A
painted skeleton dressed in a formal tuxedo, holding a cocktail glass in one
hand. the skull faces forward with hollow eye sockets and a toothy grin,
rendered in layered strokes of white, cream, and pale blue. the suit is painted
in deep navy, black, and gray with a striped red-and-white shirt and bow tie. The
background is a vibrant blend of pink, mauve, gray, and red brushstrokes with
visible texture. This artwork is titled “Mr. Skele” and created by Paige
Flotterud
The
skeleton stands upright and centered, shoulders squared, head lifted, meeting
the viewer directly. The skull is built from layered whites, creams, and faint
blues, its contours shaped by broad, confident strokes rather than precise
line. Dark eye sockets sit deep and rounded, pulling attention inward, while
the mouth curves into a subtle grin formed by broken white marks across the
jaw. The expression feels composed rather than playful, a calm presence held in
bone.
Your
eye moves downward into the formalwear. The tuxedo jacket is constructed from
deep navy, black, and slate strokes, angled and layered to suggest lapels and
structure without outlining them. Beneath, a vertically striped shirt in red
and white cuts straight down the torso, its rigid rhythm contrasting with the
loose brushwork elsewhere. A bow tie anchors the neckline, compact and dark,
while a boutonniere blooms softly on the lapel, painted with pale, quick
strokes that feel almost incidental.
A
shift in mood happens at the hand and glass. The skeletal hand lifts a cocktail
glass delicately, fingers defined by pale strokes tipped with darker accents.
The glass itself is suggested through angular highlights and pale yellow tones,
its liquid barely contained by implied edges. The background surges behind him
in pinks, mauves, grays, and reds, applied thickly and unevenly so the figure
presses forward rather than recedes. The emotional pulse is poise without
urgency — celebration paused, elegance held steady.
On
stonewashed denim, the skull softens first. Pigment sinks into the worn twill,
blurring the crisp separations between bone highlights and shadow. Whites warm
slightly, and the grin feels gentler, less graphic. Emotionally, the figure
shifts toward familiarity, like a character remembered fondly rather than
encountered.
The
tuxedo on stonewash deepens into quieter blues and charcoals. Sharp contrasts
relax, and the striped shirt becomes less rigid, its vertical lines softening
into suggestion. The cocktail glass loses edge clarity, blending into the
gesture rather than standing apart as an object. The background pinks and grays
diffuse into the fabric grain, smoothing the painterly motion.
As
a whole, the artwork on stonewashed denim feels relaxed and intimate. The
formality remains, but the sharpness fades. The emotional tone becomes one of
easy confidence — elegance lived in, worn comfortably over time.
On
white denim, clarity takes control immediately. The skull’s planes sharpen, and
the contrast between eye sockets, cheekbones, and jaw becomes crisp and
intentional. The grin reads clearly as composed rather than playful.
Emotionally, the figure feels present and self-assured.
The
tuxedo regains structure on white denim. Lapels, stripes, and bow tie separate
cleanly, and the boutonniere stands out as a small, soft accent against the
dark jacket. The cocktail glass becomes more legible, its angles and contents
clearly defined. The background colors brighten, reinforcing the celebratory
energy without overpowering the figure.
Overall,
the artwork on white denim feels bold and expressive. The emotional shift is
toward confidence and visibility — a formal moment held clearly in full light,
poised and unapologetic.
On
black denim, the composition compresses into intensity. The tuxedo nearly
merges with the dark base, allowing highlights along lapels and shoulders to
emerge selectively. The skull glows pale against the darkness, becoming the
dominant focal point. Emotionally, the figure feels powerful and inward.
The
cocktail glass becomes a luminous accent on black denim, its pale tones
catching the eye as a quiet signal of celebration. The striped shirt flashes
through shadow as vertical sparks of contrast. The background recedes almost
entirely, enclosing the figure in darkness.
As
a whole, the artwork on black denim feels cinematic and commanding. The
formality becomes authority, the pause becomes intention. The emotional tone
shifts toward quiet control — elegance and presence held close, unmistakable
against the dark.
