John T. Cooksey, ©2013, oil on canvas, 41.5in. diameter

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.

John T. Cooksey ©2010, oil on canvas, 32in. x 44in.

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.

John T. Cooksey, ©2012, oil on canvas, 43in. diameter

The snakes emanating from the skull weave through a spiral grid. Each leads to one of the 36 characters which make up the Greek and Roman alphabets.

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.

John T. Cooksey,  ©2012, oil on canvas, 34 in. diameter

The snakes emanating from the skull weave through a spiral grid like the pattern used in my circle paintings.

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.

John T. Cooksey, ©2010, oil on canvas, 43in. diameter

One of my first paintings after the death of my brother.

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.

John T. Cooksey ©2004, acrylic on canvas, 48 in. diameter

Written language (the alphabet) is the means by which we access the knowledge of our collective ancestors (the skulls).

The skulls in the Skull paintings symbolize and celebrate the dead, and acknowledge their contribution to who we are individually and collectively. The skull designs are stylized, decorative, and vibrantly colored, invoking warmth and reverence rather than the morbid and macabre.