting on their skull.^^ I always wanted to do the same, but i'm not good enough in painting/sculpting.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
csfusta avatar
Fustacapri
Fustacapri
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Linxs and wolves are protected species your art is beautiful but killing innocent animals

Vote comment up
-3
-3points
Vote comment down
reply
ajp534 avatar
Ash Sophia (Post author)
Ash Sophia
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have the required permits to purchase and sell these Lynx and Wolf skulls. They come from a taxidermist in rural Saskatchewan. The permits are given from Environment Canada and all appropriate legal processes are followed. Many times, the skull is discarded, this way at least the skull of these animals is being honoured.

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
Load More Replies...
h_bean avatar
Heidi Bean
Heidi Bean
Community Member
8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

You are so VERY talented! Your work is so intricate and it's just exceptionally detailed and beautiful! I truly wish there could be another medium of which you could showcase your talents upon. Have you thought about becoming a tattoo artist? A sculptor? A graphic artist? I say this because I had a girlfriend once, that brought home an entire wing of an eagle (the bird was obviously dead and she found it in pieces on the side of the road after being hit by a truck) and then she proceeded to put it on display in our home! I freaked out because I thought it was disrespecting the creature. I demanded she take it out of the house. I am not really saying that this what you do is disrespecting, as much as I think it's morbid. But, who am I? had been killed I'm sorry, but I feel the bones of the departed

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