My name is Ash and I live in Saskatoon, SK. I started working on animal skulls 2 years ago and combined my passion for mandalas and Archaeology. Each piece is unique and created during a meditative state. After visiting India in 2012, mandalas became an active part of my life – the first one on in a small journal and eventually larger works taking upwards of 120 hours. I had completed my degree in Archaeology in 2013 and was fascinated with Osteology and Zoo-archaeology, however, my mind was not cut out for strictly academic pursuits.

All my skulls are legally and ethically obtained. I get most of them from local trappers, these skulls would otherwise be thrown away and I try to use my art as a way to honour the animals. The entire process from cleaning them to decorating them is incredibly therapeutic.

My art allows me to move between the layers of the mandalas and let go of the past and the ideas that no longer serve me. The mandala itself is very powerful and acts as a reminder of cyclic existence and impermanence. When combined with the animal skulls, the experience provides me with a deeper understanding of the states between life and death. I love the process of preparing the skulls for my art and then the long periods of time I work with them, drawing out the intrinsic beauty and giving them new life.

My website is www.essenceofash.com

More info: essenceofash.com

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