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Description
I have an actual Halloween piece coming up here shortly, but this one's done so I might as well submit it.

I've always been fascinated by the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead for those not familiar with the holiday). The concept of celebrating a loved one's death as opposed to only mourning intrigues me to no end. Out in south Texas, it's easy to come across multitudes of images of skeletons; often dressed in the clothes of the living and/or acting surprisingly alive for being dead. I can't go into all of the details of the holiday itself because, sadly, I haven't educated myself as much as I could've. However, the portrayals of skeletons during the month of October is often to depict the dead mocking the living; having passed life's final test. It's always fun to see death portrayed in such a humorous way and I always love me some skeletons. Can't get enough, really!

Off-and-on for the past couple years I've had brief glimpses of death, but this year I finally had it stare me in the eye. I still don't know what to make of it. Be afraid? Be sad? Be happy for those who have passed on to a higher level of existence? I think I prefer to think of the positive aspects of their lives and what they meant to me and what they left for me to pass on. It is a sad thing to be without them and I'll certainly feel it by the end of the year, but to dwell on the negative and to pour so much energy into my own sadness would be a terrible thing to do. To honor them, I choose to move forward and take as much as they've taught me as I can with me to the future.

I actually really dislike how this one came out. I hadn't worked out the light sources well in my head prior and the background is just awful. Mainly, this is just an example of some very poor planning on my part. I love my original pencil sketch, though. Like I said, I love skeletons and it was cool to work with the human anatomy this way again. I'm particularly proud of featuring not one, but two human figures and taking a chance by having them interact with each other intimately.

For Steve and, especially, Lorene. I will miss you both more than you know. It was the highest honor being a part of your lives. I can't begin to imagine the world that lies before your eyes. I'm happy that you have transgressed your humanity and become something infinitely more beautiful.

Enjoy!

Description
I have an actual Halloween piece coming up here shortly, but this one's done so I might as well submit it.

I've always been fascinated by the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead for those not familiar with the holiday). The concept of celebrating a loved one's death as opposed to only mourning intrigues me to no end. Out in south Texas, it's easy to come across multitudes of images of skeletons; often dressed in the clothes of the living and/or acting surprisingly alive for being dead. I can't go into all of the details of the holiday itself because, sadly, I haven't educated myself as much as I could've. However, the portrayals of skeletons during the month of October is often to depict the dead mocking the living; having passed life's final test. It's always fun to see death portrayed in such a humorous way and I always love me some skeletons. Can't get enough, really!

Off-and-on for the past couple years I've had brief glimpses of death, but this year I finally had it stare me in the eye. I still don't know what to make of it. Be afraid? Be sad? Be happy for those who have passed on to a higher level of existence? I think I prefer to think of the positive aspects of their lives and what they meant to me and what they left for me to pass on. It is a sad thing to be without them and I'll certainly feel it by the end of the year, but to dwell on the negative and to pour so much energy into my own sadness would be a terrible thing to do. To honor them, I choose to move forward and take as much as they've taught me as I can with me to the future.

I actually really dislike how this one came out. I hadn't worked out the light sources well in my head prior and the background is just awful. Mainly, this is just an example of some very poor planning on my part. I love my original pencil sketch, though. Like I said, I love skeletons and it was cool to work with the human anatomy this way again. I'm particularly proud of featuring not one, but two human figures and taking a chance by having them interact with each other intimately.

For Steve and, especially, Lorene. I will miss you both more than you know. It was the highest honor being a part of your lives. I can't begin to imagine the world that lies before your eyes. I'm happy that you have transgressed your humanity and become something infinitely more beautiful.

Enjoy!