Description
I painted Skeleton with Hat shortly after my move back to the east coast. Unlike most people who metaphorically have skeletons in their closet, I literally have a skeleton in my closet. Actually our skeleton is in full view hanging in my studio loft space. My father had brought the skeleton home at some point during his teaching career and it has been here ever since. The time of year I painted Skeleton with Hat was close to the time of Dia de los Muertos, the night when the veil is thinnest between those still living and those that are dead. The hat belonged to my late sister Mary. Painting this image allowed me to study the anatomy of the skull and skeleton, and also to express my sister Mary’s wry sense of humor. I think she would have enjoyed the painting.
